Buying a home is such an exciting time as it represents change and transition in your life. For many people, buying a home, especially their first home, causes you to ask yourself questions about what you really want in life and how you want to spend your time. These are important questions because the house you choose to purchase will be dependent on these answers. Even still, choosing the right house to purchase can feel daunting as there are so many different factors and so many options. Here are a few tips to help you make the right choice in buying a house and turning it into your new home.
Be Practical
With so many options to view whether it is on pinterest, HGTV, or at an open house in person, it is important to know what you can actually afford in the buying process. While it is not necessarily the most glamorous topic to discuss, your budget should be one of the biggest factors of your buying process. And beyond the actual mortgage, there are other numbers to consider like the property taxes in your area, homeowners insurance, any HOA fees that vary from neighborhood to neighborhood, how much work do you want to/need to do after you purchase the house and how much those repairs and upgrades will cost, etc. Outside of the concrete costs that are listed above, you also have to consider ongoing costs that might sneak up and add to your total monthly budget. You should consider how many air conditioning units are in a house because both will have to be powered to keep your home at a desired temperature through the seasons. If your house has particularly high ceilings, you can expect a higher electric bill as well. Does your dream home have a pool? Awesome! But be prepared for the cost of running and upkeeping one.
Your Lifestyle
Where you live is a big part of how you live. Your prospective home should encourage the lifestyle you are currently living, and it’s possible a house you really like won’t really fit that. For instance, open cabinets in a kitchen make for a really chic, simplistic style that really catches the eye. You always see photos of beautifully stained wood planks with all white dishes and perfectly clean glasses stacked in such a picturesque manner. But, if your current lifestyle involves three small children with brightly colored plastic plates and cups, then it is possible your situation would not quite end up looking exactly like what you pictured. Sometimes the best option is not just choosing what style you like architecturally speaking, but the style of living that best suits you and your whole family.
Go With Your Gut
While everyone should have a checklist of “must haves” when your house shopping so you at least have a starting point, it is important to let the house speak to you. I know it sounds cooky, but that warm fuzzy, excited feeling really should be a factor in the shopping process. Let yourself be excited about potential options, and don’t be afraid to branch out of your comfort zone a little. Buying a house can be so fun if you lean into the excitement and enjoy the process!
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