Before The Home Search

The Hubs and I were not strangers to home buying. We've done this
whole thing before, stopping short of purchasing a home for various
reasons. So, what are some steps you need to take before embarking
on a home buying adventure?

1. Get your finances in order. Make sure you have money
set aside for a down payment and all the fees-both one time
and monthly.

2. Figure out what your price range is. I don't mean, the number
the bank will approve you for. I mean the amount you can pay and
still live comfortably. You do not want to be house poor. We were
approved for a number much higher than the cost of the home we
ended up buying. We stayed low intentionally. I don't want to be
forced to eat Kraft dinner and Hamburger Helper, thankyouverymuch!

3. Once you got these two things done and you're happy and educated
about where you stand, apply for a pre-approval with the institution
of your choice. Shop around! We ended up choosing our original bank
but we did our research before making this choice. Did our bank give
us the best rate? Nope. But, it was the best choice for us because we didn't
feel like a bad term period at one place made up for the half a percentage
point difference they were offering.

4. Prioritise your housing needs. What are the things you need and what are
the things you want? I need three bedrooms. I want soapstone counters.
The items on your needs list are not-negotiable. The items on your want list
you can live without. Try not to be a fuss pot. I know, it's hard. I'm a major
snot myself. You should see the kitchen I'm getting. And you will! It's...old.
But do I really care all that much? Nope, because my house is solid and meets
all important criteria. I can make the kitchen my own later AND I'll have the
money to do so because we're not living above our means.


5. Chose your Realtor. Again, do some research! How did we choose ours?
I utilised a very scientific method of Google searching, meeting in person
and listening to my intuition. Don't just read the good reviews, look for the
bad. If there are none to be found immediately, seek them out using appropriate
search terms. Exhaust all searches. It's important to get the right person for you!
When you've chosen the person you want to work with, be clear about your needs
and wants and listen to what they have to say carefully, then make the best decision
for yourself.

6. Have fun! Buying a house can be stressful, sure but it all depends on your outlook.
Make intelligent decisions, trust in those decisions and then go with the flow and enjoy
the ride.