With all the choices in today’s market, how do you go about finding the right home? It seems the more research you do, the more alternatives you discover.

It’s important to visualize your needs and plan ahead.  Know what you want in a home, what’s important to you, and what you can live without. Many of us start out with a champagne taste and a beer pocketbook, so it’s important to be realistic.

Where and what you buy will affect you for as long as you live in the house.  If you are having a tough time getting your priorities in order, talk to us to help you prioritize.

For first-time home buyers this is a new experience, so it’s especially important to do your homework.  But if you currently own a home, you know exactly what’s lacking. You may need another bedroom or bathroom, or a good school nearby.

First, decide where you want to live. Routt County covers a lot of territory, but it’s not to say you can’t live in one corner of the County and work in the other.  It’s more common than one may think.  Initially, people think the roads are always bad in the winter, but realistically, there are only a handful of days when the roads are treacherous.  And when they are, you just have to learn to take your time.  Regardless to what location you decide, you should practice the commute before you make a commitment.  Weather not only also plays an important role in commuting decisions, but also for the lifestyle.  Northern Routt county and the areas surrounding Steamboat Lake receive the most snow, followed by Steamboat Springs and then South Routt.  However, the further west you go, the more you reduce elevation, precipitation and increase temperature: providing less snow to shovel during the winter and more of a variety of vegetables to grow in your garden during the summer. 

People with children have other major considerations: school and apre’s school.  If you have active kids who like to be involved with after school activities, a location closer to their school should be a definite consideration.

 As mentioned earlier, lifestyle is an important consideration. People who frequently dine out, socialize and like to attend all of the great events Steamboat Springs offers are probably better off in town.  In other words, make sure you’re in close proximity to the things that matter most.

It used to be that homes came in a limited variety, but today, you have many choices. In addition to the traditional single-family home, you can buy a townhouse or condominium. 

In Routt County, you can find almost any combination anywhere. But whatever you decide to purchase, make sure the rules and regulations, as well as the by-laws, match your lifestyle. This type of housing is great for people who want to own their own space without being responsible for mowing the lawn or repairing the roof; a management company most likely will handle that, giving you more freedom to enjoy the Steamboat lifestyle.

On the other hand, you’ll pay fees for these services.  In addition to checking the documents and financial soundness of the homeowner’s association, you must determine if the monthly fees are worth the services and additional amenities such as a swimming pool or exercise room.

Affordability can be a factor not only in the type of housing, but whether it’s a new or an existing home.  Old houses often have fine woodwork or interesting nooks and crannies not normally found in new homes.  They generally sit on smaller landscaped lots with mature trees and grown bushes.

New homes may cost more, but you can make many more decisions on amenities, colors, carpeting and fixtures.  Make sure you’re dealing with a reputable builder, and have an attorney review all documents.

Selecting a real estate professional is the important first step when beginning your search.  As exclusive buyer brokers, the professionals at Buyer’s Resource sit by the side of our clients throughout the entire process.  Our business model is that of counselors, not salespeople, for all that we do is help our clients determine the type of property they want to own, exhaust the market to locate that type of property, provide the due diligence to make sure it is the type of property they want to own, and help them negotiate the lowest price and best terms on the property of their desires.  Give us a call today to begin your Steamboat Springs real estate purchase in the right direction!