Are you in the process of house shopping?
If so, you know firsthand just how stressful this process can be. You might find yourself losing sleep, pressing yourself financially and feeling the mental and physical exhaustion of viewing countless properties.
If you’re nodding your head, it’s important to note that your stress is warranted and entirely normal. In fact, one study found that one in three Americans were reduced to tears at least once in their homebuying journey. Hey, the real estate world can be a cruel one!
Of all the stress that homebuyers experience, one of the most stressful experiences comes with determining whether a house of interest is the right house for them. Even if you fall in love the moment you walk through the door, there are a number of factors in determining whether this is the right house for you.
1. It Checks Most of the Boxes
Of course, finding a home that checks each and every box on your list isn’t always realistic.
Instead, the goal should be to find a home that checks off the majority of the boxes on your list. In also being flexible, you will want to ensure that the home features all of the most important boxes. This could be anything from the number of bedrooms and the size of the backyard to a finished basement or being located in a certain school zone.
2. It’s Financially Responsible
Finding a home that suits you financially is arguably the most important factor in locating the right home for you. To start, consider that most experts recommend spending a maximum of 30 percent of your income on housing costs.
In any circumstance, living in the perfect home will never be worth the stress of feeling house-poor. Eventually, you’re going to find yourself having to either rent your home or even sell it. It’s safe to say this stress simply isn’t worth it.
Instead, focus on finding a home that works for you financially. You want to ensure that you can afford your mortgage payments even in the event that interest rates rise or the market changes. You’ll also want to factor in other monthly costs such as property taxes, utility bills and insurance payments.
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3. There Are Minimal Dealbreakers
When we set out to find our dream home, it’s almost certain that we have some dealbreakers in the mind.
For example, some buyers might consider it a dealbreaker if a property doesn’t have a detached garage or a main-floor powder room. Either way, we all have dealbreakers that we simply cannot entertain when it comes to purchasing a home.
When you find the right home, it’s important to ensure that the home doesn’t feature any of your dealbreakers. Sure, the price might be right and the neighborhood is preferable, but that one dealbreaker present in the home should be enough to send you out the front door.
4. You Feel Safe
At the end of the day, it’s absolutely crucial to feel safe and secure in the place that you call home.
After all, this is the place that you come home to after a stressful day at work or a difficult commute home. In a way, your home is your sanctuary and it’s incredibly important to feel safe the moment you walk through the door. The art of feeling safe comes in the form of two elements: interior safety and exterior safety.
With interior safety, you want to ensure that you feel safe within the home itself. This could be terms of the electrical of the house, the appliances and the overall condition of the home.
With exterior safety, you want to ensure that you feel safe in the neighboorhood in which the home resides. You want to feel comfortable spending time outside and with your neighbors. You also want to ensure that, if you have a family, you will feel confident in having your children grow up in such a setting.
5. The Neighborhood Feels Like Home
When it comes to real estate, there’s a reason that “location, location, location” has become such a prominent line.
The neighborhood in which you live is essentially the heartbeat of your home. Not only is your neighborhood a key element in determining your resale value, but it’s also the setting of your home.
Your neighborhood is where your going to spend the majority of your time and your neighbors may soon become like family. This is why feeling like home in your neighborhood is so important when it comes to finding the right home.
6. You Can Envision Your Future Life
The truth is, you’re going to walk into countless homes that are picturesque and beautiful.
The kitchen is updated with modern appliances, the backyard is sizable and the four bedrooms are perfect for your family. But, without being able to put your finger on why, there’s something preventing you from envisioning your future in this home.
In this event, it’s best to move on and wait until you find a house that feels all the more personal and fitting. Sooner or later, you’re going to walk into a house where you find yourself perfectly envisioning your future.
Did you walk through the front doors and picture your art on the walls? Or, maybe you envisioned your family hosting late-night dinner parties in the kitchen. Either way, when you find yourself dreaming of your future self in that home, this is always a good sign.
Finding the Right House
Unfortunately, there’s no one-step solution in finding the right house for you.
If it were that simple, finding a home wouldn’t have to be such a stressful and anxiety-inducing experience. When it comes to buying your future home, you want to ensure that you avoid buying the wrong house and eventually feeling stuck.
So, how can you ensure that your dream home is, in fact, the right house for you?
Finding the right house is the perfect combination of finding a home that you can afford, feel safe in and one you can picture your future in. From here, you’re going to want to ensure that it’s checking the majority of your boxes and that it’s free from your most significant dealbreakers.
When you find a home that suits the above, it might be time to sign on the dotted line!
If you’re getting ready to sell your home, check out our blog on how to avoid expensive home renovations.