House hunting tips for parents

Everyone has different home buying needs, and it's no different for buyers with young families.

If you have a growing family here are some things to think about when you're house hunting!

Find a good neighbourhood

One thing we all want for our kids is a safe place to grow up. We can't protect them from everything in life, but by gosh we'll try!

For that reason, it might not be the best to buy a top-story apartment in the middle of the inner city.

On the flipside, unless you have a great architect and a few extra dollars, building that house on a hill surrounded by a shark-filled moat you've been dreaming of may not quite be possible either.

A good compromise is finding a neighbourhood that feels safe to you. When you are keen on a house, take time to walk around the streets and get an impression of who your neighbours might be – better other young families than noisy students!

Think ahead

When you have a baby or just a wee toddler, it can be hard to imagine that one day they'll be running around, talking at a hundred words a minute and exploring the world.

Yet those days will come sooner than you think – as will their first day at school.

That's why if you plan to live in your new home for at least a few years, school zoning will probably be a factor in where you buy.

You and many other first home buyers! It's true that you may not be able to afford to buy in the most sought after school zones, but there are many great schools out there.

A bit of research around the suburbs where you are looking will help you to make a priority list of school zones for your house hunt.

Insure for the future

Life insurance to cover your home loan is very important to protect your family in case something happens to you which prevents you from making repayments.