You may have heard it before, but an important factor to consider is location, location location! When buying a home you are first buying the community that it is in. If the same house were placed in different towns the house would have a higher or lower value depending on the town that it is located in. Find out what the town has to offer. Do the schools have what you are looking for in programs and test scores? Do you prefer a vibrant city with a large downtown or a quite country community? How much are the property taxes, and is trash removal included? What does the town and its citizens spend its money on? Reading the local newspaper will give you a good feel for the pulse of the town. Is there a chamber of commerce or recreation committee? Are the roads kept in good repair and is this important to you? Imagine you are spending the afternoon doing errands in your new town. What does that feel like?