Love Buying a Home Series

The “Love Buying Your Home” series will take you step-by-step through the entire home-buying process — from finding a buyer’s agent to settlement day, and even to maintaining your home after you’re all moved in. Every first-time buyer will find this information-packed series easy to follow and understand. Make sure to tune in for the next few weeks!

Before you go looking “out there” for a home, it’s best to start with some self-analysis.  Remember, you’ll be living in this home every single day … and how you picture your life as a homeowner is so essential to finding a home that fits

YOU and your lifestyle.

That’s why you need to first ask yourself (and your loved ones) some thought-provoking questions that dig a bit deeper than how many bedrooms you need.

Ask Yourself Questions Such As:

• How long do you plan on living in this first home?
• What plans do you have during that time period and how will these affect your home needs, such as space for children or a growing family? Location for a job or school?
• What is the ideal timeframe for purchasing this home? Do you have a specific deadline? Why is this timing important? Are you willing to wait longer if the market’s timing for your home is not the same as your ideal timing?
• What about your current daily life do you love and are not willing to give up? For example, do you love going to your favorite gas station on the way to work every morning or hit the gym for a workout on your way home?
• Are you a homebody? Do you love having people over and would love to have the space for entertaining at home?
• Do you love to be near restaurants, theaters, or close to more vibrant areas? Do you hate crowds, busy streets, and traffic? Do you see that changing at any point during your timeframe for living in your next home?
• Do you work late and need to be close to the office or have an easy commute?  Will that change in the next 5 years or so?
• What are your personal goals and how will these affect your home needs or budget? For example, do you plan to change jobs at some point and so your finances may change – a possible increase or decrease in salary?
• Do you want to work from home eventually or start your own business and may need space for an office and supplies?
• Would you prefer to live in a less expensive, possibly smaller, home so you have the funds to travel the world or for a favorite hobby?
• Do you consider yourself a “location person” or a “house person”? Do you get more excited about the local amenities OR the features inside your house? Usually people tend to be more one than the other. Which are you?
• What is your ideal location and why?
• Where do you commute to and what is your preferred method of getting there?
• Are schools in the neighborhood a factor for this home purchase?
• Would you prefer to have a longer commute to get more space? Or, do you want to live in the middle of a more urban community and possibly have less living space?
• Do you feel the need for green space, lots of trees, more open space, fewer buildings and streets, and not having neighbors’ homes too close to yours? Do you love to garden or want a large backyard for children or dogs? Or is a playground or dog park nearby sufficient? And what about outdoor space for entertaining or relaxing?
• What about your current home would you like to change or be different in your next home? (Or what absolutely bothers you every day in your current home or rental?) Do you want: Bigger closets? Less noise? More amenities nearby? Home office space? More convenient shopping options? More modern and sleek features? More historic or vintage home?
• What is the absolute most important, can’t-live-without it, the deal-breaker thing you MUST have? (We all have one.) What can you compromise in a home?
• Describe your ideal scenario when it comes to your home purchase and why.

I’d love to hear your answers to your questions.  This is exactly what we discuss during our next step together—an initial consultation to talk about the buying process in more detail. Your answers will provide some important insights on where you want to go with your life and your expectations for your new home.

Keep coming back here each and every week to learn more about the home buying process and reach out to me through email at mccall@youragentmccall.com anytime with questions about how what you are learning applies to YOUR specific situation.  Just like every real estate agent is unique, so is every buyer and I’d love to help you apply what you are learning in this series to YOUR home buying plans.