What You And Your Spouse Need To Know Before Buying A Home
Buying a home can be an exciting time for any individual or couple. However, if you are unfamiliar with the climate, terrain, community, land use and building code laws of your chosen area, it is beneficial to research the potential environmental, legal and social challenges before buying. All of the above affect homeowners. It is also beneficial to consider your plans are for growing your family and how they will impact your home choice. Here we will discuss issues that you and your spouse should consider before buying new homes in Utah County:
1. Ownership of Water Rights and Water Quality in the Area
Will you own the water flowing beneath your land? Do you plan on digging a well to supply water to your home? Fracking is quickly becoming a controversial issue across the country. Oil companies want to harvest oil by fracking, but the process pollutes ground water used for drinking by surrounding homeowners. Research whether the quality of a home’s drinking water will be affected by fracking or other legislation.
2. Quality of the School System
Do you or will you have school aged children while living in this home? You should do an internet search as to what education options are available to your children in your area. Are the public schools rated well? Are teachers in the area receiving the funding and salary they need to teach well? If you are considering private schools, which ones are reasonable distances from your home?
3. Natural Disaster Planning
Are fires, flooding or tornadoes a common danger in the neighborhoods you are considering? Consider what structural considerations to make based on what you find out. If tornados are common in your area, does the home your considering have a basement to go to for safety? Will mold be a structural risk in the event of a flood? If forest fires occur in your area, what steps will you take to create a fire mitigation buffer on your property?
4. Building Codes and Land Use Laws
Do you plan on renovating your home eventually? Many counties drastically restrict what individual home owners are allowed to do and build on their land. Do you dream of practicing animal husbandry? Find out what animals and how many are allowed to reside on the land in question. Do you hope to expand so your aging parents can live with you? Consider what restrictions if any the county has on building mother-in-law houses or additions.
5. Quality of the Community Around You
The subculture and general social and political beliefs of the community around you can drastically affect your happiness and sense of belonging in your neighborhood. If you are a democrat, you might find it stressful to live where the majority of your neighbors are conservative republicans. If you are Chinese and identify strongly with it, you might feel most comfortable living near other Chinese.
When buying a house in Utah County, it is important to consider whether your environment and community will work with your family’s needs in the present and future.
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Category: Housing
