Buying a house is one of the milestones that many people dream about scratching off their list. Detached single-family homes give you the most value when you need space, the ability to make upgrades, and resale value. If you are going to buy a single-family home, it all starts with knowing the details that matter the most. This article will teach you more about purchasing your first single-family home.

Find a home that has the best square footage and layout for you

When you buy a single-family home, you are generally signing on to loans that last for 30 years. While you might not necessarily live there for that long, you should still never buy a home unless it has everything you need to comfortably live there for this amount of time. As such, space needs to be your largest priority. Figure out how much square footage and how many bedrooms you need to maintain a reasonable quality of life. You should also go a little bigger than you think you need so that you have some room to grow into after having children and accumulating more belongings.

Take some home tours and check out floor plans so that you can find out which layouts are best for your needs. Consider the number of bathrooms, along with the amenities that you get from the master bedroom and bathroom. Make note of the year the home was built and what kind of materials it was crafted with.

You should also consider which features are most important to you. A two-car garage is an essential feature for someone with multiple vehicles or large vehicles who doesn't want to park on the street, for example. Someone who loves spending time outdoors will likely appreciate a large back yard and a deck or patio.

Do your research into neighborhoods, taxes, and other important matters

When you purchase a single-family home, you're also buying into the neighborhood. Do some research into the neighborhood so that you learn about the tax rates, nearby roadways, and proximity to necessities like grocery stores and gas stations. When you're ready to move forward with purchasing a single-family home, you have to also research the history of the home to make sure there are no issues that would hold up the purchase. Most notably, you'll need to run a title search to make sure the documentation is clear and that there are no liens, litigation, or other hold-ups. You will pay roughly $100-$250 for a professional title search.

Start with these core steps as you look toward buying the perfect single-family home.