Balancing Your Wants and Needs as a Homebuyer Today

<article class="post-244913 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry" id="post-244913"><span class="entry-date">April 4, 2022</span><div class="entry-header center-block text-center"><h1 class="entry-title">Balancing Your Wants and Needs as a Homebuyer Today</h1><div class="shareBlock"><div class="shareTitle">Share</div><div class="shareIcons"><a aria-label="Twitter Share Link" class="twitter solid display-inline-block" data-tracking="Post,Social Post Link Clicked,Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/share?text=Balancing+Your+Wants+and+Needs+as+a+Homebuyer+Today&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fgilliggroup.com%2Fblog%2Fbalancing-your-wants-and-needs-as-a-homebuyer-today%2F" target="_blank"><span class="force-hidden">Twitter</span></a>
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<p><img alt="Balancing Your Wants and Needs as a Homebuyer Today | Simplifying The Market" class="webfeedsFeaturedVisual wp-post-image" decoding="async" link_thumbnail="" loading="lazy" sizes="auto, (max-width: 549px) 100vw, 549px" src="https://files.simplifyingthemarket.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/01125601/20220404-KCM-Share-549×300.jpg" srcset="https://files.simplifyingthemarket.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/01125601/20220404-KCM-Share-549×300.jpg 549w, https://files.simplifyingthemarket.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/01125601/20220404-KCM-Share.jpg 750w" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear:both;max-width: 100%;" width="358"/></p>
<p>Since the <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2022/03/04/supply-and-demand-in-todays-market-infographic/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2">number of homes</a> 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 <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2022/03/16/are-you-wondering-if-this-is-the-year-to-buy-a-home/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2">home</a> that fits your needs.<span id="more-46267"></span></p>
<p>Danielle Hale, Chief Economist for <em>realtor.com</em>, explains it like <a href="https://www-cnbc-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.cnbc.com/amp/2022/02/26/what-to-do-before-you-buy-a-home.html">this</a>:</p>
<blockquote>
<p><em>“Focus on the goal you set out for yourself, like your list of <strong>must-haves and nice-to-haves and your budget,</strong> . . . Stick to that. Be persistent.”</em></p>
</blockquote>
<p>So how do you go about creating your list of desired features? The first step is to get <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2022/01/24/why-pre-approval-is-key-for-homebuyers-in-2022/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2">pre-approved</a> 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.</p>
<p>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:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Must-Haves</strong> – 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.).</li>
<li><strong>Nice-To-Haves</strong> – 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.).</li>
<li><strong>Dream</strong> <strong>State</strong>– 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.).</li>
</ul>
<p>Finally, once you’ve created your list and categorized it in a way that works for you, discuss it with your <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2022/03/01/an-expert-advisor-will-give-you-the-best-advice-in-todays-market/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2">real estate advisor</a>. 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 <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2022/03/22/the-many-benefits-of-homeownership/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2">your needs</a>.</p>
<h3><strong>Bottom Line</strong></h3>
<p>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.</p>
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