First-Time Buyers prefer “move-in” Ready Homes

A new survey by Coldwell Banker finds that 87 percent of first-time homebuyers who purchased their home within the past year preferred a move-in ready home to one that would require some work.

A home’s location to area amenities was also important to first-time buyers. Nearly four out of five buyers (78 percent) say it was important to find a home close to retail shops and services while three-fourths wanted to be close to their jobs and nearly two-thirds wanted to be near highly-rated schools.

Many buyers were surprised by the immediate benefits they received once they purchased their first home. For example, 67 percent said the market conditions provided them the opportunity to buy a home sooner than they expected, half said they found a home in a more desirable location than they expected, and 61 percent got a home for a better price than expected.