There’s no denying mortgage rates, and home prices are higher now than they were in previous years and that’s impacting what you can afford. At the same time, there are still fewer home s available for sale than the norm. These are two of the biggest hurdles buyers are facing today. But there are ways to overcome these things and still make your dream of home ownership a reality.
As you set out to purchase, you’ll want to be strategic. This includes taking a close look at your needs and want list, considering what features you really need in your next home versus which ones are nice-to-have. This want and need list will help you avoid overextending your budget or limiting your pool of options because you’re searching for that perfect home.
Before you start your home search, we will help you create your needs and wants list. From there, work to break those features into categories. Here’s a great way to organize your list:
- Must-Haves (Needs)–
If a house doesn’t have these features, it won’t work for you and your
lifestyle. Some examples would be… distance from work or loved ones,
number of bedrooms/bathrooms. - Nice-To-Haves (Wants) –
These are features you’d love to have but can live without. Nice-to-haves
aren’t dealbreakers, but if you find a home that hits all the must-haves
and some of these, it’s a contender. - Dream Items –
This is where you can really think big. Again, these aren’t features
you’ll need, but if you find a home in your budget that has all the
must-haves, most of the nice-to-haves, and any of these, it’s a clear
winner.
While you’d love to have everything on your list, most are things you could potentially add after you move. Instead, it may be best to focus on finding the things that you can’t change like the location or the number of bedrooms. You can always upgrade or add some of the other features or finishes you want later. Once you’ve categorized your list in a way that works for you, we will discuss your top priorities and refine it based on current market conditions. We’ll then find a home in an area that meets your top needs. Let’s connect to make that possible.
Remember, sometimes the perfect home is the one you perfect after buying it.