Before you can find the perfect home, you need to define what that means...in practical terms. At FrontierLiving, we've identified three key factors that can help you focus your search: Location, Community and Budget. We encourage you to consider each of these carefully before you begin looking. You may even discover something new about your own preferences when it comes to finding a new home and community.

Location.
We've all heard it before: finding a great home is all about location, location, location. But the right location can be different for everyone, depending on your lifestyle, interests, commuting requirements and family needs.

FrontierLiving’s four many Front Range communities are strategically placed to offer high appreciation potential, convenient access to metro Denver and much more. But whether you choose a FrontierLiving home or not, it pays to think about location for a variety of reasons. The following questions can help you bring more focus to your search:

Is the home likely to maintain or appreciate in value? Good school districts, convenient locations and pleasant neighborhoods tend to elevate property values and help you build equity. When looking at a potential home, think about things like convenient access to retail centers, airports, public transportation and other amenities, including golf courses, parks and trail systems.

How will my home complement my work life? Living a reasonable distance from work means you can enjoy more time at home and less sitting in traffic. You may want to take a test drive from your prospective home to work at least once during both the morning and evening rush hours to get a good sense of traffic congestion and other factors, such as sun glare.

How is the access to public transportation and highways?  If you use public transportation, you'll want to be sure your new home provides convenient access to either buses or light rail. Also, find out if you have adequate access to major highways, which can impact your commute time during the week as well as your travel time on weekend trips to the mountains, ski areas and other destinations.

Is there nearby access to important services and resources?  Be sure the community offers a full range of services, including water and sewer, trash pick-up, road plowing and fire protection services. You'll also want to consider proximity to other municipal resources like a public library and post office.

The Community.
Your community is really an extension of your home. So it's as important a consideration as any other aspect of your home. At FrontierLiving, we spend a lot of time listening to homebuyers in order to gain a better understanding about what they value in a community, from technology and transportation to amenities and nearby conveniences. We encourage you to consider your own priorities, interests and lifestyle when determining the right community to call home.

Recreational amenities: Think about the kind of activities you like and find a community that offers ample opportunities to enjoy them, whether you prefer bike trails and parks or swimming pools and championship golf courses.

Technological resources: Some communities are more advanced then others; if you prefer a wired world, be sure to find out if the community supports high-speed connectivity for home and/or business needs. In addition to the latest home technology, FrontierLiving communities also provide state-of-the-art clubhouses, which provide fully wired business centers that feature high-speed connectivity and advanced capabilities.

Your neighbors: Do you want to be around people who are of a similar age and with similar interests to you? Or would prefer a widely diverse community? It will benefit you to take a little time and walk around the neighborhood to get a sense of the people...as well as the place.

Children-friendly resources: If you have children or are planning to, you know that you're shopping as much for them as for yourself. So consider the proximity and quality of schools in the community as well as the availability of parks, playgrounds and even nearby playmates.

Retail and restaurants:  Whether you enjoy stopping for coffee on your way to work or going out for ice cream after dinner, be sure to find out what local shops and restaurants are available to meet your needs. In addition, you'll want to keep an eye out for other nearby resources and services, including larger retail centers, grocery stores, banks, movie theaters, dry cleaners and other conveniences.

Budget.
A lot of people begin the home-buying process with the question, "How much home can I afford?" It's a good question, but the right answer depends on more than your salary.

The average budget can usually absorb a home price that's two-and-a-half times the size of the family's annual income. However, it's important to keep in mind that every family has different monthly expenses, debt obligations and spending habits. If you lock into a mortgage payment that eats up too much of your monthly income, your new home can be more of a burden than a joy. (Refer to the chapter "Step Three: Securing Financing" for more information about financing options and how best to determine the right loan amount for your budget.)

The Bottom Line on Renting vs. Owning No matter what mortgage amount you ultimately decide upon, you'll discover that your money goes a lot farther when you own your home rather than rent. Here are three big financial benefits you'll gain by losing the lease and becoming a homeowner: Every time you pay your mortgage, you increase the amount of the home you own outright. You can deduct the interest paid on your mortgage from your taxes. So you keep more of your money every year. Your home has the potential to appreciate in value over time. And that means instant value for you. For example, if you home appreciates $10,000 in one year, you've essentially earned that money just by living there. That's called building "equity," which can be used to secure loans or even purchase a more expensive home in the future.