This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Health & Fitness

Got Real Estate Resolutions?

It's a new year, and with that fresh start comes some new resolutions for a lot of us. While "lose weight" is probably always going to be #1 on the list, a lot of us also have resolutions like buying or selling a home. If there's a real estate resolution on your list this year, here are a few things to consider:

1. Debt and credit. The debts you have and how you handle them can have a huge impact on your ability to buy a house. Maybe you're thinking, "I'll pay off all my credit cards!" But even things you think would help your credit score–and ability to finance a home purchase–can actually have a NEGATIVE impact. If you are thinking about buying a home within the next year, even, start talking with lenders now. Have a plan and know the rules of the game BEFORE you start the hunt. Taking that step can save you a lot of pain down the road!

2. De-cluttering. This is a great resolution to have if you are considering selling, or even if you just want to have a cleaner house! Call it "pre-packing" if you want to, but taking a large chunk of what you don't use on a day-to-day basis, boxing it up, and storing it (or getting rid of it) can feel really good. You'll be looking at a more tidy houses, and when it comes time to pack up for real, you'll already have a lot of the work done!

3. Consider your home wants and needs. Even if you think you're not going to be buying or selling anytime soon, or ever, it never hurts to take a few minutes and consider what you like, dislike, want, and need in your current home or the home you'd love to live in. Maybe when you stop to think about how you live your life on a daily basis, you'll be motivated to make a change that will a) make you happier and b) help improve your home's value if you do decide to sell someday! (Hello, big kitchen island!)

Also, consider how your family–and your family's needs–may be changing. Are you planning on adding to the family? Maybe a baby, or in-laws moving in? Perhaps the kids are going off to college and you won't need all that space anymore. These are all things that have a major affect on your housing needs in the future, so don't wait until you HAVE to do something to start planning for the next step.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Mercer Island