What to Know Before Buying a Home

Before hitting the streets to look for a home, check out these helpful facts and figures from the experts at Sleep On It.

Of major appliances, gas ranges last longest (15 years).
In the western U.S., window replacements get 103 percent of cost recouped on sale.
The average U.S. home appreciates 5 to 6 percent per year.
Most homeowners move every seven to 10 years.
The average bathroom remodel costs $10,500. They also have the highest return on investment — about 102 percent.
Outdoor living is key for today's buyer.
The median price of an existing house has gone up 5.5 percent since 1989.
Thirteen percent of previously owned homes are for sale by owner.
New homes can cost about 20 percent more than existing homes.
Three considerations when choosing a home are price, location and condition.

A typical midrange kitchen remodel costs nearly $44,000 and can bring a return of about 90 percent.
Ask about lead paint or asbestos in older homes.
Tree roots can crack a driveway.
Homes in premium condition sell for more, even in a buyer's market.
Talk to homeowners in the neighborhood you're interested in for more information about the area.
Most agents suggest that the No. 1 reason houses don't sell is price.
In the western U.S., a basement remodel may return 108 percent on resale.
Studies of magnetic field exposure from power lines show little evidence of an association to increased health risks.
Forty-three percent of homebuyers rank proximity to a school as an important factor.
Thirty-six percent of buyers prefer a separate shower in the master bath.