The Answers to These 3 Questions Could Determine if Your Home Makes You Happy

Make sure you answer them before you make an offer.

There's a lot to think about when you decide which house to buy. Sometimes, however, it's easy to get caught up in things that don't end up mattering in the long run, such as whether you like the paint colors or the kitchen countertops.

There are, however, a few factors that are truly important and could end up playing the biggest determining role in whether or not you like your house.

Here are three of them.

1. How long is your commute?

If you're thinking about moving far away from where you work just to get a bigger house, you may want to think twice. You'll most likely be making that commute twice a day, five days a week, for years. And while you may not think it matters, a long or stressful commute can have a big impact on your long-term happiness.

If you're not used to driving such a long distance to work, your move could be a major lifestyle change that requires you to get up earlier and spend less time with your family or doing things you enjoy. You could really end up regretting that, and unfortunately, a commute isn't something that can easily be changed.

You should also consider how far away your home is from stores and restaurants that you enjoy visiting regularly as well as the distance from family and friends. In the long run, you may find a more convenient location makes you much happier than the perfect house in an inconvenient place.

2. How big is your mortgage payment?

The size of your mortgage is going to dictate how much money you have for everything else that you want to do. If you've taken out a home loan that's too large, you may not be able to take vacations or save for retirement.

You could also find yourself unable to change jobs due to concern about a pay cut and could end up stressed every month if making your payment is a struggle for you. Ultimately, your house will not end up making you happy if paying for it becomes a constant worry. So make sure you are purchasing a property that you can count on to fit reasonably within your budget.

3. Is there a good layout?

Finally, the layout of your house can have a huge impact on how your day-to-day experience is while living in it -- and it's really difficult to change without major remodeling.

You'll want to think about how well the traffic flows for common activities. For example, when you bring in groceries, is there a quick path to the kitchen? When guests come, is there a nice place to sit with them? Are the bedrooms spaced appropriately so you aren't on top of your kids or so you don't hear the TV going in the main room?

The answers to all these questions are going to have a much bigger effect on how much you enjoy living in your home than any aesthetic factors that may be so impressive when you first walk in.

By carefully considering the answers to each of these three questions, you should hopefully be able to find a home you love and are happy with for the long haul.