When you are looking for a house to buy, what feature/features are most important to you?

It has to have a good sized kitchen and dining room. A deluxe bath tub and bathroom. Walk in closets. At least four bedrooms. Over sized laundry room. Big fenced in back yard. And on a quiet street.

Number one: Can I afford it? After that, close to shopping, well maintained, close to public transportation; at least four bedrooms, minimum two bathrooms; big yard, garage

I want a big yard and two stories if possible. I don't worry about fixing or repairs because I do my own repairs. I like 3 or 4 bedrooms or more. 2 or more bathrooms. Maybe nice landscaping.

Low maintenance/newer home, rustic look, open floor plan, size of yard, closeness to town, street that is not too busy, windows/skylights/light - ability for plants to thrive

# of bathrooms

Large kitchens and bathrooms.

The way it feels and the living room

ive heard they have these new fangled indoor toilets

When I walk through the house's that I have bought They felt like home.
I looked for house that were in my price point so that I wouldn't be tempted to buy to much house.
location is huge. I live in a suburan area and have to drive everywhere so the closer I am to an interstate the better.
Walk out basments are a must.

It must have good ventilations,relaxing view and peaceful environment.

Just like the house here: http://malaysiarealestates.blogspot.com/

I think the # of bedrooms # of bathrooms # of garages. also the square feet.another thing is if it your style. # the PRICE

Most important? Four walls and a roof.

Mostly location to Good Schools, Grocery Stores, Good Neighborhood with enforced covenant's, Doctors office's within a good proximity. As far as the House is concerned , I would look for one with large bedrooms, walk in closets,at least 2 & 1/2 baths, plenty of attic storage, two car enclosed garage, and basically a good floor plan.
I you don't like the carpet, paint, wallpaper,etc....that can be changed, but you want to have the type floor plan that best suits your needs.

My favorite part of the house are the bedroom, living room, bathroom, kitchen and the garden.. I wanted all of those part of the house very relaxing and accommodating just as this one

http://realestate.ozfreeonline.com/19937/For-Sale/Houses-SemiDetached2/Close-to-school--Shops-and-Motorways.html

Storage space is very important - think Christmas decorations, seasonal clothes, lawn mower, snowblower, coolers, luggage, deep freeze, bikes, camping equip, outdoor furniture (in winter), etc.

For me it would be a very large, spacious kitchen, since I love to cook...lots of storage space..enough so I'd never run out! For Jim it would definitely be a 2-or preferably 3-car garage..so we could park our car and he could also have a roomy workshop! :)

I'm no pro but when we looked at houses we always looked at the kitchen space and bathrooms. Lot size and what the hydro/heat run monthly. How old is the place and if their were any water damage/ leaks, cracks in the foundation. Also try think of the things you don't like about the house and how much would it cost to change....thats the one that kills the wallet and throws you in debt!

The floorplan. That is the most difficult thing to change. Obviously location can't be changed either.

First i will see the price.After that i will decide some crucial factors.

A BIG KITCHEN!

and a nice big master bathroom.

also, land, or access to lots of running and playing space.

good, undamaged flooring.

plumbing that doesnt have to be ripped up and redone before moving in.

and NO MORE GALVANIZED PLUMBING! i cant stand that rust smell in my hair.

Price first of all, then size, independancy , must have a garden and i would say 2 bathrooms.

kitchen bed room and bath room pretty much is all

the neighborhood and view.

Currently, my requirements are location (close to work), a fenced back yard (for my dog to play), a little more room than I have now (for the pets), and not in a flood zone!!!!!

SUN!!!

LOCATION!

What are the bloody taxes AND SCHOOL TAXES for this area?

Over all construction, foundation/poured basement, condition of the house and property.

Size and number of rooms, including bathrooms. Is the Basement a walk in? Is it finished?

Does it already have a barn, are there stalls already in place? Is the barn heated and/or cooled? Is there already a tack room?

Are there fenced in pastures...what condition are they in? Are the pastures usable for horses? How many horses can I have on the property?

Type, age of and condition of heat sources, how is it cooled? Water and sewage...septic? Well? City hook ups?
What is the surrounding land like and comprised of? Woods? State lands? How close are the nearest neighbors, how big is the parcel?

Are there grandfathered clauses in effect? Is it already set as Organic land? Can it be sub-divided on MY property or on the properties next to mine?

"GOODIES I LOVE"
A walk in pantry in the kitchen that has both counter space and pull out drawers and cabinets for storing everything!...a big kitchen...Gas Range/Oven. (Four or six burners with a griddle on it!) Also, an extra oven.

A stone or brick fireplace (more than one would be ultra cool! (or one that has two "faces" kitchen and living/family room) Wood Stove that has forced air and a glass front to enjoy watching the fire would be fine too!

A big master bedroom with a master bath attached to it, and a good sized walk in closet!

At least two additional bedrooms plus an additional full bath and a half bath would be appreciated!

A mud room or additional room to house the laundry with lots of storage ability in it for linens, ironing board use and storage of the vacuum cleaner!

A wrap around (all or part way) porch. Single story. Craftsman style or Log home. LOTS of energy efficient windows all over!

I have a design for a single story (poured, walk-in basement) log home...that we are thinking of doing...lol It's big!

You enter into the entry way (12 1/2 ft) flows forward into the Living room (32 1/2 x 22 1/2) has room for the piano, seating area around the duel sided stone fire place. (Probably 2 to 3 skylights above) between the living room and entryway you could turn right and enter the Family room, big windows there so we have lots of light and room for both bird cages to be in windows.
(22 1/2 x 22 1/2) Room for huge (existing already in this too small house) Wall unit, a desk, built in bookcases, comfortable seating, surround sound. A mega comfortable couch/sectional for napping, movies and music enjoyment!

From the family room there is a linen closet that will store not only bedding and towels, but also cleaning tools, cleaning products, coats (and may become our walk in closet too) and has room to fold on clean counters..CATS and Dogs are forbidden in this space! <wink> 10 x 7 1/2.

Forward past the walk in linen closet is OUR ROOM to the right. 20 x 20, master bath room attached (12 1/2 x 10) with shower (build in seat) and deep (cast iron style tub) good sized window behind tub, surrounded by plants. Our room also opens up on to a slightly private part of the deck..where there is a hot tub, table chairs.

To the left is the door and stair way to the basement. The Basement is raised (house on top of it) and is a walk out room. It will belong entirely to my beloved to do with as she will, without me opening my yap AT ALL, EVER. She will probably use it as her Computer business space.

Straight though the living room it flows into a Sun Room that has a 1/2 bath, enclosed area for the washer/dryer and additional storage area built into one side for Christmas stuff, crafting stuff, possible office supplies. Space in this room could hold my loom. (10 x 17) Tons of light! Separating this room from living room are glass French doors to add to natural light in living room.

To the left of the entryway/living room is first a full bath (combined shower/tub) (7 1/2 x 10) that then leads into a Guest bedroom (15 x 12).

Also on the left side of the house it leads from the LR/entry to the Kitchen on the right (facing left side of house) (18 1/2 x 27 1/2) Kitchen has a dining space that is by the other side of the stone fire place. Energy efficient appliances! Dish washer (my partner and our son want..lol) 2 ovens, 4 or 6 burner GAS range with griddle! LARGE useful Refrigerator..lots of Cabinets! Kitchen is built on a "working triangle design." Cooking island 5 x 4. Pantry off of the Kitchen has freezer in it, more cabinets, drawers for tablecloths and other kitchen linens, mixer, food processor, blender storage. (7 1/2 x 12) There is also a bar for casual seating, and food prep. (we cook a lot, if you didn't guess).

Backing out of the Kitchen you would turn and see the door to our son's room. The basic room is 15 x 14 1/2, but there is a bump out space in it that is 6 x 7 for his bed. He's now 20 and so this room also has its own outer entry door, and the room is big enough if he marries and brings his beloved home for visits!

The "used" bedrooms are on opposite ends of the house design to allow total privacy for all of us!

Directly across from the kitchen area is the formal Dining room (17 1/2 x 18 1/2) to allow space for a big (expandable) table, china cabinets, serving hutch, three windows allow for nice bright light.

The back has a deck, partly covered, partly open that wraps around to our Bedroom with screens (plants) that can allow for more privacy if desired, and then continues down the side (where the family room is, and on to the front of the house where it ends at the entry way area.

Obviously...I need to work on (and get help with..lmao) the final design and the room SIZES...the total outer sizes from ends to ends came out...ummmm a bit big..roflmao 77 1/2 x 62 1/2...oops!

Of course there will be a barn, with loose boxes that open up to individual paddocks. Lots of trees for shade and open areas for horses who want to "soak" in the sun a bit. Heat in the barn would be nice, a feed room and a tack room. Good pastures, (several so I can rotate them) and room for 2 to 5 horses...in case I want to defray costs by taking in borders or horses to train that belong to someone else...A riding ring for giving lessons to horses/or people who have horses.

Good ground for having a decent house garden! A must! Also maybe a Greenhouse! mmmmmmm...oranges in PA! <grins> I came up with this monster because I love OLD houses and there are lots of them here in PA..(craftsman and/or stone are my personal favorites) BUT, as my beloved has wisely pointed out...we are not getting any younger...50 and 52 respectively. Most old houses here are two or three story affairs! So, she was/is pushing for a RANCH style...I'm not keen on typical single level Ranch style designs...soooo she suggested a Log Home that would allow us something unique, something Artist inspired in its design elements...seems like a good compromise to me...and she's right...at 80 do we want to be hiking up and down stairs? Plus those great looking old places usually don't have as much space and storage in them as we'd probably love to have and they can be a money pit to keep up! This represents HER logic blended with MY dreaming! lmao

Light......I cannot stand living where the sun don't shine!

Local school district and the surrounding areas.

A dry cellar.
An area big enough for a workshop.
Enough land as to not be able to see any neighbor's houses.
Nearly level land, that will never flood.
Far enough from the highway, as to not hear traffic.
Good clean cool water from a well.
House new enough that it doesn't have rot.

usually i consider the location of the house to market, school or to place where im working. then i will check on the house itself for possible fixings and cracks

My business card says it all:

"Please specify THREE factors that may be important to your purchase decision ...

Design
Surroundings
Recreation
Security
Comfort
Prestige
Safety
Health / Access
Entertainment
Convenience
Economy
Value
Other _____

This helps me quantify the client's needs and qualify the properties I will show. Obviously, I go into much greater detail when asking them about their desires and goals, but this is a good place to begin.

Pick the THREE (or FOUR) factors most important to you, and go from.

Good luck!

The ability to resell for profit! Location location location!

For me, land would be very important. If I could get at least 10 acres I think I'd be very happy. Other than that, I'd like it to be fairly open and roomy but not expansive. A garage would be great, two-car if possible si I'd have lots of room for project making. Forced hot air heating would be perfect but with a woodstove centrally located. :-)

I think that the top things that I really look for as well as many people is a good open space between the kitchen and diningroom. So you can cook and entertain at the same time. It has to have enough storage space though out the house. A big clean bathroom with double sinks, a tub and shower. Another thing that is always a plus is that the layout just has to flow thoughout the house as well. The bedrooms and bathrooms has to be spaced well. It has to have a master suite as well.

Safe area, low maintenance. :)