You’ve thought about lifestyle, now think about home styles (1-story, 2-story, townhouse, condominium, etc.)
• One story homes are more energy efficient and work better for older homeowners.
• Two story homes enable you to have more sq. footage on a lot, and work well for split bedroom plans for families with children or in-laws.
• Some floor plans are best for entertaining, opening onto a pool for instance.
• Do you want a more formal floor plan or is an informal plan for you?

How much space do you need (number of bedrooms, baths, kind of kitchen, total rooms)? Consider size and kind of property. Do you want a new home, an older one already restored and/or renovated or to do you want to restore one yourself?

Think about features such as architectural details, window style, floor plan, kitchen plan and pool. Some features just add to the enjoyment of the home. Others add to its resale value, and some add to both. And of course there are some features that are negative qualities to some buyers and positive to others. (Pools are a good example.)

Your detailed assessment of priorities makes house hunting easier and takes some of the stress out of the decision making. Begin a home buyer diary to keep your requirements clearly in mind, take it with you when you are looking at homes in order to make notes. It is a great way to keep track of the pros and cons of each home while the details are still fresh in your mind. You’ll find as you compare houses to your original list of requirements that your priorities become clearer and your search becomes more efficient.