What Should New Home Buyers Really Consider?
LOUISIANA REALTORS • November 20, 2017
We’ve never had more access to information when it comes to making a new purchase than we do today. Whether it’s a new phone, TV, or even a new car; we are now able to essentially make up our mind before we ever see the product. While this access to information is great, it can also force us into a decision we may not be ready to make or understand. Of course the larger the purchase, the more there is to consider, and this couldn’t be truer than when buying a new home.
This is where the expertise and experience of a REALTOR®
can really pay off. You may have your mind set on a certain size, floor plan, and amenities; but are you positive that these features will meet your needs and wants? Here are a few things to keep in mind as you shop for a new home.
Don’t get hung up on square footage
It’s easy to get a number stuck in your head when it comes to square footage. However, there are many other things to consider. How tall are the ceilings? Are there granite countertops? You can look at two identically sized homes and they can vary drastically in amenities and price. So be sure to have some other objectives in mind and don’t focus solely on size.
Focus on the floorplan
The floorplan in the home you choose is pretty much permanent; short of a major renovation. So even if you aren’t wild about the finishes, floors, or colors, choose a home with the right living room, kitchen, and bedrooms, and you can inexpensively update and upgrade the aesthetics.
Consider the neighborhood
Remember that you are going to be joining a community, not just buying a house. Understanding the values, interests, and ages of your new neighbors should be a key consideration; even if the house isn’t what you imagined, but the neighborhood
is. Accounting for schools, proximity to resources, transportation, and infrastructure should all by key metrics in your decision making process.
Stick with what’s important to you in a home
While a lot of what has been mentioned above urges you to keep an open mind, it is just as important to stick with the items that are non-negotiable. Does the sound of traffic bother you? Then don’t compromise on size and don’t accept a lower price if you still have to listen to it. Does a long commute not work for you? Stick to your guns and keep looking for something that meets these needs.
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Week three of the Regular Session kept real estate issues in the conversation, even as lawmakers continued to focus heavily on workforce, tax and insurance policy. On the property tax front, measures to reshape assessments and exemptions, including proposals for a new blight rehabilitation exemption and additional relief for seniors, remain parked in the House Ways and Means Committee as stakeholders work through fiscal and local government concerns. These bills matter because they will influence long-term carrying costs, redevelopment incentives and how tax burdens are shared across residential and commercial property. Homestead related legislation, including parish level authority to increase the exemption amount, is also in the queue, signaling that the broader structure of Louisiana’s homestead system is officially on the table, not just the dollar figure. For homeowners and buyers, this debate goes directly to affordability. For local governments, it raises revenue stability and service delivery questions. There also has been movement on several identical pieces of legislation that would instruct parish assessors to develop a process for homeowners to permanently register for the homestead exemption for the duration that they own and live on the property. We are actively tracking legislation that will directly shape how investor activity and non-traditional transactions are recognized and regulated in Louisiana’s real estate market. This includes HB 468 by Troy Hebert , a key component of the Louisiana REALTORS® legislative package that targets the wholesale of residential real estate, which was heard in the House Commerce Committee on Monday. The bill is currently positioned for a floor vote early next week. As drafted, HB 468 represents a major step in the right direction for consumer protection in Louisiana, advancing needed guardrails through potential disclosure, registration, and practice standards that could redefine how assignment contracts and “off-market” transactions intersect with licensed brokerage activity. In parallel, HB 292 by Delisha Boyd passed the House on final reading, 86-3, and is on its way to the Senate. Together, these measures represent a coordinated policy effort to bring greater structure and transparency to emerging transaction models, while preserving the integrity of the traditional brokerage framework. Finally, the broader policy backdrop remains important: the Governor continues to push income tax changes and cost of living relief, while business and industry groups are prioritizing insurance, workforce and energy — each a key driver of long run housing demand and investment. As these debates evolve, we’ll keep you updated on what moves, what stalls and what it all means for your clients, your pipeline and private property rights across Louisiana. Please view the weekly bill tracking report provided by our lobbying team over at Harris, DeVille and Associates.
Tax Questions & Updates for 2026 Webinar Recording Now Available
NAR is pleased to share the latest consumer guide that explains the concept of home staging, offers DIY staging tips and missteps and shares the latest NAR member sentiment on how staging can help buyers better visualize the property as their future home and potentially net sellers a higher price. As a reminder, all guides in this series are available for download—in both English and Spanish—on facts.realtor . Please allow up to two weeks for the Spanish version of the latest resource to be translated and uploaded. For ease of reference, below is a list of the most recent guides: NEW: Staging Your House for a Sale Spotting Deepfake Scams in Real Estate Are You Ready to Invest in Real Estate? Thinking of Selling? 7 Factors to Consider How to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient Thank you for your continued engagement with the “Consumer Guide” series and for sharing the resources with prospective clients to ensure they have the information they need to find success in their home buying or selling journey. Remember that these guides are for informational purposes only and are not meant to enact or change any existing NAR policy. Be on the lookout for the next consumer guide, which discusses home mortgage options that allow buyers to fold in renovation costs.
