Lancaster · First-Time Buyers
First-Time Home Buyer in Lancaster, Ohio
Buying your first home? I explain every step, so you know what happens next.
Buying your first home in Lancaster
If you are buying your first home in Lancaster, Ohio, you are probably ready to start and wondering what comes first. I will tell you, and I will explain each step as we reach it.
Lancaster is a good place to begin the search. Homes here are generally more affordable than in Pickerington, and many buyers come to Lancaster because they want more house for their budget.
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Where to start
Start with a free buyer consultation in my office. We meet, go over the documents you will see, and walk through how the whole process works. I like to have your pre-approval before then. Once you have met with me and you are pre-approved, we can look at Lancaster homes the same day.
I can also send new Lancaster listings straight to your email as they come on the market. The whole path is on my buying process page, and the first steps are on my first-time buyer page.
Three questions to ask about any Lancaster home
- Is there an HOA? Lancaster has older neighborhoods without HOAs and a couple of newer subdivisions with them. An HOA charges fees and sets rules, so I will tell you before you write an offer.
- Is it inside the city limits? Lots of Lancaster homes sit outside the city, and I will explain what that means for the specific home.
- How much land comes with it? There is more opportunity for acreage near Lancaster than in some nearby towns.
Columbus is about 40 minutes away, and downtown Lancaster has restaurants, shops and museums close by. When we tour, I will show you the town around the house too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Lancaster homes have HOAs?
Some do and some do not. Lancaster has older neighborhoods without HOAs and a couple of newer subdivisions with them. I will tell you whether a home has one, and what it costs, before you write an offer.
Can I buy a home outside the city limits?
Yes. Lots of Lancaster homes sit outside the city limits. I will walk you through what that means for that specific property before you write an offer.
Lancaster
What first-time buyers looks like in Lancaster
Older neighborhoods, a couple of newer subdivisions and lots of homes outside the city, about 40 minutes from Columbus.
- The homes
- Older neighborhoods without HOAs, a couple of newer subdivisions with HOAs, and plenty of homes outside the city limits.
- Why people choose it
- People choose Lancaster for its historic small city feel. It isn't as crowded as Columbus or Pickerington, the commute to Columbus isn't bad, homes are generally more affordable, and there is more opportunity for acreage nearby. It attracts buyers who want more house for their budget.
- Schools people ask about
- Lancaster City Schools has two junior high schools and one high school, in a new building that opened this fall.
- Getting around
- Columbus is about 40 minutes from Lancaster, and Hocking Hills, a big attraction area, is about 30 minutes away.
- Nearby
- Downtown Lancaster has several restaurants and shops, including O'Huids Gaelic Pub, Provisions Deli and Bakery, Maria's Mexican restaurant, Bob's Backyard BBQ and the Ale House, plus the Sherman House Museum (where General Sherman was born), the Ohio Glass Museum, the Georgian Museum, the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio in the historic Reese-Peters House, Gay Fad Studio, and Art & Clay on Main Street.
- The trade-off
- Compared with Pickerington, Lancaster has a historic small city feel, homes that are generally more affordable, and more opportunity for acreage nearby.
First-Time Buyers: keep exploring
Ready to make your move with Jill Howell?