How Do You Know When You’ve Found The Right House?
Finding the “right” home can feel like finding the right life partner. It can take a long time, and you don’t want to settle. You want to find a home with the location, features, and floor plan that suit your lifestyle and budget. It’s a big decision and one you will agonize over, so it’s helpful to know what makes a home “Mr. Right” instead of “Mr. Right Now.” Here are our top ten ways to know you found the right home.
10 Ways To Know You Found The Right Home
1. It’s In Your Budget
A home can have all the bells and whistles in the world, but if it’s way out of your budget, it’s not worth considering. The last thing you want to do is purchase an unaffordable home for yourself. Defaulting on your mortgage is not an experience anyone wants. Remind your realtor of your budget and avoid viewing homes outside your parameters to avoid this fate. The right home for you will feel comfortable financially.
2. It Has Your “Must-Haves”
While we all have an idea of what our “dream home” would include (a home theater, infinity pool, and virtual reality room, anyone?!), we also know what our non-negotiables are. For example, if you have a dog, you probably need some kind of yard. While a condo overlooking the city might seem fun, going down three flights of stairs to take your dog to the bathroom will get old fast. Make a list of your realistic “must-haves” to determine if a property has what you need. Some things to think about include:
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House size
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Room sizes
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Yard
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Location
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School districts
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Crime-levels
3. The Location Fits Your Life
Think about where you work, where your kids go to school, where your friends/family live, and what activities you enjoy. For example, moving to a rural suburb may cramp your style if you love nightlife. Conversely, if your children currently attend a particular school, you may want to stay within the district. Commute times for work are also essential to think about. Even if you really love a home, if it comes with an hour commute to work each day, it will reduce your quality of life.
4. You Stop Wanting To Search For Homes
Another way to know if you found the “one” when house hunting is if you suddenly lose the urge to keep browsing. Looking at homes is exhilarating at first, but you’ll feel ready to stop once you’ve found the right one. Even as new homes hit the market, you will still favor this specific home over all others.
5. You Start Planning Your Life There
When you find the right house, it’s easy to imagine what your life will be like there. As you walk through each room, you will start mentally placing furniture and decor there. You will imagine the holidays spent there and the memories you will make. You may even feel like the house is already yours because it’s so comfortable.
6. You Tell Everyone
Another sure-fire sign that you’ve found your home is that you can’t resist the urge to tell everyone about it. You tell your friends, your family, and even the grocery store clerk about this fantastic home. You’re giddy with excitement and can’t stop smiling when you think about it.
7. Your Entire Family Loves It
When looking at homes for your family to live in, it’s essential to think about how it will impact each member of your brood. Although your four-year-old and ten-year-old might have drastically different views of what makes a home awesome, it’s a good sign when everyone feels happy about the decision to move forward.
8. The Imperfections Are Tolerable
Every home has imperfections; it’s just a matter of what’s a “deal-breaker” for you. Can you live with scratched hardwood floors? Does the outdated kitchen make you want to pull your hair out? Or can you get past it? If you can accept a home’s flaws or have the budget to remodel to your liking, you’ve likely found “the one.”
9. You Don’t Feel Doubt
Doubts and second thoughts are natural, especially when you’re buying something as significant as a home. However, you will feel confident when you’ve found the right home. A calm will wash over you, and you be at peace with your decision.
10. It Just “Feels Right”
Lastly, once you’ve determined a home is your price point, has your must-haves, is in the right location, your family is in agreement, you’re not interested in other houses, and the flaws aren’t deal-breakers, it comes down to a gut feeling. Listen to your intuition, and you will find the “right” home in no time.
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