Are you buying a family home? Great! So how do you decide what home you should buy? That depends on where you are in your life. Much like what size home you need, what kind of home will depend on the questions that you should ask yourself, and also share with your Realtor.

When you are buying a family home consider what kind of home you need. Well, where are you in life? How big is your family? Do you plan on having more kids? Are your children older and moving out for college or on their own? The answers to these questions will help you decide if you need more space or less. It might mean you need a single family home, or maybe a condo or small town home or duplex. Here are some considerations too: does one of your family members play a loud instrument? A multifamily type home may not be a good idea. Your lifestyle helps determine the type of home you need.

Do you have elderly parents? Is it possible they will move in with you? You might want to look for a home with two master bedrooms, or a home with an in-law suite. This may also determine house type too. With elderly people in the mix, will you want a home with multiple floors, or a ranch style with no steps? Would a larger condo fit the bill so you can have a life with little maintenance and enough space for your whole family?

What you need when buying a family home should be determined by where your family needs will take you in the foreseeable future. Be realistic about it. If you have high school aged children, will they be leaving to live at college? Is it likely they will be moving back home after college? Will your parents need supervised living that you will provide in your home? Don’t go into your home search with rose colored glasses on, be very realistic. Ask the hard questions and answer them honestly.

So what kind of home do you need? Work with your Realtor and find out.