Every homebuyer has a list of  features and amenities in mind for their dream home. While the house you ultimately choose should have some of these needs and wants, consider these five characteristics to help you choose the home that is right for you now and in the future.

1. Selling

It may seem strange to think about selling a home before you even buy the home, but it’s important to think about the future. First, consider the time frame you realistically will be living in the home. While you may think that you will live in this house until the day you die, the truth of the matter is that the average American moves every five to seven years.

This may be the perfect house for you today but with jobs, growing and shrinking families, neighborhood changes and numerous other factors will it be the perfect house in a few years, or will it be the perfect house for another buyer?

2. Size

Is it the right size home for you and your family now? Is it big enough or small enough for you to grow your family or easily downsize as your kids grow and leave home? Again, answering these questions truly depends on what your situation is now, what you expect your situation to become and how long you intend on living in the home. A two-bedroom condo may be ideal for a single individual or a married couple without any children. It can even accommodate a couple with one child, but if the family expects to grow beyond this, then the condo and its size will only be adequate for a short period of time.

3. Repairs

Some houses are in move-in condition. Other homes need numerous repairs and remodeling to turn the home into move-in condition.  Some repairs are identifiable on sight. Others, you need the help of a professional home inspector to identify. It may cost some extra money upfront, but it is well worth the expense to have a professional home inspector to identify any major or minor issues the home may have.

Some items the inspector reviews include:

• Heating and cooling units
• Roof
• Structural safety or issues of the home (foundation, walls, etc.)

4. School District

For families with children or of those intending on having children of school age while living in the home, school districts are big selling and buying points for homes. Check into the reputation of the schools in the district where the home is. Talk with fellow parents. If you have access to the teachers or administrators of the school, gather insider information as to how great or not so great the schools are in the area.

Keep in mind this is an important consideration even if you don’t have kids. If you intend to sell to a family that has kids in the future, the school district will be an important characteristic to them. Again, think about the present and the future when you are considering which house to buy.

5. Location

Location, location, location has always been the mantra of professional real estate agents when selling a home. Especially in a sporadic housing market, evaluate whether you are considering homes in underpriced or overpriced neighborhoods or locations. This will make a difference when you go to sell the home in the future. If you have overpaid for a home, you may not see the appreciation necessary to profit from the sale, or if home values drop, you may be upside down on your mortgage—owing more on the home than you can sell it for.

While you should create a list of features and characteristics you must have and would like to have in the home you are buying, five primary characteristics should weigh in on your decision. The presence of these features can make the difference in what you pay for the house upfront, money you have to put into the home and your ability to sell the home later.