3 Things Expectant Parents Need to Know About Buying a Home in Georgia

You're expecting your first child and looking for a cozy home to make your own. And trying to figure out how to balance work, family and free time. And... learning that searching for a new home can be far more complicated than you thought. If you're expecting a new addition to your family, the Augusta area is a great place to dig deep roots, but finding a child-friendly home isn't always easy. Here's what to look for:

The Neighborhood

When scoping out potential homes, your best bet is to start on a macroscopic level—find a neighborhood—and work your way down to the house. The kid-friendliness and safety of your neighborhood will make as big a difference in your happiness as the coziness of the actual house you end up choosing.

BetterKidsInstitute.com recommends looking up neighborhoods near your workplace and then researching areas close to police and fire stations. City-Data.com is also a great source on a neighborhood's safety features, and it'll give you a jumping-off place for questions to ask your real estate agent and residents in the area.

The School System

It won't be long before the child you're expecting is old enough to enroll in school. Now is the time to research schools in the area. If you plan to send your child to public school, see where the area schools rank on a national scale. You can search for each individual school or visit GreatSchools.org and search by city and neighborhood.

If you're considering sending your children to private school, find out how difficult it will be to commute from the home you're considering. If you don't want to end up with a 30-minute commute to and from your child's school everyday, you'll need to plan accordingly.

The House Itself

Now is the time to consider details. How important is a carport or garage? You'll have to weigh what matters to you, like whether it's worth it to live in a picturesque, historic neighborhood that doesn't have easy drive-up access. Do you want to deal with a two-story house when you're carrying an infant or toddler around? Considerations that seem like non-issues now could become more problematic after a few years, so take the time to think carefully about the layout of any potential home.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, homes and condos built before 1978 may still contain lead-based paint that can be harmful to kids if ingested. You shouldn't automatically write off those older homes, but get a lead inspection before sealing the deal.

Funding Options

Once you find the perfect home for your growing family, you'll have to secure a loan. Your real estate agent can direct you to a lender whom he or she trusts. Depending on what you qualify for, you could get a mortgage putting as little as three percent down. If you receive regular payments from a structured settlement, you can sell the payments for a lump sum to come up with the down payment. The cash value of your annuity depends on things like current interest rates, demand and how much money you need.