It's important to go into your home search with clear priorities. This includes knowing which features and amenities you need your home to have versus the ones that are nice perks.
Bucketing features into different categories and priority levels can help you as you review available listings and decide which homes to tour and in what order. Here’s a great way to help you think about it:
Must-Haves – If a house doesn’t have these features, it won’t work for you and your lifestyle.
Nice-To-Haves – These are features you’d love to have but can live without. Nice-to- haves aren’t dealbreakers, but if the home hits all the must-haves and some of these items too, it’s a contender.
Dream State – This is where you can dream bigger. 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.
As you kick off your homebuying process, share these things with your real estate professional so you're aligned from the start and know how to focus your home search. Danielle Hale, Chief Economist for realtor.com, 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.”
Bottom Line As a first-time buyer, it’s especially important to carefully consider what’s truly essential to your lifestyle. Your first home doesn't have to be your forever home. The most important thing is taking the first step toward building a brighter, more stable financial future. Let’s connect so you can achieve that dream.