Shortchanged by Shortcuts? It’s rare that it takes people more than a few minutes to determine whether or not they can live in a particular house. I’ll say it again – in this step, gut reaction counts! A house is not something you should have to talk your spouse into liking as much as you do, nor should you settle for something you need to be talked into. If you’re considering many neighborhoods, try using the “brunching” method of house hunting. That’s where you pick a neighborhood you’re interested in, head over there for brunch on a Sunday and get a feel for the area. After brunch, you can hit some open houses of homes in your price range. This gives an easy, casual way to see if an area has the right vibe… and besides, who isn’t looking for an excuse to brunch? If you have a neighborhood picked based on commute, schools, proximity to recreational spaces, etc., then it’s simpler. You know how much you can spend and where you want to be, so it’s a question of seeing what’s available.
One Man Gathers What Another Man Spills Finding the right home could happen after just seeing a few homes or it could take over a year. It depends on your flexibility, the market conditions, and the quality of the Realtor you choose. Keep in mind, the marketplace is made up of people selling houses they no longer want or need. There’s no guarantee a house exists with all your first round criteria, much less is being sold at a price you can afford at this precise time. Patience, being flexible, and keeping a realistic set of expectations are the key to happiness in most things – real estate being no exception. If you go through every house that’s currently for sale that fits your criteria, without finding the right house, you’ll need to either change your criteria or sit and wait for more to come to market.
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