It’s time to buy a home, and while you know the style and layout of the kind of home you are looking for, you’re unsure of where to begin looking for your dream home.

This is the moment where the home buying motto comes into play—location, location, location.

It’s important to keep in mind that once you buy a home, the condition of your home can always change, but the area you decide to live might not. Usually when someone buys a home, it’s safe to say they want to stay grounded there for a while, which is why location is a top priority. It really comes down to what you genuinely need from a location, that way you’re settling in a home completely satisfied with everything necessary to fit your personal lifestyle.

Consider the following location factors when deciding where to look:

School District

This is usually a huge factor for people with children. Of course, you want your kids to be part of a great school district and get the most out of their education. This is why searching for the right one will be an important factor to take into account while searching for your future home.

Rural or Urban?

If you have lived in an urban community your entire life, going off into a rural area may be a bit of a dramatic change. If you’re really trying to get more in touch with nature and live a slightly less fast-paced lifestyle, then go rural! As long as you are confident that you’ll be comfortable with your new surroundings.

Proximity to Work

I’m not sure I have ever met someone who has said, “I love my long and early commute to work!”, which is why it’s important to make sure the area you are looking to live in is a manageable distance from your job. This way, getting to work doesn’t cause them more stress than the actual job itself.

Price Range

Start by looking at available homes and the prices that those homes are selling for, to begin weighing out options within your price range. Your dream home can always be updated later on down the road, so try and remind yourself to remain patient. It’s important to not to live too far beyond your means.

Natural Disasters

You can’t control nature, but you can control if a home is well-equipped for natural disasters.  Consider if a location is prone to having tornadoes, earthquakes, or floods, so you can weigh out your options and see if a potential home is secure enough to reside in.

Distance from Extended Family

Everyone’s family is different, but consider a potential homes proximity to relatives.  Whether you’re close with your family, or there are older relatives who will eventually need extra care, this is important to keep in mind, especially if you plan on settling in the location for a long period of time.

Once you are locked in at an address, changing the environment to live in won’t be a feasible option unless you get up and move again. Go with your gut when choosing a location, so you know you made a satisfying choice in the long run.