NADINE PELLETIER - THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO BUYING A HOME

No matter how many desires you have unfulfilled now, they can be worked on later. A pool can be added and paint colors can always be changed.

A NOTE ABOUT PETS

Consider your pets in your home shopping. Home buyers who are pet owners have specific requirements — they must provide for their pets. A third of millennial-aged Americans (ages 18 to 36) who purchased their first home (33%) say the desire to have a better space or yard for a dog influenced their decision to purchase the home, according to a survey conducted online by Harris Poll, on behalf of SunTrust Mortgage. Dogs ranked among the top three motivators for first-time home purchasers and were cited by more millennials than marriage/upcoming marriage, 25%, or the birth/expected birth of a child, 19%. It’s essential that the neighborhood in which you’re going to buy a house has no restrictions on pets — or livestock, if that’s something you desire. Do you raise American Staffordshire Terriers, also known as pit bulls? There are Associations that ban this breed. What about goats? Vietnamese pigs? Owning chickens have become very popular. Some neighborhoods have deed restrictions regarding this. Some pet owners choose wood or other hard flooring, not wanting to risk pet damage or odors. An appropriate-sized fenced backyard is on the “needs” list for many pet-owning house buyers. Consider the arrangement of rooms and the structure of the house to ensure it’s suitable for your pets, too. Traffic in the area could be another checklist item. Pet services, such as veterinary, grooming, and dog parks may be a consideration,

31

Powered by