Buying a new home. Here are some tips that may help you select the home that's just right for you!

Know what you want before you start.

Maybe it's visualizing the home you want. Or making a list of features you need and ones you'd like if you can get them. How many bedrooms do you need? Would you like a breakfast nook? An extra room for a gym, your computer system, or a home theatre? What do you require from the location? Mountain views? Schools? Make sure you don't buy too much or too little home; taking into account how your family needs may change in the next few years, of course. Naturally, everything depends on what you can afford. Translation: when you consider your monthly income and subtract those pesky monthly bills, how much is comfortably left for the monthly home payment?

Quality.
How can you really tell you're getting it?

Here are just some of the things that contribute to the big picture. Together, they may give you an idea of the level of quality in the house you're looking at.

Starting from the top, how are the underlayment and the roofing surface applied to prevent leaking? How many years will the roof last?

And getting right to the bottom of things, is the foundation poured in sections or all at once? What is done about surface, or curing cracks if they appear?

Energy efficient features can indicate quality too – as well as save you money. Are the windows energy-efficient? What thickness insulation is in the floor, walls and ceiling? Are there enough vents in the home, and are they positioned well for energy efficiency?

If you really feel ambitious, you may want to ask about construction. What types of trusses and joints are used? What size lumber (2x4 or 2x6)? Is the stucco color coated or painted? (Color coated may result in dark-looking stains after the rains!) What has been done to prevent cracking, resurfacing nails and separations?

Don't be afraid not to know all the answers. The builder or owner of a quality home shouldn't be afraid to help you.

New or used?

There are some advantages to both. But like anything brand new, we think there are major advantages to buying a new home! For example:

• Warranty-in general, new home warranties are better than ever. A typical warranty could protect you for two years on almost everything including appliances, carpeting and heating/cooling. It may protect you against structural defects for as long as ten years.
• Better products-New construction technology, a trend toward more timely inspections by city/county entities, and features that reflect changing lifestyles add up to better new homes.
• And, last but not least, it's all yours! You're the one who starts fresh with decorating, optional features and other things that contribute to pride of ownership. So you feel...more at home!