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Originally Posted On: https://lizluke.com/blog/how-to-find-the-best-houses-for-sale-in-old-town-alexandria-va/

 

Buying a house is one of the biggest financial decisions that you will make in your life. You may spend the next 20-30 years in that house.

So, you may have heard about a particular neighborhood like Old Town in a city that is attractive to live in.

Whether you are moving to the Alexandria area because of work, family, or just the convenience and lifestyle of the region, you need to figure out what is best for you in a home.

Then, you will start to look for houses for sale in Old Town, Alexandria, VA, if you get set on an area. But then, after narrowing it down to a neighborhood, you still need to figure out which house is right for you.

There are 9,212 people in Old Town and about 2.7 people live in each house, so you figure you have just over 3,000 houses to choose from. So, how do you pick one out?

This is your guide for homes for sale in Old Town, Alexandria, VA.

What Fits Your Budget?

The first thing that you need to do is figure out what your budget is to purchase a house. If a house is over your budget, then that is one less house that you have to worry about choosing from.

If you already have a neighborhood set, then you probably can afford a decent amount of houses in the area. But, there are still going to be more expensive houses than others.

Most resources that you may use to look for houses in a neighborhood should have a filter for what your maximum budget is. But, others simply have a sorting option, which can list houses from the cheapest to the most expensive, and then you can stop looking at the list once you see a house that is over your budget.

However, the challenge can be sticking to the budget that you set for yourself. About 38% of homebuyers in 2019 went over the budget that they wanted to spend on purchasing a home. Some buyers go over by as much as $20,000 if they think it is the right house for them.

Set a budget that is realistic for you. But, more importantly, have the discipline to stick to that budget once you figure that out.

Nearby Businesses

One thing that might be a factor for you is what businesses are nearby your neighborhood. Do you want to be as close to a ride to work as possible?

Maybe you want to be next to a Walmart for grocery shopping? Or, you could simply want to be able to be within walking distance of a local coffee shop to start your morning with an energy boost.

Well, a list of local businesses can help give you an idea of what exactly is in that neighborhood, and where everything is in correlation with each other.

As long as a house is in your budget, you may need to think about what nearby businesses might be most convenient for you. You could be a younger person that wants to be within walking distance of the hip bars and nightclubs.

Maybe, you are a young couple that likes to go to trendy restaurants. Or, you are someone that is trying to live a more active and healthy life and needs open places to walk or jog, plus a gym that they can join.

There are many different needs that businesses can fulfill, to which some people will prioritize one over the other. You should determine what is important to you and what you see as a perk.

Type of Home

Knowing the type of home you want will definitely help narrow your search for houses for sale in Old Town, Alexandria. Figuring this out will depend on what demographic you fit.

If you are a young married couple, then you may need a 3BDR home in order to make room for future children, but still, live close enough to downtown to enjoy the childless perks.

For a guy that likes to do projects around the house, it may be important to have either a garage, large basement, or even a shed in the back where you can take your tools and go to work.

Then, there is the backyard. Some people really consider backyard space to be a big perk, and it can feel like you are in a more open environment. Or, you may simply want a front porch or a back porch to be able to kick back, relax, and get some fresh air while maybe enjoying a cold one in the process.

Whatever the case, figure out things such as how many bedrooms are you looking for, how many bathrooms do you need, and what the most important assets of your potential house are.

Days on Market

Finally, to find a good home, sometimes you can get a deal if you pay attention to how long a house is on the market. In Old Town, this is generally not long, as the average house is off of the market in about 27 days.

So, in order to find a deal, it may be wise to keep an eye on how long a house stays listed. If you notice a house has been listed for six weeks, eight weeks, or even over 10 weeks, then a deal might be able to be made for less cost than you may have originally expected.

This is a good option for people who are more flexible about where they live, and that do not have non-negotiable priorities for their home. It could be the difference between paying about $400,000 less in Old Town based on the latest month-to-month sales.

Find Houses for Sale in Old Town, Alexandria, VA

So, with these tips in mind, you should have a good idea of what you are looking for when checking out houses for sale in Old Town, Alexandria, VA. Are you ready to take the next step of looking for houses?

Click here to see how you can talk to a real estate expert today!