Searching for a home takes quite a bit of time and effort whether you’re single, married, or anything in between. Your kids add an extra layer of complexity on top of that – not only do you need a comfortable space to live, you also need a space that can accommodate children as they grow and experience the world. The house you ultimately choose needs to have a balance of factors ranging from its average room size to its proximity to recreational areas and other important locations.

Unfortunately, knowing what factors are important for both you and your children can be difficult when you don’t know what your kids might need in the future. That’s why I’ve tried to compile some of the most important factors to keep an eye on when shopping for a house.

While these are certainly not the only factors you should consider, they’re definitely important to keep on a checklist that you evaluate with every house you view.

1. Proximity to Nature

Perhaps surprisingly, one of the most important factors for your happiness as a homeowner is how close your house is to some type of green space. Research indicates that large city parks, smaller urban green spaces like tiny parks and gardens, and trees on the street in your neighborhood boost your mood significantly. Not only do these parks provide a unique look at nature – especially in urban centers where tall buildings and concrete dominate the landscape – but they also quiet the noise of urban and suburban life.

Nature is important to consider for your child’s early learning, particularly in the experiential learning space. By providing your child the opportunity to play with nature, you’re actually helping him or her root skills in a particular place (pun intended). This natural experience, according to long-time educator David Sobel, should be considered “the Holy Grail of education reform”, as it has been shown to significantly increase learning capacity and test scores in children by over 25%.

2. Room for Growth

When you have kids, you want to give them room to grow as individuals. This doesn’t just mean giving them the freedom to discover new experiences as they grow older – it also means that their physical space needs to grow as well. Simply buying a house that fits your children when they’re toddlers will not go so well when they’re older, since they’ll feel mentally and physically cramped in that small space. That’s why houses with slightly more space than you actually need is recommended. Real estate expert and parent Stephanie Vozza suggests that while “siblings may eventually share a room…a baby might disturb an older sibling’s sleep” in cramped houses, leading to situations where you may wish you had found a bigger home.

One benefit that a larger home creates is a sense of privacy. Rather than butt heads with your children or significant other unintentionally, you can create private spaces within a larger home more easily than you could in a smaller space. A larger home also allows you to create a calm space – by creating an area that’s meant purely for relaxation, you’ll be able to create and maintain habits that soothe any stress that comes up and diffuse the inevitable tiffs you’ll have as your kids grow older.

3. School Location and Reputation

A major factor you’ll want to consider is how close your home is to potential schools for your child. Buying a home near a high-ranking school zone has a distinct advantage: your child’s educational potential will increase dramatically There are also some other benefits associated with good schools, like their after-school programs and the non-standard classes they may offer as your child progresses through middle and high school.

A less obvious reason why you might consider a home near a school zone – provided it’s a good school – is the quality of your neighbors. Because home buyers are likely to increase their budget by up to 10% or sacrifice a major home feature like an extra bedroom or garage to find a home close to a good school, you’re more likely to get well-educated and dedicated neighbors if you move into these areas.

These neighbors will likely have kids around the same age as yours, allowing your child to forge meaningful friendships and relationships with people from close by. This can contribute significantly to your child’s happiness and confidence as he or she matures, an important benefit that is usually underestimated during the homebuying process.

Having children in your life is a blessing – one that shifts priorities when looking for a house to buy. Some of the factors that you may not have considered deal breakers will move to the top of your list, while other small sacrifices may have to be made to create the best future for your children. With the factors listed here and as many others as you deem important, you’ll have a solid foundation of important items to look for when you view your next home.