Unless you're sure that the house you are about to buy will be your last, select one that not only appeals to you but also stands to be a worthwhile investment.

Whether it's a small starter home or a spacious estate, the same factors will affect the resale value:

Neighborhood: Location, of course, is essential. For resale value, the worst house in the best neighborhood is far better than the best house in the worst neighborhood. Also, parents are willing to pay a steep premium — often including higher local taxes — for a house in a school system that has an excellent reputation and an outstanding record of college placement.

Style and landscape: Does the home appear to be a place you would like to return to after a long day at work? It should be a welcoming sight and a place to seek rejuvenation.

Floor plan: The layout of the home will affect the way people interact in it. For example, if you enjoy entertaining, an open plan or contemporary home may be best for you. If privacy is what you seek, a more traditional home design is probably what you want.

Appealing details: Custom-made items that will be left behind when the owners move make a home more valuable. For example, built-in window treatments or special appliances add great value. Also architectural elements such as handcrafted wood moldings, tall ceilings and large windows with breathtaking views are in high demand.

Basic improvements: An updated kitchen, extra bathroom or other basic improvements usually appeal to buyers. But not everyone wants to buy a home with extras that need costly upkeep, such as a pool or spa.

Other factors: A home in an economically growing area with new jobs is likely to increase in value — particularly if those jobs are in thriving industries such as health care and technology. A home in an economically depressed area tends to decrease in value — particularly if its jobs tend to be in declining lines of work such as manufacturing.

— Marshall Loeb, MarketWatch