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2023 Study: Majority of Renters Priced Out of Homeownership in 78% of All US Metros

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Key Findings

  • 63% of renters across the biggest U.S. metropolitan areas are priced out of home ownership (up from 61% last year)
  • The majority of renters can’t afford to own a home where they live in 205 out of 260 metros (78%)
  • At least 90% of renters are priced out of home ownership in 16 American metro areas, nine of which are in California
  • In two metropolitan areas, Prescott, AZ and San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA, less than 1% of renters would be able to afford buying and owning a median-priced home
  • Kalamazoo-Portage, MI, Jackson, MI, and Johnstown, PA are the only three metros where more than 80% of renters could afford to own a home

In 2022, a study by Porch, a nationwide home-service company, found 61% of renters in the U.S. were priced out of homeownership, meaning they were not able to afford to buy and own a home in the same city where they rented. 

In 2023, applying that study’s same methodology to the most recent home-owner data resulted in an estimate of 63%. In other words, today, nearly two-thirds of renters can’t afford to buy a home in the metro where they live.

To gain a better understanding of this huge number, we examined housing affordability by comparing renter incomes to home prices using the most recently available data for 260 metropolitan areas in the United States.

Home Prices Have Dropped, Why Aren’t Homes More Affordable?

home ownership study porch hireahelperEven though home prices have been falling for the better part of last year and then continued their decline in 2023, housing affordability hasn’t improved. In fact, things have gotten worse for prospective homeowners over the last year. 

At the end of last year, the National Association of Realtors’ Housing Affordability Index reached its lowest point since 1965. It hasn’t been this hard for a family with an average income to qualify for a mortgage loan on an average-priced home in over six decades.

Why hasn’t a drop in home prices led to greater affordability? 

For starters, mortgage interest rates are at 6.65% according to Freddie Mac — the highest they’ve been since the Great Recession. This means potential mortgage repayments for buyers would be a lot higher than they would have been even just a few years ago.

 

“It hasn’t been this hard for a family with an average income to qualify for a mortgage loan on an average-priced home in over six decades.”

 

Secondly, there aren’t enough affordable starter homes. In part, that’s because there are simply not enough homes for sale in general after a pandemic buying frenzy. On top of that, there is simply put, a lack of cheap new homes. Roughly 63% of all U.S. homes were selling for over $400,000 by the end of 2022.

Finally, there’s the pervasive issue of inflation and the increasing cost of goods, services, and rent, leaving less money in Americans’ pockets. Despite dropping to 6.5% in recent months, it’s still way higher than the pre-pandemic 1-2% rate.

Now that we know more about why housing is less and less affordable, let’s get into where all this leaves American renters wanting to buy a home in 2023.

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Further Out of Reach: The Majority of Renters Can’t Afford To Own a Home in 205 out of 260 Metros

To estimate the percent of renters priced out, we assumed a scenario where a first-time buyer put down 6% of the home value, obtained a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage with a 6.65% interest rate (an average rate), and aimed to keep mortgage repayments to a maximum of 30% of the household income, as per the famous Housing and Urban Development guideline.

 

“…in two major U.S. metropolitan areas, the share of renters priced out of home ownership is a staggering 99%!”

 

With current income levels and home prices, this scenario is completely unattainable for the majority of renters in 205 out of 260 metropolitan areas in the United States. That’s in nearly eight out of the ten (78%) most populated areas in America where renters have no realistic chance at home ownership.

 

In the Porch study from 2022, there were 184 metros where home ownership was unaffordable for 50% or more renters living in them. 

This overall increase seems to suggest the affordability crisis isn’t just deepening in areas already struggling with affordable homes, but is actually expanding to more metropolitan areas across the country.

Mission Impossible: In Two Metros, Home Ownership Is Unachievable for 99% of Renters   

Last year’s study uncovered 13 major U.S. metro areas where at least 90% of renters wouldn’t have been able to afford home ownership based on their income. This year, there are 17 of them!

What’s different about this year’s findings, however, is that in two major U.S. metropolitan areas, the share of renters priced out of home ownership is a staggering 99%!

Those areas are San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles, CA and Prescott, AZ, where the home prices are prohibitively high to be affordable for the absolute majority of people who rent in these areas. Homes in San Luis Obispo and the area being unaffordable is nothing new, but affordability dropping in Arizona and Prescott, AZ specifically is something that’s started happening recently, according to local reports.

 

Of the 17 places in the U.S. where the income of 90% of renters would prevent them from being able to afford a home, nine are in California with cities like Los Angeles (94.3%), Salinas, CA (92.9%) and San Diego (92.6%) all with an appearance on the list.

Hawaii and Colorado each have two metros on this list, but, rather surprisingly, so does Charleston-North Charleston, SC, where some 91.6% of renters are priced out of home ownership. Turns out, housing has been too expensive in the area for a while, but the local government does seem to be stepping in and building more affordable homes, according to reports.

The Modest Midwest: Two Michigan Metros Among Three Most Affordable Places for Renters

Like last year, Johnstown, PA leads the pack in terms of affordability of local housing for those on typical renter incomes. Nearly 90% of people who rent in the area earn enough to cope with the costs of home ownership if they were to buy a home in the area.

The only two other metropolitan areas where owning a home without repayments crosses the affordability threshold of 30% of the household income are in Michigan. Those places are Jackson, MI, (11.9%) and Kalamazoo-Portage, MI (13.3%).

Looking at the 10 most affordable areas for renters looking to jump onto a housing ladder without it breaking the bank, five are either in Michigan or Illinois, while a total of three exist in Pennsylvania.

See All the Data for Yourself

To see how affordable homeownership is for renters in your city or metro, check the table below. 

Methodology, Data Sources, Calculations and Assumptions Made

Income levels of renter households and their % of all households in each metropolitan area were taken from the 2022 release of the Annual Social Economic Supplement to the Current Population Survey, as available via Integrated Public Use Microdata Series (IPUMS). Home prices were taken from Zillow.
% of renters “priced out” was calculated as the percentage of renters in each metropolitan area whose income wouldn’t be sufficient to keep potential mortgage repayments to 30% of gross monthly income (Source: United States Department of Housing and Urban Development). 
Mortgage repayments were estimated using the following assumptions:

Illustrations by Daniel Fishel

7 Technologies That Changed How People Move

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There was a time when literally the only way to connect to a moving company was to call their landline, leave a message on their answering machine, and wait for a call back. And if your couch didn’t end up fitting in your new house, you just had to deal with it and check it off your inventory list with a literal pencil. This wasn’t even that long ago.

Fortunately, times have changed, and technology has improved the way we find a new home and move into it. Here are seven ways technology has forever changed the moving industry.

1. Tour your new home without having to actually be there

This used to be fantasy, but now it’s almost an expected feature. And it’s getting crazier.

Virtual reality (VR) technology has totally changed the home buying process. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Zillow saw a 191% increase in sellers creating 3D home tours. With the help of technologies like 360 and 3D professional photography, people routinely see a home in its entirety before ever setting foot on the property. 

360 photography

matterport
Matterport setup for home sellers

Virtual tour software platforms like Matterport allow photographers to photograph, tag, and measure properties they want to show off online. A link is generated and uploaded to the listing on the real estate company website, which can be sent to any interested party. This is awesome if you’re a buyer; you can take the time to do a virtual walk-through of the home you are thinking of buying without ever stepping foot inside.

Drone photography and videography

Drone photography and videos have impacted real estate almost as much as any other business. Not only are you able to clearly see a home and yard from any screen in the world, but you can also check out the neighbors’ lawns, roads and even alleys in the surrounding area. This gives a virtual buyer much more context into the neighborhood and surrounding areas when deciding whether or not to make an offer.

AR and VR technology 

Augmented reality (AR) and VR use similar technology in very different ways. Where VR uses headsets to give the impression you are somewhere else, AR adds to what you can already see! It can work with the camera and apps on your phone to overlay information literally on top of what you see in front of you (like in Star Trek, though maybe not quite as cool yet).

AR Real Estate
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZB3O0WSCP0k

For homebuyers, this means realtors can often facilitate highly realistic virtual walkthroughs of spaces for cross-country buyers. Homes can also be staged using AR to reduce actual staging costs and logistics. In addition, design apps sometimes use VR and AR technology to help you virtually “move in” and decorate your space so you have a plan before your actual move.

2. Scope out everything about a neighborhood from the comfort of home

In our current data-driven and highly social world, there are many ways to research the safety, functionality, and friendliness of an area so you know which neighborhoods are most ideal for your move.

Neighborhood accessibility 

With basic apps like Google Maps, you can get real-time data on the roads, restaurants, and shops in your new neighborhood. You can use it to map traffic flow on routes you will need to travel most like to the school for drop off or work. Learn the best routes and the best time of day to travel them to reduce traffic-related headaches — hopefully.

 

“At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Zillow saw a 191% increase in sellers creating 3D home tours.”

 

Crime statistics

Learn about the safety of your new neighborhood with apps and websites like Citizen and City Protect. City Protect offers police reports, public record requests, and more. Some features of both apps are free. Family Watchdog is a free app that provides publicly available information about sex offenders in your area. (Be warned that there is a fee for detailed reports through the app.)

Neighborhood vibe apps

Believe it or not, there is more to a neighborhood than traffic routes and crime stats! Neighborhood Scout is a subscription-based app that focuses on real estate in a particular area and provides a profile using 600 characteristics. 

AreaVibes is an app that has crime stats, but that also provides a big picture of your future neighborhood based on seven main factors: crime rate, amenities, cost of living, education, employment, housing, and user ratings. It then compares that against a national average to give you a composite picture of your potential new neighborhood. It even offers a custom search function that sets it apart from similar apps, which allows users to access the information most relevant to them.

3. The rise of public reviews for professional movers 

Consumer reviews have become increasingly more social in recent years with the ubiquity of Facebook, Yelp and others.

hireahelper mover reviews
Public reviews on HireAHelper.com

Local moving companies have been impacted by this change tremendously. Almost more than any other type of old-school business model, movers used to exist on the strength of personal recommendations; but now that info is available at scale, and with the client in the driver’s seat. One hour of research is enough to skim reviews of 10 or more service providers that could do your move, so you can choose the one that best suits your needs.

Sites like Yelp, Facebook, and HireAHelper shed light on the movers that make moving day actually manageable.

Note: Anyone can leave a review on Yelp or social media, but it’s worth noting that HireAHelper verifies all reviews, meaning that all public reviews are guaranteed to have actually, you know… really happened!

4. Accurate (and free!) moving quotes online, without needing a walk-through

Newer moving companies like HireAHelper and Simple Moving Labor have streamlined the quote process that your grandparents used to use.

Your inner introvert will be happy to hear you can get free moving quotes entirely online these days. Virtual quoting allows you to enter the basic information of your move online and instantly get moving quotes for free (plus, you even get to read the reviews for each mover). 

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We especially don’t miss the part where you cross your fingers for a quote that doesn’t break the bank after the company is already at your house… who has time to start over at that point?

If you have any doubts or concerns about your quote, HireAHelper can quickly ballpark your moving needs over the phone with just a couple of questions (not a whole freaking tour). On top of that, many movers offer live video chats over Facetime or ZOOM to ensure they have a clear picture of your needs so there are no expensive surprises at the end of your move. (This practice has become far more common since COVID.)

5. Design your new place from your phone

vr app
Homestyler

Many buyers spend hours planning where their furniture will go in their new home, as well as what new décor they’ll need to buy to fit into a different (and often bigger) space.

Smartphones have made this step substantially easier, especially for those moving cross-state or cross-country. There are apps like Planner 5D and Homestyler that allow you to scan a room with your smartphone to save its dimensions and openings. Add in windows with the swipe of your finger, and you have a virtual mockup for your new life.

Not only does this allow movers to skip the tape measure pressure during their inspection, but it also can save precious time and back strain that used to come with arranging and rearranging. Even better, you can access room designs while you’re out and about furniture shopping!

6. Virtual checklists (and “checklist services”)

Virtual moving checklists like Porch’s Home Assistant allow you to ditch your moving to-do list and track all of your pending items in one shareable dashboard, from ordering home insurance to filing your change of address form.

porch home assistant
Porch.com’s “Home Assistant” works like a personalized moving checklist service

Not only does this mean no more paper to-do lists that will inevitably get lost, but it also means there are fewer chances for crucial steps to slip through the cracks. (Nobody likes arriving at their new place just to realize that they forgot to get their internet set up.)

7. GPS trackers on moving trucks

GPS technology has been around for a long time, which is why it’s become easier than ever for movers and moving companies to buy inexpensive trackers to avoid losing track of valuables, entire boxes, and even the moving trucks themselves.

For individuals and families booking their own moving truck, a GPS can help ensure a thief can’t run off with your expensive rental and disappear. You can also use more localized Bluetooth technology like Tile to tag boxes that have valuables in them in case they get misplaced within range.

Not to mention, companies now provide more realistic updates for moving companies that are providing long-distance moving services. Can you believe people used to stand around and wait for weeks for their stuff to arrive? Yikes.

Portland Real Estate Guide 2021: Neighborhood by Neighborhood

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Like many millennials, I’ve exclusively shopped for rentals in the past, so I don’t know the first thing about the housing market—in my current city or any other. But since my long-term boyfriend and I are living that “DINK” life (“Dual Income, No Kids”), we started wondering just how much money we’d need to bring to the table and what we’d need to know in order to make the leap to homeownership in Portland.

But here’s the real question: where should we be house hunting in Portland, what types of housing we should consider, and when should we take the plunge?

To answer those questions, I turned to Jo Lavey, a principal broker at John L. Scott Real Estate. She gave me an inside look at the hottest Portland neighborhoods, the obstacles that have been tripping up aspiring buyers, and advice for navigating a housing market that’s churning through inventory at truly unprecedented levels. And I, in turn, am giving it all to you.

Here’s your 2021 guide to moving to Portland, Oregon.

Some Portland home-buying statistics that blew my actual mind

A quick word to the wise before I get too far into this: based on everything I heard from Jo, this really is not the best time to be looking for a single-family home in Portland. (Or many other cities in the United States, to be frank.) As of March 31, 2021, average sale prices in Portland have increased by 16.6%, from $461,600 to $538,200, and they show no signs of slowing.

Here are some other stats Jo shared with me that had my eyebrows vanishing into my hairline:

  • At the time of this writing, the Portland market has just .45 months of inventory for sale, meaning that if no new properties were listed, there would be nothing left to sell within about two weeks. (For context, Jo told me that a market with six months of inventory used to be considered a balance between a buyer’s and a seller’s market. So it’s a seller’s market in a serious, almost unprecedented way.)
  • This trend is predicted to continue for the next three to five years, largely due to construction constraints. Portland has an urban growth boundary which limits the amount of land for new construction of homes in favor of maintaining farmland. With very little space to work with, builders have had to rely on in-fill lots (splitting larger lots and building vertically on smaller lots) or spreading out into the suburbs. 
  • Additionally, new construction on multi-family homes in Portland’s Multnomah County is down 70%. In 2013, far more apartments were built than single-family homes, and now the previous inhabitants of those spaces are aging into buying single-family homes.
  • Oregon has been in the top ten states that people are migrating to for three years now, with many coming from California—specifically San Francisco and LA. (Oopsies, guess I’m not so original after all.)

In case those stats have you as intimidated as they have me, there is some good news. Average rents are at $1,500, which is a 2% decrease year-over-year, and condominiums aren’t seeing the same surge in pricing or popularity as single-family homes. (At least for now.) While houses are selling at an average of 5% above list price after a low of four days and a high of 14 days on the market, condos have been selling at or below list price, after lingering on the market for an average of 48 days.

 

“As of March 31, 2021, average sale prices in Portland have increased by 16.6%, from $461,600 to $538,200, and they show no signs of slowing.”

 

If you’re me, this sure is looking like the moment to consider purchasing a condo while I wait out the market. But you’re you—so if you’re absolutely dead set on becoming a Portland homeowner in 2021 and have the cash in hand to back it up, these are the hot neighborhoods that everyone has their eyes on.

Where People Want to Live in Portland

The city is divided into directional quadrants: north, south, east, and west, and then further divided into more specific areas (it’ll be clear below), which is how I’ll lay out this list. The following is a three-month snapshot of properties sold between January and March of 2021, and the pricing is an average cost for a three-bedroom, two-bathroom single-family home.

Northeast

Laurelhurst

Laurelhurst
crystaltrulove.com

Average List Price: $906,225 

Average Sold Price: $922,304 (102% of listing)

Average Days on Market: 16

Mostly residential and with its own truly gorgeous, historical landmark of a park, Laurelhurst is snuggled up to other nearby neighborhoods like Hollywood, which offer schools, restaurants, and shopping, so residents get the best of both worlds.

Irvington

Irvington
Adam Fous Photography

Average List Price: $838,455 

Average Sold Price: $844,412 (101% of listing)

Average Days on Market: 15

Brimming with historic charm, Irvington’s location makes it extremely convenient for commuters. The leafy neighborhood has multiple public transportation options within blocks, and easy access to I-84 and I-5 on-ramps.

Sabin

Sabin
airbnb.com

Average List Price: $814,919 

Average Sold Price: $841,583 (103% of listing)

Average Days on Market: 10

Right next door to Irvington is Sabin, its slightly more youthful neighbor—great for young professionals. In addition to the old world homes are more recent builds and modern restaurants, and the area is abutted by the ultra-cool Alberta Arts District to the north.

Parkrose

Parkrose
Homes.com

Average List Price: $460,463 

Average Sold Price: $460,219 (99.5% of listing)

Average Days on Market: 7

Parkrose prices have yet to soar as high as its northeast neighbors, because crime-wise, it isn’t the safest option on this list. That said, it has its own dedicated school district with an elementary, middle, and high school, and the area is becoming more revitalized by the day.

 

“Average rents are at $1,500, which is a 2% decrease year-over-year, and condominiums aren’t seeing the same surge in pricing or popularity as single-family homes.”

 

Southeast

Woodstock

Woodstock
soldbysagato.com

Average List Price: $602,894 

Average Sold Price: $626,650 (104% of listing)

Average Days on Market: 4

Considered one of the most walkable neighborhoods in Portland, Woodstock has its own adorable little town center and farmer’s market. Plus, it’s steps away from nearby Reed College, making it a popular area with students.

Sellwood/Westmoreland

sellwood
sellwoodmoreland.com

Average List Price: $677,421 

Average Sold Price: $708,571 (105% of listing)

Average Days on Market: 5

Built along the flank of the Willamette River, the cobbled-together neighborhood that is Sellwood/Westmoreland is its own self-sustaining community. It features local grocery stores, food trucks, coffee shops, and even Oaks Park—a roller rink and theme park that features in many of my happiest childhood memories. (As well as the TV show “Shrill”, which is potentially more relevant to your interests than my personal history.)

Montavilla

montavilla

Average List Price: $462,411 

Average Sold Price: $488,429 (106% of listing)

Average Days on Market: 6

Named one of the country’s “top ten neighborhoods you need to visit” by Lonely Planet in 2017, Montavilla has a lot to offer. Namely, the historic Academy Theater, where second-run tickets cost just $4, as well as craft cocktail bars, microbreweries, antique shops, and quirky boutiques.

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Mt. Tabor

Mt. Tabor
reddit.com

Average List Price: $695,221 

Average Sold Price: $723,077 (106% of listing)

Average Days on Market: 5

Built atop an extinct volcano (!), Mt. Tabor is perched high above the rest of the city, offering breathtaking views of downtown. The area has its own 200-acre park featuring miles of biking and running trails, making it a dream destination for anyone craving an active, outdoorsy lifestyle within reach of the city.

Southwest

Multnomah

multnomah
statesmanjournal.com

Average List Price: $641,245 

Average Sold Price: $641,350 (100% of listing)

Average Days on Market: 11

A quaint and artsy village nestled in the heart of Portland, Multnomah boasts the kinds of shop-lined streets you might have thought only existed in Christmas Hallmark movies: bookstores, toy shops, sidewalk cafes, and the massive Gabriel Park.

Hillsdale

hillsdale
roblevy.com

Average List Price: $687,450 

Average Sold Price: $707,450 (102% of listing)

Average Days on Market: 6

I grew up between here and nearby Raleigh Hills, which is how I can tell you that Hillsdale is extremely family-friendly, with great schools, some excellent restaurants, and walkability. Plus a suburban, residential feel that belies the short distance to the city center.

Vermont Hills

vermont hills
portlandrealestateblog.com

Average List Price: $579,257 

Average Sold Price: $624,429 (108% of listing)

Average Days on Market: 6

Just west of Hillsdale is Vermont Hills, which if anything has an even more impressive school district — and even fewer businesses. If you’re looking for a quiet, park-filled area to raise a family or work from home, you couldn’t do much better than Vermont Hills. But consider looking elsewhere if the traditional amenities of a big city are important to you.

North

St. Johns

st. johns bridge
steveschwindt.com

Average List Price: $457,125 

Average Sold Price: $479,813 (105% of listing)

Average Days on Market: 8

At the convergence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers sits St. Johns, rife with excellent antique shops, beloved coffee roasters, and even a floating home community. The neighborhood is slightly isolated and undeniably odd (I mean that in the best way), but if you’re someone who enjoys a unique, small-town vibe, you’ll feel right at home.

Arbor Lodge

arbor lodge
farrellrealty.com

Average List Price: $620,325 

Average Sold Price: $618,725 (100% of listing)

Average Days on Market: 26

Nudged up right against the MAX line – it’s Portland’s light rail system, standing for “Metropolitan Air Express” – living in Arbor Lodge allows for easy access to downtown. Or you can stick close to home and take advantage of the area’s excellent grocery stores, bike shops, or enjoy an evening of live music and pub trivia.

Northwest

Alphabet District & Kings Heights

Alphabet District & Kings Heights
portlandrealestateblog.com

Average List Price: $1,121,996 

Average Sold Price: $1,122,196 (100% of listing)

Average Days on Market: 12

As you can probably tell from the prices, we’ve entered the always red-hot downtown area, so hold onto your butts (and grab your wallets). Everything you could possibly want as far as restaurants, nightlife, and shopping is at your fingertips, plus the Willamette waterfront, Forest Park, and the Portland Zoo. So yes, you’re going to pay for the privilege of having all this bounty in one place.

What if I can’t afford literally any of that, but I still want to buy?

Great question, Alexis Rhiannon. First of all, you could look for smaller houses and hope to get lucky. Or, for you and anyone else in your same boat, I’m gonna drop some condo pricing in here before we go our separate ways.

Average Prices of Condos in the Portland Area

Northwest

Average List Price: $460,386

Average Sold Price: $452,005 (98% of listing)

Average Days on Market: 78

Southeast*

Average List Price: $341,043

Average Sold Price: $343,878 (101% of listing)

Average Days on Market: 74

Southwest**

Average List Price: $332,795 

Average Sold Price: $332,833 (100% of listing)

Average Days on Market: 18

**In both cases, Jo pulled data for properties closer into the city center; prices are likely to be lower as you get further out.

Other things to bear in mind with Portland real-estate

Cash offers are obviously king in this cuckoo market, but since the majority of places are going above listing, I recommend you factor that in if you’re getting a loan. Once you’re approved, consider mentally cutting your budget by $25,000 or so, so that if you really fall in love with a place, you have the funds to put in a compelling offer and downpayment even as the price creeps up. (Rates are going up at a rate of 1% per month, according to Jo. ????)

Overall, $500,000 and a strong stomach should get you something in most any neighborhood you’re interested in in Portland. (Just be aware that a cramped one-bedroom does count as “something” in this case.)

If you’re coming in with $350,000 or under, your best bet is going to be a condo or a townhome, which won’t appreciate as quickly as a single-family home, but that can at least serve as a place to land while you wait for things to calm down… we hope.

House Hunting While Expecting? Don’t Forget About These Things

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As a mom-to-be, I had one thing in mind when my husband and I were recently house hunting while expecting: a space that was ideal for our growing family. We were no longer just looking for a home that was perfect for both of us, but instead, we had to think about our soon-to-be family of three (or someday even more!).

As if house hunting wasn’t hard enough, the “future family factor” can make the process even more daunting. If you’re expecting, or hope to start a family someday, then you’ll definitely want to keep the factors below in mind when searching for the home of your family’s dreams.

Floor Space

The most obvious and non-negotiable place to start is the size of any prospective home. Will it be able to accommodate you and your partner, along with one or more kids? Ask yourself these questions:

Where are the bedrooms located to one another?

Of, course you want to have enough bedrooms, but that alone isn’t enough. Like someone sketching out the perfect blueprint, you’ll want to consider where the bedrooms are located to one another. It’s preferable to have all the bedrooms on the same floor, so they can easily get to their child’s room at night.

Is there more than one bathroom?

Surprising nobody, people will walk away from incredible arrangements if this single factor is off – and it’s no wonder why. Whether this is your forever home or not, multiple family members getting ready for work and school in one tiny bathroom won’t cut it long-term.

Are stairs going to be a factor for you? (Probably.)

Parents who are city dwellers know how difficult it can be if you live on the third floor of a walk-up building. Even after pregnancy, bringing a stroller, a baby and groceries up and down three flights of stairs is quite the trek! Especially if you’re at the beginning of your family adventure, stairs may be a major factor to consider.

Is there an open floor plan?

These days, open floor plans are the most desirable, as parents can keep an eye on their kids playing while making dinner. Make sure whatever layout you choose is one that works well for you and your kid’s safety.

Where are you gonna store extra stuff?

Kids come with a lot of stuff. Strollers, clothing, toys, sports equipment … is there storage space for all of these things in your potential home? Make sure you have a concrete plan to contain the clutter!

Safety Concerns

Even if there weren’t any kids to consider, safety is a priority when house hunting. Add kids to the mix and you become even that much more aware of potential safety hazards that lurk in a potential property.

Is this home near a busy street?

A busy street can be a potential deterrent for a number of factors. First, it may be pretty noisy which isn’t ideal for sleeping babies, trust us. But (somehow) even more importantly, you don’t want your kids playing in a yard that’s on a street with lots of traffic. Here’s a protip: Google Maps highlights streets by their traffic. The darker the color, the more that’s “happening” there. A double-edged sword, to be sure!

What about a fence?

A fence in the backyard or front yard may be a priority for some expanding families, as it allows kids to roam the patio without wandering off too far. If there isn’t a fence (and you want one), budget in the cost of adding one when checking out potential properties.

Can kids play in the neighborhood?

When house hunting, you’ll want to get a feel for the neighborhood. If kids are out riding their bikes and playing in the streets, it may be a kid-friendly spot where your future kiddos can hang with their neighbors. If you want to get a feel for the crime rate, there are definitely handy websites that show you the police blotter for any given area. Your notes shouldn’t begin and end at the front door!

How far are you from your personal doctor or an urgent care/hospital location?

You know that scene in movies where a nervous husband carts his “in-labor-and-about-to-burst” wife into the car before zooming through traffic? Well, planning out where the hospital is not a one-and-done trick. While we hope you won’t be using this route often, make sure where your health insurance is accepted and where you live aren’t majorly out of sync. Speaking of this tip …

Location

Location, location, location. It’s always the number one factor when buying a home of any kind. But throw a kid or two into the mix and where you live is more important than the view.

What’s the school district like?

We’ve chatted all about the importance of house hunting with a school district in mind on the HireAHelper blog before, and we maintain this shouldn’t be overlooked. Do your research, look into the numbers, and make sure you’re in a school district where your children can thrive!

5 Sweet Garage Upgrades That Up Your Home’s Value

Garage additions and upgrades like the five in this list can produce an estimated 65 percent return-on-investment.

How long does it take to get to school?

When my husband was a kid, he had to take a 30-minute bus ride to the other side of town for school every single day. If you don’t think about this before buying, trust us, you will afterward. Can your child walk to school? Can you drop them off on the way to work? Is the bus ride manageable? Even if your kid is far from their first words, this is a crucial variable to think about when searching for your perfect home.

Are there other families in your neighborhood?

When narrowing down locations, it may be beneficial to take a stroll through the neighborhood on a weekend afternoon. Are there young families at the park? Are the kids a lot older? Is the demographic mostly older people without families? Do some research online (like with this app) and get a feel for the demographics of the neighborhood to see if your future family will fit right in. It helps to have a helping hand and a night out once and awhile!

Where’s the closest park/library/swimming pool?

When you’re a parent, you want to keep your kids entertained to prevent anyone from saying the b-word (no, “bored”). Having parks, libraries, swimming pools and other fun activities nearby is always a good idea. Nobody wants to have to make a field trip out of every excursion.

Starting a family. Buying a home. These are big milestones for anyone! But combining these two life events? You’ve got the recipe for a lot of important decision-making. Our advice is to be thoughtful, consider every angle, and think about your life 5, 10, or even 25 years from now. That way, you’ll be certain you’re making the best choice for you and your future family no matter what it looks like.

These Things Should Always Be Deal Breakers While House Hunting

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There are some things you should overlook when house hunting, but being flexible and seeing past a home’s imperfections isn’t always the thing to do. Don’t get us wrong, there are a lot of things that should be overlooked because they can easily be changed down the road. However, some things should never be overlooked. We like to call them “deal breakers”.

Making a list of your deal breakers is essential to finding the perfect home for now and well into the future. That’s why the things on this list should be non-negotiable. Seriously, don’t get emotionally attached to something that will create resentment down the road. Ultimately, it’s up to you and your family to create your own list of deal breakers before your house hunting adventure begins, but we’ve compiled a list of the most important ones in order for you to jump-start the process!

A Real Potential for Water Damage

House Hunting Deal Breaker - Water Damage

A lot of household problems can be fixed, but being subject to water damage is one that is not even close to an easy fit. Before committing to a house, be sure to research if it’s in a flood zone. (FEMA has a handy website that can search all flood areas by address.) Also, take notice of its elevation on the block compared to other homes. Is this house at the lowest point on the street? Will your basement constantly be at risk of flooding and causing you large problems and even larger repair bills? Make sure you look very closely for any signs of water damage.

Do your research so that you know exactly what you are getting into, and are not surprised by a flooded basement after the first rain in your new home.

(All Different Kinds of) Safety Concerns
House Hunting Deal Breaker - Safety Concerns

Safety concerns are a very broad category, so it’s important that you get as specific as possible when creating your house hunting deal breaker list. Safety concerns with electronics can be caused by amateur workmanship, such as plumbing or electrical problems. But this could also be caused by other household issues, such as:

Check the links for helpful ways to test for common safety concerns. Before you buy any house, let alone a suspect one, make sure to hire an inspector. If they report any problems, know exactly what issues result in you walking away from the deal and which ones you are willing to deal with (and potentially pay for!). Having this information clear before the home buying process will allow you to remain objective during this emotional time.

Below Average School District

If you have kids, be sure to investigate the local school district before you buy a home in that district. Niche.com provides a comprehensive look at most every school system in the country, including elementary, middle and high schools. You can also look at schools individually!

House Hunting Deal Breaker - Poor School District

Even if you don’t have kids, we still encourage you to do the same because that school district will impact the resale value of your home in the long run and should be considered before you purchase.

Structural Damage to the Home’s Base

House Hunting Deal Breaker - Structural Damage

Structural damage in a home can cause some serious problems down the road, not to mention what a nightmare it would be to try to re-sell a home that has these large issues. It’s important to consider this when house hunting in order to avoid large project costs down the road. Look for shifting of the home in cracks, uneven floors or a drooping roof to identify potential structural damage. If you’re not sure, don’t be afraid to Google a contractor or professional so they can assess the situation and reassure you the house is a safe long-term investment.

Unless you are buying a foreclosure for pennies on the dollar, structural damage is certain to massively impact your investment in a negative way.

A Floor Plan That Doesn’t Work for Your Family

House Hunting Deal Breaker - Bad Bones aka Floorplan

All rooms can be rearranged, redecorated, repainted or even switched around, depending on your family’s needs. However, don’t trick yourself: a sweet overlook may be cool, but the layout of the home or the square footage of the home is not so easily changed, especially without a massive budget and an extra-large construction project. Are you looking to double your investment by knocking out walls?

It’s okay to look past the cosmetic upgrades in a home, but don’t look past what the pros call “the bones” of the house: the layout, the number of rooms, the number of bathrooms or again, even simply the square footage. The bones are permanent and will directly impact your lifestyle. Are you willing to change your life just for that sweet view?

House Hunting Outside of Your Price Range 

House Hunting Deal Breaker - Over Budget

Buying a home out of your price range is a slippery slope and a financial decision that can put a lot of stress and pressure on you and your family.

It is also the most common deal breaker people ignore!

If you have a strict budget you need to follow, adding this deal breaker to your house hunting checklist will be a great way to “check yourself” and make sure that you are coming in under budget and not putting an unnecessary strain on you, your marriage, or your family. Besides, it is almost always better to invest in a cheaper property than to live with what you cannot afford.

What’s on Your House Hunting Deal Breaker Checklist?

All of these may fall on your house hunting deal breaker checklist, or maybe some of them… or maybe none at all. Technically, the most important thing is shedding light on the fact that people don’t often consider deal breakers ahead of hunting for a house. That’s why a house hunting checklist is crucial to avoid getting emotionally invested and making an impulsive decision that you’ll regret later on.

Remember the biggest rule: once you agree on which deal breakers gets added to the checklist, you cannot purchase any home that has even one of the things on it, regardless of how adorable it may look! This cute house may look great now, but it probably isn’t the best investment for the long run. Hold strong, the right one will come along… it always does!

These Paint Colors Have the Best Resale Value

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As DIY bloggers, we frequently get questions from our readers about things they see in our homes. But by far the most asked question is, “What is that paint color in your house?”  (more…)

4 Cases Where You Really Should Move to Save Money

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It’s true what they say: there’s never a “perfect” time to move. But sometimes making that decision is the best thing for you and your family.

(more…)

How to Use a Moving Dolly Like the Pros

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Moving house without a hand truck – or a moving dolly – is like riding a bicycle without a seat. It’s technically possible, but honestly, who does that?

A sturdy, reliable hand truck is any mover’s best friend. Used properly, it saves you time, rescues your back and it can singlehandedly keep your stuff from getting damaged.

(Thinking of a square furniture dolly?)

But they’re not as easy to use as they look, provided you are using them in the proper way. With that in mind, here are tips compiled by moving pros as to how to optimize that hand truck you found in the back of your moving truck, or that one your friend let you borrow and you don’t want to return broken.

(more…)

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