The housing market is tough right now, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be waiting for a home you can grow into. There are at least 8 questions you should ask yourself before making that big purchase and moving with small children.
If you’re looking to a buy a house, but you’re not done having kids, or your children are young, you need to think ahead. Make sure that big investment won’t turn into a huge loss if you have to sell before you have equity, or before the market turns in your favor as a seller. Moving while pregnant, moving with a baby, or even moving with a toddler is not something you’ll want to repeat any time soon!
There are many factors that may be important to you as a family when considering a home. Not everyone has the same needs or is willing to compromise the same amenities. If you’re pregnant and buying a house you will likely have different needs than a family that has two teenagers.
So what really matters? Here are questions you should definitely ask yourself before buying a house with small kids or a still growing family.
1. What Should Your Budget Be When Buying a House with Small Children or a Still Growing Family?
If you haven’t started having kids yet, but plan to in the future, you’ll need to take that into account for your overall housing budget. Even if you have children, you know babies and small children can complicate even the most mundane situations.
Kids are expensive, and that’s not just the baby phase, if you’re moving with a toddler then you’re already fully aware! They are expensive as long as they live under your roof. You’ll stop paying for diapers, sure, but you’ll have to by video games or dance lessons and it all adds up!
You’ll also want to take into consideration utilities, entertainment, food and savings.
From my personal experience I would recommend you take the amount you’re approved for in a home loan and cut it in half. That’s the maximum you should spend. Just because you were approved for a half a million doesn’t mean you should spend that much. The lender’s calculations may consider your debt to income ratio (car loans, credit card debts, student loans, etc.) but it does not take into account how much it will cost to heat, cool, and maintain your home…let alone how much you spend on groceries, and that can be a mortgage payment alone!
2. What are the Access Points to Your House?
Bi-level and Tri-level homes can be absolutely stunning, but do you really want to have to walk up stairs holding your baby in a car seat, your toddler’s hand, and possibly groceries too? Probably not.
This isn’t an issue that you can brush off thinking it won’t effect you often. This could be a daily obstacle you face.
It’s not just Bi-level and Tri-level homes you need to consider either. How many stairs are there from the garage to entry? How many stairs at your front door? Is there a full flight of stairs off the back deck? How will you protect your baby from falling down those stairs? Will your toddler be able to safely walk up them? Remember, this isn’t just a moving in issue, this is a daily concern.
Another consideration is if your elderly family members will be able to access your home? A few stairs aren’t so bad but a full flight at every entrance could make it hard for your parents to visit in 10 years, or impossible for your grandparents.
3. Should You Buy a Two Story House?
Back to the stairs here.
Stair injuries are one of the leading causes for injuries in children under the age of 5. In fact, one study found that a child is injured on the stairs every 6 minutes. Perhaps what’s even more alarming is that about a quarter of the children who were injured ages 1 and under were likely to have sustained injuries while being CARRIED down the stairs by an adult.
Injury related to stairs isn’t the only consideration when buying a two-story house.
How often are you going to have to go up and down the stairs to retrieve something for yourself or your child? Will you bring your child with you each time you need to go up or down the stairs (Stair safety recommends you don’t carry anything else when you’re carrying your child on the stairs)? If you’re buying a home with a baby or toddler stairs will be a long term challenge.
But there might also be other inconveniences…
Is laundry in the basement? That means two flights of stairs, one from the basement to the main floor and another from the main floor to the second floor. You’ll definitely be getting those steps in!
Is the staircase open or closed? Could your child climb through or over the railing (They do make safety railing nets)?
There are, of course, some benefits of a 2 story house. One being you can often get more square footage for less cost and it also takes up less space on your property which gives you more backyard to enjoy.
Moving with a baby or toddler into a two-story home is not impossible (though maybe inconvenient for a few years), there are a lot of safety items you can find online. From baby monitors to watch your child while your on another floor, to baby gates to protect them from falling.
Did you know Amazon offers an excellent baby registry with perks? An extended return window, a 15% off discount up to $300 at the completion of your registry, and a welcome baby box filled with great products (samples and full size products!). Click the link below to get started on yours today!
4. Do You Want to Buy a House in a Neighborhood or with Land?
My dream home would be both! 1-5 acres at the end of a cul-de-sac.
If you’re choosing between one or the other there are definitely pros and cons to both.
Pros and Cons to a House with Small Children in a Neighborhood
Pros
- Greater sense of community
- Likely to have other children for yours to play with
- May have better proximity to jobs, stores, parks, and entertainment
- Slow traffic speeds means children could ride bikes down the road
Cons
- Might have very small backyards
- May be more noisy if there are lots of children or traffic
- Limited privacy
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Pros and Cons to a House in the Country
Pros
- Quiet and peaceful
- Large backyard for your children to play
- May be large enough for more animals
- Likely to be less crime
Cons
- Often have fast speed limits which could be a safety issue
- May not be other children nearby for yours to play with
- Yard maintenance can be more costly and time consuming
- Longer to drive for work, school, groceries, etc.
You’ll have to weight the pros and cons for your family and decide what will be the best fit for you. Cost can be a factor here as well but it really depends. Land is very expensive but a prestigious neighborhood can be too! When you’re moving with small children take location into consideration!
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5. Where Will Your Children's Toys Be?
Some parents want their children’s toys out of sight and tucked away in their children’s room or in a play room. Others prefer the toys right in the living room so they can keep a close eye. Of course the compromise is to have the toys tucked away but for your children to be allowed a few toys at a time in the main living space.
But will the home you’re buying allow for what you picture?
A small living room could mean no space for your children’s toys and wouldn’t it be convenient to have a few handy?
A small bedroom could mean no space to store toys so they pour into your nice large living room or family room.
Or will you store the toys in the basement? A place mostly out of sight for all of the clutter and bright obnoxious colors but again… stairs.
Some of this can’t be helped. You may have to get creative. But you should definitely take this into consideration when moving into a new house with small children.
You can buy the beautiful toy storage bookshelf with drawers you see below here.
6. Will Your Children's Rooms Be on the Same Floor as Yours?
If you’re moving while pregnant or moving before you’ve even started your family you might not think this is a big deal. As a new mom you may change your mind.
You’ll have to run up and down the stairs each time your baby or toddler wakes up in the middle of the night. This is likely to be less of an issue with toddler years and beyond but children wake up throughout the night for many, many years. When they’re sick, or having nightmares, or stalling bedtime by asking for water or a hug.
Another issue you’ll want to consider is if there is an emergency, will you be able to quickly access your child? If there is a fire, earthquake, tornado, or intruder will being on a separate floor from your children possibly put them at risk?
Of course there is a benefit to being on another floor from your children – they probably won’t hear you. You can enjoy your time alone while they sleep without having to tip-toe.
7. Is There Room to Grow Into Your Home?
This house may work now, but what about 5 or 10 years from now?
Are there enough bedrooms?
If you have two boys or two girls they could share a room. But for how long? Teenagers sharing a room could be a headache. If you have children of the opposite sex they won’t be able to share a room for very long at all.
Are there enough bathrooms?
Will 1 bathroom be enough for 3 kids and 2 adults? Do you want to share a bathroom with your children? Would you like a half bath for guests to use so you don’t feel the need to deep clean and hid toys in the main family bathroom each time someone comes to visit.
Of course a lot of this will come down to budget. Buying a house you can afford is more important than the luxury of multiple bathrooms, but if you can afford to consider it, I would. If you’re buying a house pregnant or with little kids, keep in mind your wants and needs now won’t be the same in a few months!
8. The School District
Be sure to look into what school district your children would be going to. If you’re moving while pregnant, 5 years until kindergarten may seem like a long time, but as soon as that baby’s born you’ll see how fast time flies.
There may be an option of school of choice in your area. Where you can apply to enroll in a school distract other than the one you reside in, look into that. This is generally NOT a guarantee though. There is always the chance that the district could overfill, you could be too late to register, or other districts may no longer have the resources to accept children that reside outside of their district. There is a teacher shortage afterall.
You may plan to homeschool your children so school district won’t matter. Your situation may change though and you may not be able to provide the time needed to homeschool your child. Though, I hope if that’s your choice you are able to.
Moving is a Big Decision
Moving with small children? HUGE!
Whether you’re a first time home buyer, or moving from your starter home, or even if you’re lucky enough to be buying a second home, this decision is a big one.
When scrolling Zillow to find a home or walking through those homes for sale picturing what your life will look like there, takes these questions into account.
Don’t forget to take the time to enjoy this process too though. Looking at homes is the fun part!
Are there any deal breakers for you?
Let us know in the comments, we would love to hear from you!
Are you moving while pregnant?
That home purchase before your child is born is a big one. If you’re a first time mom you’re already filled with so many questions and may have some anxieties of the unknown.
This list may have some questions you haven’t considered yet. Some that you might think aren’t a big deal now but once you have that baby, your whole world changes – and so might your views.
Not not mention that actual moving while pregnant part will be difficult on you depending on what house you choose and how far along you are.
Are you moving with a baby?
Is that baby a newborn or mobile? If the baby is mobile you’ll probably have a lot of these questions at the forefront of your mind. You know how quick those little ones can be.
There may be a few questions you haven’t thought of when moving with a baby though. Read on and comment if there’s anything you think is essential but wasn’t mentioned.
Are you moving with a toddler?
If so then you are fully aware that turning your back for a second could turn into a disaster. They’re into everything, have no fear, and don’t listen to “no”.
If you are moving with a toddler let me know in the comments below!
Great advice here! I have two small children and these are real tips for people to take to heart:).
Thank you for your kind comment and taking the time to read the article!
Schools, schools, schools. The properties around us in the right district go for hundreds of thousands more than the ones down the street. It’s super important to settle into the right one.
That is definitely a good point that prices will vary by district, thank you!