How to find a home you’ll fall in love with…
Finding your dream home is a lot like finding the perfect partner. It might take a while, but when you find the one, you know you’ll always have the support of someone who just gets you. And when you find your dream home, you’ll always have the perfect place to unwind and make memories…
Thankfully, finding the perfect home is a lot easier than finding the perfect partner. A bit of planning and some legwork can get you into the home that fits you. No blind dates needed!
Find your style
While you might love craftsman homes or the sleek look of a modern kitchen in a penthouse apartment, you’ll be happiest if you consider what type of home will work best for you.
Single-family homes offer more privacy and freedom, which can be great if you have kids or pets who need a garden to run around in. But single-family homes also mean more weekends full of maintenance projects. In an apartment, often a lot of maintenance is handled for you, but an apartment might not have the green space you need for your family, and you’ll pay a service charge.
Know your finances
Before you start looking for homes, it helps to get pre-approved. It can be a daunting process for homebuyers, but it doesn’t have to be. Getting your finances in order first will make things go smoothly. Order your credit report and credit score to see where you stand (and where you can make improvements by correcting errors or paying your bills on time). Gather proof of income and cut down on outgoings. Finally, tally the funds you have available for a down payment and buying costs.
Stay on budget
Once you get pre-approved and know what you’re likely to qualify for, it can be tempting to start looking for homes at the top of your price range, but that doesn’t always make sense. Taking on a mortgage bigger than you can comfortably afford can quickly sour the feeling of true love for your new home. Make yourself a budget and stick to it.
Plan for the future
When you’re ready to look for homes, consider what works best for you now — and what will work best for you in the future. Ideally, you should plan on staying in your new home for the next five to seven years (or longer). Doing so can help you pay down the mortgage and build equity.
For a house to be your perfect home, it will have to grow with you. If you’re planning on having kids, you may need an extra bedroom or two. Think you might start working remotely? You’ll want that home office. While you don’t want to overdo it and buy a five-bedroom home when you’re single, be sure to give yourself some room to grow.
See past the flaws
Unless you get really lucky, the homes you view probably won’t have every single thing on your wish list. In fact, the house might have a few things you don’t like. But that doesn’t mean it can’t become your perfect home.
The key is looking past the exterior cosmetic blemishes to the home’s bones. Linoleum floors, a shade of paint you hate in the bedroom, or some kitchen cabinets that need updating are all things you can upgrade to fit your style.
So look for a well-built home that has the space you need, some features you love, a layout that serves your lifestyle and a price point that allows you to make some changes. With a little TLC, this will be the home you will grow to love.
Look — and look again
Once you think you’ve found a home you want to make an offer on, take a second look. Both a home and an area can look completely different at different times of the day. For example, you might have viewed a home on a weekday morning when all was quiet only to find the area is too loud at night.
To get a good idea of what you’re getting into, view the home at least twice, preferably at two different times of day — for example, on a weekday morning and then again on a weekend evening.
Get to know the area
Finding a home you love is a top priority, but for the love affair to last for years, you’ll have to love the area too. While driving or walking around, ask yourself if the house is in an area that really fits your needs. Are you an avid outdoor enthusiast? You probably don’t want to be 40 miles from the nearest hiking and jogging trails.
Do you rely on a wide variety of restaurants for quick takeout on weeknights? Look for restaurants that suit your taste buds and your lifestyle, ideally on your typical route between work and home.
Stay flexible
In a relationship, the perfect partner you imagined might not be who you end up with — and that can be a good thing. The same goes for finding your perfect home. You may be in love with a certain type of architecture or having a big kitchen, but you don’t want to get too fixated on it and overlook the otherwise perfect house that’s missing that one particular feature. Stay flexible, be willing to compromise, and you’ll be sure to find your dream home.
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