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Online real estate company, Trulia, performed a study indicating roughly 44% of Americans have buyer’s remorse after buying a home. The biggest purchase you will ever make is most likely buying a home. Due to the magnitude of this investment, what steps should be taken to keep you from becoming one of the 44% after closing?
Create a Realistic Budget: Establish a budget that encompasses all hidden significant costs, including mortgage payments, property taxes, and maintenance costs. Doing this will give you a complete view of your financial commitment and prevent overspending. There’s more to homeownership than paying the basic principal and interest
Create a Wants and Needs List: Sit down and put together a list of must-haves and nice-to-haves for your ideal home, like location, size, and amenities. This list will keep you centered on what truly matters during the home search, helping to avoid hasty decisions. An example – If you have children and are planning on having more, buying a home in a good school system is a need.
Learn the Neighborhood: It’s critical when buying a home that you always consider the location of the home. What is the proximity to highways, parks, schools, and railroad tracks? Is this a forever home or a transition home? If you’ll be moving again, you’ll want to be in an area where the market is projected to go up over the next few years. Visit the home at different times of the day and under various weather conditions. This will help you to really see the neighborhood, traffic patterns, and overall environment.
Be Patient: Avoid rushing into a decision simply to secure a property. Take your time when searching for a home and making an offer. Patience will help you wait for the right opportunity to present itself, minimizing the risk of future regret. Know that the entire home-buying process may come with various unexpected challenges and setbacks. Be flexible and adapt so you are able to navigate any hurdles.
The Bottom Line: Always trust your gut during the search for a home. Rushing into a home that just does not feel right will never be a good decision. Don’t be rattled by what is going on around you, how many offers a home has, or the fear that you may lose out on a home. If you are in a situation where you’ll be without housing soon, you may have to make sacrifices. If that is not the case and you are in a home, absolutely listen to your gut and pass on homes that give you a bad feeling, are too pricey, or just aren’t giving you enthusiasm. Your home should be your refuge, not a place full of regret.