What is your dream home? Have you ever thought about it? Some would consider a dream home to be something lavish and large, while others may consider it something cozy and comfortable. If we’re honest, our dream home is not necessarily the predictable multimillion dollar mansion on the coast of California or the penthouse loft in New York. Those are what the general public may think of, but each of us has our own version. What we are after, realistically, is a home that is a dream home to us.
A dream home means something different to everyone. More often than not, someone looking for their dream home is not a first time home buyer. Instead they often referred to as a “transition homeowner”. Meaning, they are looking to move from their current home into something more permanent. This could be because they’ve outgrown their starter home, or because they are wanting to downsize into something more manageable.
The concept of a dream home is also much bigger than the home itself. It applies just as much to your lifestyle and how you want to feel in your home as it does to the design and location. Think about the space you want and what it will be used for. A dream home should fit your dream. It should be practical in it’s application while also feeling like “home”.
Now that you have a clearer picture of your own dream home, let’s look at narrowing down your search and making your dream home an actual reality.
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Define What Dream Home Means to You
Do you want a “big” home? If so, what does “big” mean: 2,500 square feet, or 5,000 square feet? What features do you want and why? What rooms do you want and why? How do you want to feel in your home? How will affect your life as a whole? Do you want acreage? These are all important questions that will help you define your dream home. Get clear on what it is and, most importantly, how it makes you feel before you go searching. A dream home is not just about the home itself. It’s about the emotions and sense of happiness that come with it.
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Be Financially Prepared
You do not have to be incredibly wealthy to find and buy your dream home, but you do need to be financially prepared. What will your dream home cost, realistically? If it seems out of reach, then what will it take for you to get to that place of making it realistic? Also, consider that a great Realtor® may help you find home that matches your wish list and negotiate a price that works for you. You can also take the renovation approach and look for a home that can be transformed into your dream home. This may cost you less than finding a move-in ready home.
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Start looking for homes that match your “Vision of Home”
What will the state of your life be after you purchase your dream home? Think about that and use that concept as your measuring stick for the homes you search for. Remember, it’s not just about features and space. It’s also about how that home makes you feel on a daily basis. Look at many different homes and do your research. Discover things you love and differentiate between what’s really important to you and what doesn’t actually matter as much. The more homes you look at, the more your vision will become clearer.
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Find a Realtor® that Understands Your Vision
When you are ready to find your dream home, partner with a Realtor® who understands your vision for your “forever home”. A great Realtor® can help you define more clearly what you want and to show you what is actually possible. Again, what may look out of reach for you, may be attainable through the work of an experienced agent. They can negotiate prices, use your story as a tool for persuasion, and help you better position yourself to buy the home you really want. Remember, your dream home vision is bigger than just a house. Realtors® understand the importance of location, community, and accessibility.
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Be Patient
More often than not, finding your dream home is going to take time. You don’t want to rush into it and push through the process. This is more than just your “next house”. Take your time and diligently search for the home that matches your vision. Save the money necessary to purchase what you want. Look at many different homes. Clarify your vision so you know exactly what you are after. When the time is right, you’ll be ready. Be patient and enjoy the process.
If you need help in finding your dream home – or don’t even think it is a possibility right now – then let MWT Realty help you. You may be surprised what is available for you and we can help you navigate the entire process to you get a home you love for the rest of your life. Come see how easy it really can be. Give us a call today and let’s get started finding your dream home.
5 Comments
I love that you talk about defining what your dream home actually looks like such as how big, what style, and how many rooms. My brother is thinking of moving to be closer to our family as he had to move away for med-school. I really want to help him find his dream home. Maybe professional real estate agents could help him find listings that we couldn’t find on our own!
I agree with your opinion of being patient as most of the people look for properties and rush into the process fearing that they me lose the deal. Compromising on the other things one should not purchase the home straight away and wait until the dream home is found.
It’s good to know that you need to know how much your dream home will cost. My husband and I have been living in apartments ever since we got married a couple of years ago, and we are now wanting to find our own home to live in. We’ll make sure to keep this information in mind as we search for our dream home!
Thank you for pointing out that you need to realistic about your goals and dreams so that your realtor can find that perfect home and negotiate a price that works. About a week ago, I was talking to my sister, and she mentioned that she really want to move somewhere with a bigger kitchen. It sounds like that should be on her realistic home list! I will have to help her look into real estate agents that could help!
I like how you explained that it isn’t necessary to be super-wealthy in order to find your dream home. My wife and I are wanting to find a home to purchase by the end of the year, but we aren’t sure what kind of size would be best for us to look at. It seems like it would be a good idea for us to find a real estate agent to work with.