Buying a Home is Like Falling in Love

Insider Secrets for Buying a Home Series

You can feel the attraction immediately and imagine a picture-perfect life together for many years ahead.

But wait! We’re not talking about your latest date. we’re talking about a home you saw while house hunting.

Yes, buying a forever home is like falling in love.

You can expect to go through the same ups and downs, emotional tugs and pulls, and even similar stages:

Being smitten, getting your heart broken, eventually learning from your mistakes, and becoming wiser and more serious on your quest for “love.”

All is fair in love and war … and house hunting! I’ll show you how to make the most of your journey in finding your forever home.

The One that Got Away

Everyone remembers the devastation of their first heart break. You feel a sense of loss, guilt, and extreme emotions based on what you may or may not have done wrong.

Guess what? Buyers have that, too.

Sometimes you have to lose out on a property you absolutely love before you can get serious (and braver) about committing to your forever home. Here’s what you can learn from going through this disappointment:

Don’t hesitate about your true feelings or be wishy-washy in your intentions.

What this means as a buyer: Once you’ve decided to take the plunge and actively look for your forever home, you must be ready to put a competitive offer in right away. You must be prepared with your maximum budget, financing, and deal breakers. You’ve got to get to this point BEFORE you begin house hunting. This experience forces you to gain some additional self-awareness on what your forever home means to you, what you won’t compromise on, and being willing to employ negotiation and strategic tactics to seal the deal!

Learn to move on and keep searching.

What this means as a buyer: Use those feelings of regret as a lesson, and turn it into a positive. You’re wiser, and you better understand how the housing market works right now in that particular neighborhood and price range. Don’t waste time wallowing; dust yourself off and keep looking at homes since new inventory and listings come on the market every day.

Don’t look back and don’t compare.

What this means as a buyer: What happens if you can’t get that primary suite bathroom out of your mind from that last home? Or that awesome deck out back? You could go on and on comparing your first heartbreak with other homes. Stop. Go back and focus on your original list of must-haves, deal breakers, needs and wants. Or, tweak it if anything has changed and get back out there!

Don’t worry, you will fine the ONE.

What this means as a buyer: Yes, you will find your forever home and be blissfully happy! Most buyers get over their heart break and find their forever home with patience and time.

The struggle will be worth it, and you’ll end up with your perfect forever home.
Hopelessly Devoted to That Home

Do you believe in love at first sight? Or maybe have fallen in love with someone who might not have been the right choice?

Blinded by love or even desperation, we ignore any signs that this isn’t the one really for us.

The same thing can happen to homebuyers. You could fall in love with a home or location that really isn’t your vision for your forever home, but looks amazing anyway.

Unfortunately, some buyers can get swayed by emotion and start to make irrational decisions, especially if a hectic housing market is causing them anxiety.

Don’t be a fool in love. Some buyers get hung up on an amazing or gorgeous home that just wows them … but it really doesn’t fit their forever home criteria (i.e., long commute to work, not enough bedrooms, too small or too big, too expensive, etc.).

Never settle for what doesn’t feel right. Some buyers end up with a home that isn’t good enough for them. Yes, buying an existing home does require some compromise, but this refers to ignoring blatant issues with a home that could cause regret later on. For example, they didn’t carefully consider some red flags about the home’s structure, workmanship, etc. This can happen when buyers want a home so badly in a certain neighborhood.

It’s times like this that you need to search for some clarity on your part to avoid falling too hard for the wrong home, whether you’re charmed by it or know it’s a dud.

Fall in Love with the Right Home

Buying a home is full of emotion, and keeping your heart and head in sync can save you a lot of heartache down the road.

Get your priorities straight. I can’t stress this enough but be very clear on what your forever home looks like! Don’t be lured by a “hot” looking home when all it might lead to heartbreak down the road for short-term bliss.

Know what’s best for you. Only you know what your forever home truly looks like. It’s your life, so don’t listen to or be swayed by what your friends have to say. Keep your emotions in check as much as possible and make rational and smart decisions based on what is best for you and your family.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this series, Inside Secrets to Buying Your Forever Home. Stay tuned in each week as I discuss more topics that will help you on your forever home journey.