Close to work and in a pretty neighborhood, but it needs updating. Still, the price is right.

The day after tomorrow my listing goes live. The listing for my house, that is. It will officially be “for sale” and the search for a new home will continue as we cross our fingers that this one goes quickly and for a fair price.

Now I have to decide where I want to live. Of course I don’t want to put the cart before the horse, but I really need to give it some thought in order to narrow down my search. Everyone knows that the first rule of real estate is, “location, location, location,” but the question is, which location?

I’m at a point where I can automatically rule out any homes that back to busy streets or have horrible views. I can cross off the list any neighborhoods that seem run down or unsafe. I also want to limit my commute to a particular distance. All that being said, I still have some decisions to make.

A longer drive but about the same square footage. Of course it’s all up to date and doesn’t need a thing. But the price… ouch.

Do I go for the homes in the neighborhood near me now which is a little higher priced, but all the homes are new and the neighborhood is pristine, or do I go for the lower priced homes closer to work that will need some cosmetic fixes that can be done over time? The savings in cost and time commuting are important to me, but so is the comfort of a home that doesn’t need any work. Of course the homes in great condition require a higher mortgage payment each month, so I would be home more.

Either way, I’m looking for a spacious home in a safe, pretty neighborhood, that won’t break the bank. Is that too much to ask? I didn’t think so.