How many times over the past few years have you thought, I wish I owned my own home? This is something I have dreamed about for so long. The only reason I haven't gone for it is that I am afraid I will have nothing to fall back on. It's scary being my age and being used to something for so long and changing it. I have always rented. I have been in my current home for a long time. It's been almost 7 years in the same place, for me, that's a long time.
My daughter is an adult and took the leap. She and her long-time boyfriend purchased their first home and started moving into it in January. She is so brave! I am so proud of her!! So, for an amazing turn of events, I am asking her for advice and what to expect.
During the pandemic, it seemed like there was so much uncertainty going on that I have been afraid to do anything. There are ways to make it happen safely and efficiently, they just did it. With all of that being said, I want to share some of their home buying journeys amid the pandemic. It is possible! And, it is so inspiring.
What are your reasons for wanting to buy a home? Has the pandemic influenced those reasons? For us, having the space for an office is a must.
How do you know if home buying is the right thing for you?
Buying a home is something that is an investment for yourself and your future. There are so many reasons to make that decision.
Buying a home is something that is an investment for yourself and your future. There are so many reasons to make that decision.
A few of them that we have discussed are:
- Being able to customize your space
- Growing your family or becoming empty nesters
- Investing in your own future
- Becoming a permanent fixture in a community
- Upgrading/downsizing your space
- Being able to have pets without being limited to size or quantity
- Having space to work from home
Make a list and check it twice.
When it comes to buying a home, you want to make a few lists. You should come up with the features you absolutely MUST HAVE and the things you would like to have. The other list will be the features you WILL NOT consider along with the things you would rather not but can live with.
An example:
MUST HAVE 3 bedrooms
Would like to have 3 bathrooms (2 bathrooms are acceptable)
WILL NOT consider a property out of high-speed internet range.
Would rather not be more than a 15-minute commute to the school but, will consider up to a 20-minute commute for the right house/price.
How much home is enough/too much?
A great piece of advice, find out how much home you can afford, you don't want to over-extend yourself on such a big purchase. Using an affordability calculator to help you decide is so much easier than trying to guess. There are a lot of variables to take into consideration like how much you are able to borrow and how much down payment you will need.
When you have a good idea of how much you can afford, find a realtor that will help you find the perfect home. They will be able to help you find exactly what you are looking for and the best way to go about getting it.
Where do you want to live?
Finding the perfect home is just as important as finding the perfect location. I live in the South East US. I love the environment here. The rural mountainous region with all of its majestic views. We live in a heavily wooded area with lots of wildlife. It's normal to see deer, squirrels, rabbits, opossums, and even the occasional bear. I love it. I love the school district. This really is the perfect place for me. The pandemic has changed the way we do everything so the world, as always adjusts.
You can go on a virtual tour of homes to maintain a safe social distance and still be able to see the whole property. I love it! Just for some added fun, I do the virtual tour on homes when I can't sleep. It's given me some really great ideas for decorating our house.
I hope this post helps you find your perfect destination!
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