How To Purchase a Home in the Perfect Community for YOU!

If you have been thinking about purchasing a home in the Conroe – Lake Conroe area you have a lot of things to think about before you even begin your search.   Here are a few of the important ones.

Location

You’ve heard the old advice that the three things important to the value of a real estate are “Location, Location and Location.”  While that is true, we want to talk about some factors that make a location perfect for you.

Schools

Even if you are retired and have no interest in the quality of schools, I encourage you to get information about the school quality anyway.  Why?  If you ever want to sell your home, the savvy buyer will want to be in a good school district.  Schools strongly affect the value of a property.

Restricted Subdivisions

The most popular communities have restrictions that dictate a variety of things.  Those restrictions can be fairly strict with architectural committees and significant Homeowner Associations (HOAs) and hefty HOA fees.  While you may resist that kind of expense and red tape, it is probably the safer investment.  When a community monitors how homes are maintained, repaired and remodeled, you can be assured that you won’t be living next to someone with weeds growing up to your knees.

The larger tract communities generally have reasonable restrictions that will protect your investment and quality of life while giving you freedoms you won’t find in a neighborhood with homes less than 10 foot apart.  Other neighborhood restrictions are very lenient.  For example, a community of site-built homes may restrict the use of manufactured homes.

Unrestricted Property

Many people come to Montgomery County because of the wide open spaces that can be found at very reasonable prices compared to other parts of the country.  Some people that move from outside the area want to go “all the way” and get a home with absolutely no restrictions.  Take note that your neighbors will be unrestricted too.  Price ranges and property conditions vary quite a bit when you get out into the unrestricted portions of the county.  If the neighbor’s place looks trashy, it will lower your value when it is time to sell.

Amenities and Nearby Features

Every family has a different list of things that are important to them beyond the home itself.  It may be a community pool, easy access to the freeway, golf club and other athletic features, restricted entry gates, social event places like country clubs and community meeting halls, churches, day care facilities, easy shopping. 

Take time to think through the things that are meaningful to your family and create a list of what you want.  After your list is complete, grade those preferences as A, B or C, with C being things you could live without.  Use it as a checklist when you start touring homes.  You will be glad you did.