Home – The Place You’ve Been Looking For All Your Life
If you’re like most people, home isn’t just an address or a place to sleep. It’s a feeling. It’s where you feel at ease and at peace, where you enjoy the company of friends and family, and where you’re surrounded by things that bring you joy. It’s where you make memories. And if you’re lucky enough, it’s the place you’ve been looking for all your life.
A home can be in the form of a static dwelling such as a house or apartment, mobile such as a trailer or houseboat, or virtual such as a webpage or social media profile. The term can also be applied to an entire geographic area such as a town, city or country.
Regardless of its physical form or geographical extent, it is the place that you look forward to going to at the end of each day and where you feel most at peace. For some, that may be a vacation spot or a friend’s house, but for many of us it is our own abode where we feel most at home in the world.
When shopping for a new home, it’s important to be clear and upfront about what you want in your next residence. Set your budget and establish a wish list. Be sure to include must-haves, as well as deal breakers and consider how your needs might change in the future. It’s also a good idea to get preapproved by a lender early in the process so that you can be as informed as possible about your financing options.
Before you start scheduling tours, take some time to reflect on what you want in your home, both in terms of the amenities and the location. A great location can mean more than just a tolerable commute or an easy-to-reach downtown area; it can also provide you with increased property values, a neighborhood where your children will be safe and happy, access to public transportation and more.
It’s OK to be picky about the features of a home, but don’t let your emotions or your desire for a perfect home cloud your judgement. If you become too hung up on the fact that a home doesn’t have an open floor plan or that the kitchen isn’t updated, it might be time to walk away.
It’s a lot of work to find the right home, but when you do, it will be worth the effort. By being clear and concise with your real estate agent about the type of home you want to purchase, setting your budget and taking the time to explore neighborhoods you’re considering, you can be confident that when you see “the one,” you’ll know it.