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Balancing Your Wants and Needs as a Homebuyer Today

The Gentry Team April 4, 2022

Since the number of homes for sale is low today, it can feel challenging to find one that checks all your boxes. But if you know which features are absolutely essential in your next home and which ones are just nice bonuses, you can land a home that fits your needs.
 
Danielle Hale, Chief Economist for Realtor, explains it like this:
 
“Focus on the goal you set out for yourself, like your list of must-haves and nice-to-haves and your budget, stick to that. Be persistent.”
 
So how do you go about creating your list of desired features? The first step is to get pre-approved for your mortgage. Pre-approval helps you better understand your budget, and that plays an important role in how you’ll craft your list. After all, you don’t want to fall in love with a home that’s too far out of reach.
 
Once you have a good grasp of your budget, you can begin to list all the features of a home you would like. Here’s a great way to think about them before you begin:
 
  • Must-Haves – If a house doesn’t have these features, it won’t work for you and your lifestyle (examples: distance from work or loved ones, number of bedrooms/bathrooms, etc.).

  • Nice-To-Haves – These are features that you’d love to have but can live without. Nice-To-Haves aren’t dealbreakers, but if you find a home that hits all the must-haves and some of the these, it’s a contender (examples: a second home office, garage, etc.).

  • Dream State– This is where you can really think big. Again, these aren’t features you’ll need, but if you find a home in your budget that has all the must-haves, most of the nice-to-haves, and any of these, it’s a clear winner (examples: farmhouse sink, multiple walk-in closets, etc.).

Finally, once you’ve created your list and categorized it in a way that works for you, discuss it with your real estate advisor. They’ll be able to help you refine the list further, coach you through the best way to stick to it, and find a home in your area that meets your needs.
 

Bottom Line

Crafting your home search checklist may seem like a small task, but it can save you time and money. It’s also one of the keys to being successful in today’s competitive market. Let’s connect so we can work together to find a home that fits your wants and needs.

Work With Real Locals

If working with a team that truly gives back to the community matters to you, we would make a great match. Reach out today to get started on buying or selling your home with a team that knows Moore County inside and out. With decades in the industry and an exceptional team of sales specialists, The Gentry Team has sold more homes than any other real estate firm in Moore County—and more than the total volume of most real estate companies in the region. This level of experience is unmatched, allowing us to help you sell your home for top value while anticipating and handling every detail along the way. We work collaboratively, combining our collective expertise to achieve the very best results for our clients. It is an approach built on trust, teamwork, and proven success. When you work with real locals, you get real results.