We are less than two days away from being homeowners and boy, does it feel strange. It will have been exactly 45 days since we first stepped through the door of our light yellow cape cod with its hardwood floors, two car garage and picture windows that look out into our private wooded backyard. It was love at first sight.
Buying a home really has been a trying process, mentally and emotionally. After looking at dozens of homes, the energy of our soon-to-be home was so electrifying that I wanted to wake up in it the very next day. The six weeks that followed felt like six months (well, that might be because we have been living in a hotel room...) and our anxiousness has been the source of fatigue and frustration. Now that we are counting down the hours, I've realized how far we've come on the journey of choosing the right first home, and I thought I'd share some pearls of wisdom.
Pearl 1: See a few houses THEN set you budget.
Yes, really. Don't come into buying a home with a rigid budget. We did, we were disappointed with the slim pickin's, we re-evaluated then bam!, we were writing a contract. I mean, everyone loves the idea of a $500 house payment each month, but just like in every other purchase, you get what you pay for. When we were trying to get a bargain, we realized that what we would have to put into a house wasn't worth the time, frustration and potentially disappointment. When moving to a new area like we did, we had no idea what $100,000, $250,000 or $1,000,000 could buy. Seeing the differences in price points can really offer a lot of prospective and unless you start a conversation with the bank ahead of time, you'll never know what a house price equates to in the form of a real monthly payment. Be flexible and balance the price tag with the location, amenities and your emotional connection with the home.
When you are looking online, keep this in mind: the sellers are always going to put up the best pictures - why wouldn't they? In true Mad Men style they do whatever they can to try to get your curiosity up so that you may want to visit the house in person and potentially sign on the dotted line. Camera angels, lighting, even digital editing can make an almost condemned home look like a pristine mansion (trust me, I know and oh what a nightmare it turned out to be!)
Just don't get your heart set on something without seeing it in person first. Equally, don't count something out because of a hideous play room or an old-school oven - you can change that sort of thing. A home that has a great layout, a new roof and plumbing or awesome acreage is where the true value lives.
Don't get me wrong, our realtor worked for us and ultimately helped us get an incredible home at a stellar price. She did well. Just keep in mind that sometimes buying a home can take months, and that means that when the emotions get the best of you, the last thing you want is a realtor saying she has to cut the day short by six hours after you just drove three hours to meet her because she needs to get to a St. Patrick's Day party (yes, this happened....) Choosing your first home is a very unique experience, and you want a professional - someone that will be polite, patient and above all, honest. That is what we wanted, we just didn't get it. Ask around, research reputable Realtors and meet the realtor that you choose before you sign a non-compete agreement.
I really could go on and on - I have a gray hair now for every pearl of real estate wisdom I've gained. Take your time, be flexible, see the potential and enjoy the process - my husband and I didn't argue one bit during this process because we know each other, and even though our realtor didn't know us well, we sometimes did the work for her by ruling out certain layouts and seeing past the flowered wallpaper or blue counter tops. In the end, there was no compromising and I can say that next to our wedding day, getting the keys to our very own home will be one of our finest moments.
Happy Home Buying!
Buying a home really has been a trying process, mentally and emotionally. After looking at dozens of homes, the energy of our soon-to-be home was so electrifying that I wanted to wake up in it the very next day. The six weeks that followed felt like six months (well, that might be because we have been living in a hotel room...) and our anxiousness has been the source of fatigue and frustration. Now that we are counting down the hours, I've realized how far we've come on the journey of choosing the right first home, and I thought I'd share some pearls of wisdom.
Pearl 1: See a few houses THEN set you budget.
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| our custard-colored cape cod (with gray shutters and doors coming | soon! |
Yes, really. Don't come into buying a home with a rigid budget. We did, we were disappointed with the slim pickin's, we re-evaluated then bam!, we were writing a contract. I mean, everyone loves the idea of a $500 house payment each month, but just like in every other purchase, you get what you pay for. When we were trying to get a bargain, we realized that what we would have to put into a house wasn't worth the time, frustration and potentially disappointment. When moving to a new area like we did, we had no idea what $100,000, $250,000 or $1,000,000 could buy. Seeing the differences in price points can really offer a lot of prospective and unless you start a conversation with the bank ahead of time, you'll never know what a house price equates to in the form of a real monthly payment. Be flexible and balance the price tag with the location, amenities and your emotional connection with the home.
When you are looking online, keep this in mind: the sellers are always going to put up the best pictures - why wouldn't they? In true Mad Men style they do whatever they can to try to get your curiosity up so that you may want to visit the house in person and potentially sign on the dotted line. Camera angels, lighting, even digital editing can make an almost condemned home look like a pristine mansion (trust me, I know and oh what a nightmare it turned out to be!)
Just don't get your heart set on something without seeing it in person first. Equally, don't count something out because of a hideous play room or an old-school oven - you can change that sort of thing. A home that has a great layout, a new roof and plumbing or awesome acreage is where the true value lives.
Pearl 3: Find a realtor on your own
Don't get me wrong, our realtor worked for us and ultimately helped us get an incredible home at a stellar price. She did well. Just keep in mind that sometimes buying a home can take months, and that means that when the emotions get the best of you, the last thing you want is a realtor saying she has to cut the day short by six hours after you just drove three hours to meet her because she needs to get to a St. Patrick's Day party (yes, this happened....) Choosing your first home is a very unique experience, and you want a professional - someone that will be polite, patient and above all, honest. That is what we wanted, we just didn't get it. Ask around, research reputable Realtors and meet the realtor that you choose before you sign a non-compete agreement.
I really could go on and on - I have a gray hair now for every pearl of real estate wisdom I've gained. Take your time, be flexible, see the potential and enjoy the process - my husband and I didn't argue one bit during this process because we know each other, and even though our realtor didn't know us well, we sometimes did the work for her by ruling out certain layouts and seeing past the flowered wallpaper or blue counter tops. In the end, there was no compromising and I can say that next to our wedding day, getting the keys to our very own home will be one of our finest moments.
Happy Home Buying!
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