What Is a Home?
The word home has a wide range of meanings, from the physical building to the emotional attachment to the place. Home is a safe place where people are surrounded by the love of family and friends and can feel at ease. It is a place to celebrate good times and find solace in the bad. It is a refuge that is unique to each individual.
The term home can also be used to refer to a specific location, such as the neighborhood or country. This is more common in the case of second homes that are not used for much, if any, daily activity. A person’s home can be their place of retreat when they need a break from the demands of life. It can also be a place of comfort and familiarity in the face of change.
People can experience home loss in a variety of ways, including natural disasters, theft or burglary, foreclosure to pay off debt, sale due to relationship breakdown or death of one or more occupants. The feeling of being at home can be reclaimed through restoration or the creation of a new one, but it can also be evoked by visiting familiar places that are associated with happy memories.
A home can be a static structure such as a house or apartment, a mobile unit like a caravan or trailer, a tent, yurt or boat, or even a virtual space on the internet. The concept of home can also include the geographic area that is a person’s homestead, village or town.
When shopping for a new home, it’s important to make a list of what is most important and then separate those into wants, needs and must-haves. Must-haves are the features that are non-negotiable, such as a certain number of bedrooms or a location near public transportation. Wants are the things that would be nice to have, but can be sacrificed if an affordable home with all of the other requirements is found.
If you’re shopping with a real estate agent, they can help you prioritize your requirements and suggest properties that meet those criteria. The process can be stressful, especially in a competitive market, and there are many factors that could prevent you from getting the home you want. Sometimes sellers change their mind or a property inspection reveals problems that are too costly to overcome.
When you are ready to move forward, get matched with a lender and discuss your mortgage options. It’s important to understand how much you can afford and what loan program is right for you. Make sure to factor in closing costs, such as title search, home appraisal and attorney fees. Make a budget for these expenses and be prepared to have cash available at closing, so you can make your home purchase without delay. Once all contingencies have been met and the final walk-through is complete, you can enjoy your new place called home.