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Are you ready to buy a home for you and your family to enjoy for years to come? If you consider some practical elements before buying, you will be rewarded with an enjoyable lifestyle and an investment that appreciates over time.

Oftentimes, it is easy to get caught up in the cosmetic details of the house. The problem is that when you're getting wooed and awed by what the house looks like, your family's future needs are not considered and you're miserable a few years into the future.

They may not be sexy and fun, but here are some practical tips that you might want to consider before buying.

FACTOR 1 -- SIZE MATTERS.

Having kids around requires high maintenance. You have extra rooms to heat, space to clean, bathrooms to keep in working order, etc. But if the kids will be gone in just a couple of years, do you really want all that extra maintenance work? On the other hand, if your family is growing, you need to think about a home that has enough bedrooms and room to afford you and your children their privacy and "special space." Alternatively, you might consider a home where add-ons can be made relatively easily and do not require approval of a homeowners association. There are usually zoning or building regulations that will come into play if you decide to add on to your home, so you'll need to be familiar with the rules. If you have resolved to remain single, you certainly have a lot more leeway when considering your future needs. But remember this: Never say never! Someone may come along who knocks you off your socks and you end up having a family after all!

FACTOR 2 -- THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

It does not matter whether you're single, about to retire or have a growing family -- the neighborhood is a critical consideration. No one wants to move into a place with a high ratio of robberies or crime. You want to know that you, your loved ones and possessions are safe and secure. Look for graffiti, garbage in the lawns or streets, and whether or not pleasant, family-types of people are strolling along the streets in the morning or afternoon. You also will not want to buy into a neighborhood that is beginning to decline. Without being scientific about it, you can generally tell where the neighborhood is headed by the condition and upkeep of the homes and the models of cars that are parked in the driveways of those homes. Read the crime reports in your local paper.

Another tip is to scout out the neighborhood during off hours, without your Realtor present. I wish I knew about this tip years ago, quite frankly. When I bought my first home, I had checked out the neighborhood during daylight with my Realtor and it was in great condition -- booming, as a matter of fact. There were historic brick houses that younger people were buying and renovating. Pride of ownership was evident everywhere. During the daytime, people were at work and the neighborhood was quiet. I bought the house and started my own renovations only to discover that I could not sleep because one of the neighbors had dogs that barked and howled the minute the sun set until daybreak, making it impossible to get any rest! No matter what I did, those dogs kept me awake night after night. Due to lack of sleep, I was forced to sell because it was affecting my health. From that point forward, for all my other real estate purchases, I have driven to the neighborhood after dark and parked to observe the sounds and activities around the house. Choose a couple of weeknights and weekend evenings and park by the house you're thinking about buying after sunset. It only takes a few minutes of observation and you will not upset your potential neighbors if you use discretion. You might observe loud kids, barking dogs or other nuisances that you would not otherwise know about until you've moved in. This is an invaluable tip.

Unless you are buying and selling real estate for a living, your real estate purchase is generally a 30-year financial commitment. Make the most of it!

FACTOR 3 -- APPRAISED VALUE

What changes your purchase from "somewhere to live" into an investment is the property value. The general idea is that in the 30-year period you are making the payments on your home, the value of the home will experience a slow but steady increase. You can find out what is happening to property values by checking out the public assessor records. Most counties have this information online and it is free. Type in your street address and surrounding street addresses and the assessment records that come up should have a sales history. There are also many other online services that report property values. The point is that if the area you are considering has experienced a couple of years of declining property values, you may want to find out the cause of the decline before making your real estate investment and placing your family in that area. The decline might be a simple bump in the real estate market, or it might be something more serious such as crime or environmental pollution.

FACTOR 4 -- THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.

If you have children or are planning on having them, check out the schools in the area and their reputation. Most school districts around the country are determined by the neighborhood in which you live. You can even visit the schools and find out first hand what they are like.

FACTOR 5 -- ZONING REGULATIONS; HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATIONS.

If you plan on operating your business from home, you might want to check the zoning regulations before buying. Let's say, for example, that you are a trucker and plan on parking your rig at the house when you're not working. There may be restrictions that prohibit you from parking your truck on the street or in your driveway. If the home you are considering is part of a homeowners association and there are restrictive covenants, be sure to read those restrictive covenants (commonly called CC&Ns). Some restrictive covenants prohibit parking recreational vehicles and boats at the home. Others require special garages. Because of zoning or other covenants, there might also be easements around the property that you may not be aware of at first glance. You can find out if there are easements by reading the preclosing title work, checking with your country recorder, or reading your real estate survey.

FACTOR 6 -- THE COST.

Cost is going to be the first and most obvious consideration for any home buyer. Instead of going for a lot of flash and dazzle, you might want to consider buying something more affordable that will appreciate over time. You do not want to be in a situation where your mortgage payment is so high that you are barely making it each month and cannot save any money. If you lost your income, chances are that you may be forced to sell your home or refinance it if you cannot make the monthly payments. Also, there may be repairs that need to be made. If every dime you have is going toward the mortgage, you will need to borrow even more money to make repairs if you do not have a nest egg set aside.

CONCLUSION

There are other factors to think about before buying a home. Among them are the condition of the home, whether or not it's in a flood plain, the number of similar families in the area, and the closeness of the area to other conveniences such as stores, work, and entertainment. A bit of practicality, mixed with dreaming, can reward you with a home that you truly enjoy for its comforts and investment value.