A guide to finding your dream home

Pop quiz for homebuyers – how many homes have you looked at online this week?

a) 10

b) 50

c) 200

d) I don’t know – they all blur into one

Whether it’s 10 or 200, or somewhere in between, you’ve seen a lot. And, you probably have a favourite, but how do you really know if it’s your forever home? Luckily, we’ve developed a handful of questions you can work through to find the right home.

Can you afford it?

We’ve put this question first because even though it’s one you might struggle to truthfully answer, if you can’t afford it, taking it off your shortlist is a no-brainer. No dream home is worth financial stress and angst.

If you don’t know whether you can afford a home, then it might be worthwhile getting in touch with an expert. We partner with financial service providers who can help you on the journey to buying a home. Mortgage brokers are a fantastic first point of contact no matter what stage you’re at.

Alternatively, check out our range of online calculators. These can help you work out your borrowing power, loan repayments, budgeting, saving process and more.

Does the layout work for your needs?

It’s important to stress this point – don’t settle for a floorplan that’s not going to suit your needs – both now and into the future. If you need a space for a home office, don’t settle for a home that lacks one. If you need a second bathroom or a powder room for guests, make sure the house has one. You might want a house with a quiet meditation or prayer room – factor that in too. If you’ve got kids, two living areas are a must. And, if you need a home theatre or gaming room… well, that might not be a necessity, but go get it!

Metricon has a vast selection of floorplans available, and if you can’t find the perfect one for your needs, get in touch with us today. Our mission is to help you find a home where you love where you live.

Is it in a good location?

Next, ask yourself if you’re happy with the home’s location. Location plays a vital role in finding your dream home. Some key things to consider are:

Do you feel safe in this area?
It’s vital that you feel safe in your home – you don’t want to jump every time you hear a noise in the night. If you don’t feel comfortable living there… then don’t live there. You can easily find crime rates online, but don’t get too bogged down in those – it really comes down to your gut.

Is it in a growth area?
This is particularly important if you’re buying a home that’s not going to be your ‘forever home’. Luckily, Metricon’s Home and Land Packages are in some of Australia’s fastest-growing areas. To find out more, read this post about Australia’s leading growth areas.

Does it have good connectivity?
More than ever, being connected is a concern for Australians. Being able to contact friends, family and colleagues from home is a must, so adequate roads and easy access to public transport should be on your radar. You might also want to consider internet connectivity and mobile network strength. If any of these things are not up to scratch or scheduled for improvement, you might have to keep looking.

Who are your neighbours?
Many people want to buy a house knowing they’re surrounded by people with similar lifestyle choices. For example, if you’ve got a young family, you might want to know that there are other kids in the street for them to play with. Likewise, you might want to know that there are other people in your age bracket where you’re purchasing. Community, for many people, ranks high on their wish list.

Is it a good investment?

Not all of us are looking for a quick return on investment when we buy our dream home, particularly if we’re planning on living in it long term, but it might be worth considering while you’re on the house hunt. Although it’s never possible to forecast the future growth of the housing market (we all wish we had that crystal ball), you can make educated decisions about where you choose to buy and build if capital growth is important to you. You can read up on one of our customer’s experience building an investment portfolio, or check out realestate.com.au’s free property price estimate and market guide here.

Is it close to amenities?

After you work out if you’re happy with the area, hop on Google Maps again, or better yet, go for a drive to explore the area. Find out what’s nearby. We suggest looking out for:

Public transport

Having bus stops, train stations, trams or ferries nearby makes it easier for you to get around, even if you own a car. You might prefer to catch PT to work so that you don’t have to sit in traffic, or you might find yourself going into the city for events, dinners, sport or more.

Being close to PT is also a highly sought-after selling point down the line if your home goes on the market.

Shops

Have you ever been cooking dinner and realised you’re out of a core ingredient? Or have you ever had a craving for chocolate with no way to get any? If you said yes to either of those questions, you understand the pain of not living close to shops. Having a supermarket within a quick drive of your home will make your life much easier, and the same goes for a bakery, take away food options and the 100% most important thing - a delicious cup of coffee. 100%.

Schools

This might not be relevant for you… yet. Proximity to schools is something to consider if you’re trying to future-proof your home. When you buy a Metricon Home, you’ll have plenty of space for it to eventually become your family home, unlike apartments and units. Just like having shops nearby, having a school within walking distance is a game-changer. There’ll be no fighting traffic if you can stroll down each morning to drop the kids off – and it’s an excellent way to spend time with them and get exercise in too.

Parks and outdoor recreation spaces

These days not everyone has a big back garden, and this is fine, providing you have access to parks and other recreation spaces. You might want to start your day with a run or tire out young children at a playground. Outdoor picnics and BBQs might also be important to you. Make sure you’ve got what you need for exercise and outdoor recreation nearby.

Health facilities

Whether it’s a doctor, hospital, physio, therapist or gym, it’s nice to know that you have health and wellbeing facilities nearby. For a lot of people, it’s a comforting thought knowing there’s a doctor or hospital just around the corner and having a gym close by will prevent you from making excuses… maybe.

You don’t need to check all these boxes to find your dream home, but the more amenities close to home, the better.

Finally…

Multiple homes may meet the criteria of being your dream home. If that’s the case, it does come down to personal preference. Which layout do you prefer? Which location do you prefer? Which is at a better price point?

Most importantly, which home can you see yourself living in? There can only be one.

If you’re interested to know more, you can check out our Home and Land Packages. First Home Buyers should check out our HomeSolution brand, which is the first choice for first home buyers. Alternatively, browse through our Home Designs to find a home from our wide range that’s perfect for you.