New Year, New Home! 2 Tips for the First Time Home Buyer

Ring in the new year with a home search! A new year can mean many new exciting goals. One is becoming a homeowner. For first-time home buyers this can mean having to go through the motions of discovering what may be realistic to their budget, what they may seek in their future home, and what aspects they may be flexible about when looking for a home, Here are three easy ways to begin your home search

1. Prioritize: Rank your must-haves to give yourself flexibility in case of compromises.

Although we would all love to find a home with everything on our wishlist, we often cannot. By compiling a list of two or three “must-haves,” such as a large backyard or a certain number of bedrooms, you can narrow your search when looking through the various homes on the market within your area. Prioritizing what is important to you will help you narrow your search and take you one step closer to finding your first home.

2. Stay realistic: Be prepared to make trade-offs, but know your hard boundaries (e.g., location 

or budget).

Often home buyers get carried away on their wishlist and forget about things such as their budget and what may be realistic for their finances or the area their looking within. It’s extremely important to keep in mind what is realistic to your budget and not get carried away with the little details such as an updated bathroom or newly installed appliances. As mentioned in “#1, Prioritize”, as a first-time home buyer you want to hone in on the couple aspects of a home that are “must have” and then look at the market to see what may fit that criteria. To keep from being discouraged in a competitive market try to keep your “wishlist” short and sweet… remember, this is your first home!

If you’re ready to make to start your home search contact The Hurst Team today to get started!