The Homebuying Adventure process has been part eye-opening, part stressful and part awesome. The biggest eye-opener was of course my meeting with Mollie Bergstrom from Mortgage (I’m still working diligently on building up my credit) but the day we spent looking at houses is right up there as well.
It’s hard to go into an experience like this without expectations, ideas and prerequisites in mind. House hunting is a lot like going on a series of blind dates. First, you tell someone (your trusty Realtor® in this case) what you are looking for, your likes, your dislikes and everything in between. He or she goes out and scours the home inventory in hopes of finding you that “match made in heaven.” Then, it’s time for you to brace yourself as you put your trust in the hands of fate and venture out to “meet” your prospects.
I had a vision of a picturesque cottage with a perfect porch where I could sit each day with my cup of morning coffee. Naïve? Maybe. But everyone has their idea of Prince or Princess Charming. Alas, the locations I was interested in pushed that vision right out of the realm of possibilities. Even without a credit score I knew there would be no way for me to afford my “perfect match.” So, my first big takeaway for all you first-time homebuyers out there is to be flexible and open minded.
Have a list of likes and dislikes but make sure you figure out which items are make or break items. More often than not you are going to have to sacrifice a “like” or two to find your first home.
For the past several years, the following three items have been at the top of a first-time homebuyer priority list:
- Quality of the neighborhood
- Convenience to work
- Affordability of homes
Last, but certainly not least, during my quest for love at first sight, I learned that being thorough is not just important, it’s imperative. You may think you’ve found a winner, but doing a meticulous walk-through can reveal imperfections your infatuation caused you to miss. Ask questions, jot down notes, take pictures, leave no stone unturned!
Did I find my perfect match? Not yet. But I learned a ton about what is truly important to me when it comes to my future home.
What does your “perfect match” look like?
By Genevieve Jooste
