You should love where you live. Effort to develop homes that fit changing lifestyles could be a reason why new residential properties are gaining steam. It started with tiny houses. But, tiny houses aren't the only trend hitting the housing market. Communal living is also starting to take off.

This is what might happen if you live in a communal home

Millennials and Boomers are starting to choose communal homes and apartments over traditional living environments. Move into a communal apartment and you might live with four to six people. In this living situation, you might:

• Share a bathroom with all four to six people
• Cook in a kitchen with a team of people. You might also cook before or after everyone else finishes preparing a meal. To get the most out of a communal property, join your apartment or housemates in the kitchen one or more times a week.
• Enjoy the company of another resident while you watch television or read a book on the living room sofa
• Learn to share space with other people and know when to turn your music up or down
• Rotate the day that you clean one or more rooms at the apartment or house
• Get used to living with a small personal space. For example, your personal space might be limited to your bedroom.
• Live with people from diverse backgrounds, including people of different ages and cultures

Pros and cons of living at a communal home

Give yourself time to adjust to living in a communal home if you decide to take this route. After all, there are pros and cons to living at a communal property. One of the biggest pros will affect your wallet. Because you'll be splitting the cost of living at the home with the other residents, living at a communal property can cost less than living at your own apartment or your own house. Other pros and cons associated with living at a communal property include:

Pros

You'll keep up with what's new in the area

Finding someone to go to the movies or out to eat with won't be a problem

Opportunities to learn new languages may abound

Risks of leaving your home vacant, putting it at risk of a home invasion, may be greatly reduced

Cons

Your personal space will be smaller

Should residents at the home change, you'll have to get to know new people

Lack of quiet time - the ability to study or read in total silence might be limited

You will never own the house

Communal living is a good way to meet new people. Living in a communal house is similar to living in a college dorm. There may always be someone to talk with. If you've ever struggled to make friends or struggled with feeling alone, a communal house could be a good move. Before you make the move, conduct a background check on the owner of the property. Visit the home and meet all of the residents. Also, practice safety, the same as you would if you were living in a large apartment complex or a dorm.

For many people, summertime represents an ideal time to buy a residence. Ultimately, there are many terrific reasons to purchase a house in summer, including:

1. You can move after the school year ends.

When the school year draws to a close, you and your child can focus on relocating to a new residence.

Purchasing a house in summer guarantees that you can avoid the challenges commonly associated with relocating to a new residence during the school year. Instead, you and your child can spend summer looking for the perfect residence and buy a house before the new school year commences.

Furthermore, don't forget to consider the quality of schools near a residence before you finalize a purchase agreement. By doing so, you'll be able to find a home that is located near a great school for your son or daughter and ensure that your child can receive the best education possible.

2. You can complete many outdoor home improvement projects in summer.

Typically, purchasing a fixer-upper, i.e. a home in need of advanced repairs, may prove to be a viable option in summer.

If you buy a fixer-upper, you'll likely want to complete a broad array of home repairs immediately. Meanwhile, a summer home purchase ensures that you can enjoy warm temperatures for outdoor property improvement projects. As a result, you can perform roof repairs, home exterior maintenance and other outdoor home improvement tasks without having to worry about cold temperatures.

For those who are interested in finding a fixer-upper, there should be no shortage of properties available in summertime as well. Many home sellers add their properties to the real estate market in summer, guaranteeing that you can browse a large assortment of houses and find one that suits you perfectly.

3. You can work with an experienced real estate agent.

Buying a home in summer can be difficult, particularly for those who are exploring the real estate market for the first time. Lucky for you, many experienced real estate agents are available to guide you through the homebuying process.

An experienced real estate agent will help you find your dream home in no time at all. This professional understands the ins and outs of the summer housing market, and as such, will do whatever he or she can to help you discover the right house.

For example, if you are uncertain about how to obtain a mortgage, an experienced real estate agent can point you in the right direction. He or she may be able to put you in touch with nearby credit unions and banks, ensuring that you can secure a mortgage. Plus, your real estate agent might even be able to offer tips to help you boost your credit score before you apply for a mortgage.

This summer, collaborate with an experienced real estate agent to get the support you need to purchase a home. With an experienced real estate agent at your side, you can transform your homeownership dream into a reality.