Avoid Staying Stagnant:
Finding your new home for the next stage of life
PHOTO FROM 123RF
By Connie Watson
H
ome is always tied to one’s needs, and most importantly, family. For most people, any decision of buying or selling a home is always connected to a significant life event. It could be a starter home for newlyweds, a bigger home for a growing family, or a move for a job, and a smaller house when the kids join college, and the list goes on. Although one’s home buying journey doesn’t have any similarity with their neighbor’s or friend’s, looking at the broader trends can help you understand what to look for when buying a home. With home buying being among the most significant investments most people make in their lives, no one would want to regret any home purchase they make. And taking your time now to figure out the exact thing you need in a home could save you a lot of trouble in the future. Let’s look at the broader trend of most people’s home buying journey. 96 | JUNE 2022
1. THE NEWLYWEDS OR PARTNERED COUPLE. Exchanging vows has been a triggering factor for homeownership for many centuries. Nonetheless, the trend has changed slightly as first-time homebuyers are buying homes even without exchanging vows. For the broader trend, newlyweds’ first-time homebuyers (most of who are millennials these days) go for the starter home— a place to start building a foundation. As you go for your starter home together, there are a few things you need to consider. The first thing is affordability. With high student loans on your shoulders and the experience of two recessions, affordability can be challenging for most millennial firsttime homebuyers. However, it would be best if you focused on buying a home you can afford. It’s apparent that you do not need tons
