New construction homes can be a great option for many families looking to buy a house. But with all the features on display, you'll need to have a very firm and well-thought list of criteria to help you stay focused. When you start shopping for a home, this list will help you to narrow down your options and find the home that's the best for you and your family.

Health needs criteria

Health needs should be foremost in your mind if you or a family member has specific health-related requirements. For instance, if someone in your family has serious or chronic medical issues, a house with a good medical facility close by could be on your priorities list.

Or if you have allergies, you may want to look for a home that doesn't have a lot of carpets or one that was constructed with low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) materials.

Eco-friendly living criteria

Some eco-friendly features to look for in a home include alternative power sources, plenty of natural lighting, good insulation to improve energy efficiency, and eco-friendly materials used in the construction process. Low-VOC materials can be eco-friendly, as can materials with recycled content or materials chosen for their sustainable sources (such as bamboo).

Lifestyle necessities criteria

If you don't care for swimming or pools, having a pool in the backyard may not be as important to you as to someone who swims as a hobby. Consider what lifestyle factors could make one house work better for you than another. For instance, if you're an avid gardener, a too-small lot with no garden space could be a deal-breaker.

Work-related criteria

Depending on what you do for a living, you may also have to tailor your criteria for a house to fit the needs of your career. For instance, working from home could mean that you need space in your new house for an office that's private enough to help you avoid distractions. Or if you have a work-from-home retail business, you may need a home with a large garage for storage.

Family needs criteria

When buying a home, you'll want to consider the size of your family both now and in the future. If you're hoping to have more kids, have your parents move in later, or even adopt a lot of dogs, you'll need to make sure the house can provide enough space for those goals to come to fruition.

Other examples of criteria related to family needs include choosing a house with no pool if you have small kids or looking for an open-plan house to facilitate quality family time.

These are just some of the types of criteria you can use to make a wish list and a priorities list when looking for a home. Contact your real estate agent today to start looking for the best new home that meets all your criteria. They can provide additional information regarding new construction homes.