Second-guessing your decision is an integral part of the house-hunting process. After all, buying a property implies spending significant amounts of money and investing a lot of your time and energy. However, in hot real estate markets such as those we are witnessing today in many parts of the country, taking your time to decide might mean losing the home of your dreams. And having your heart broken is not something from which you can recover easily (at least we all know that!). So, how can you know you’ve found the right house without wasting your time? While the answer to this question will likely be different for each individual, there are some clear pointers you should never ignore. To help you speed up the closing of the deal, here are 5 ways to know you have stumbled upon the one.
1. It doesn’t drain your savings
Whether we want to accept it or not, finances play a significant, if not the most significant, role in the buying process. Because of this, it is no wonder the first tell-tale sign you have found the right house for you and your family is the fact that you can afford it. However, things can be a bit more complex than this since many real estate professionals recommend against spending all of your savings on a home.
After all, the price you see on a listing is not the only expense you will have to account for. There are many other fees and costs you have to calculate into your budget. Moreover, if you have your eye on an ‘as is’ property, you will have to thoroughly consider whether you can afford the necessary improvements, renovations, and remodels. Only if you can continue to live your life comfortably after closing the deal can you be sure the house truly fits into your budget.
2. It has all of your deal-makers and none of your deal-breakers
We all have our list of deal-breakers and deal-makers when it comes to our dream homes. For some, in order to be perfect, a home must have a specific number of bedrooms and bathrooms, while for others, a property won’t make the cut if it doesn’t have a pool or a spacious backyard. These wish lists can significantly vary depending on your budget, life circumstances, the size of your family, etc.
However, if a home manages to check all of the essential boxes on your list, you can be confident you’ve found the right house. And by essential, we don’t mean a home theater and a private spa – unless you can afford that! Here are a few features you should not compromise on when it comes to your dream home:
- Location,
- Size,
- Number of rooms,
- Outdoor space,
- Anything else you cannot change but need to have.
3. You can envision your life in it
Being able to envision your future life in a home is a surefire way to know you have stumbled upon the right one. Therefore, pay attention to what your intuition is trying to tell you. Are you already thinking about where you want to put your couch? Can you imagine yourself getting ready to start your day in the bathroom? Have your kids called shotgun when it comes to their rooms? If you can answer all of these questions with a confident ‘yes’, it might just be the time to call your real estate agent.
If you’ve attended many showings and simply haven’t experienced the sudden urge to plan every detail of your life, this doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t be able to make things work. There is nothing wrong with gradually falling in love with a property. However, if you cannot stop thinking about your future and the most mundane daily routines after walking through each room – there is no reason to fight your gut!
4. You feel the need to tell everyone
Most people feel a strong urge to let the world know whenever something nice happens in their life. This feeling is no different when it comes to the home of your dreams.
You walk out the door after exploring the property, and you can’t fight the need to call – everyone! Your family members, friends, and even your moving crew. You want to get all the help you need right away and so that you can relocate as soon as possible. If this feeling sounds familiar, it might be a good idea to listen to your heart.
5. It feels like home the moment you walk through the door
This might sound like a cliche, but cliches exist for a reason. There is no better way to know a specific house is right for you than if you feel at home in it the moment you walk through the door. The sense of familiarity in a place you’ve never stepped foot in before is something many people would describe as somewhat magical – and they wouldn’t be wrong. It’s hard to explain what makes an unfamiliar property that is entirely different from your current home so cozy and comfortable. However, an explanation is not really needed as you are the only one who needs to experience this sensation.
Final words
Figuring out whether a specific home is right for you or not can be a daunting task. Since it is your hard-earned money you will be putting towards it, it is easy to understand why this decision can be severely headache-inducing. However, with these 5 ways to know you’ve found the right house, you should be able to have enough confidence to say ‘I do’ to the home of your dreams. After all, all you need to do is listen to what your heart is trying to tell you. If it feels right from both a logical and an emotional point of view – congratulations – you have found the one!
About Gerardo Zavala
There is a true passion for connecting people with real estate that makes me fall in love with my career over and over again. While my title says, REALTOR® I think I am much more than that. For example, I am present and actively listening to my clients needs, on the spot when things are urgent, and by your side to say “congratulations.” Most of my clients will say that I am a connection away from support no matter the situation, day or time. In my opinion, customer service, educating the client on progress and next steps, and overall satisfaction are my top priorities. How can I help you?