5 ways you'll know this is the right home for you

You've decided to make the leap into home ownership. You've selected a professional Realtor® to work with, been pre-approved for your home loan, seen several homes, and finally narrowed the search down to a few finalists. So how do you know when a home is right for you?

First, does this home fit your needs? Needs and wants are two different things, and you need to have decided the hard and fast needs and deal breakers prior to home shopping. If you have a 5 person family, is a 3 bedroom/1 bath home going to fit your family needs, or are you going to "need" a second bathroom to stay sane?

Once you've narrowed it down to homes that fit your needs, its time to consider price. Is this home within your spending limit? The mortgage payment is just the tip of the iceberg; Remember to factor in home insurance, taxes, and HOA's and CDD's if applicable. If the home needs repairs or upgrades, don't forget to add those variables in as well.

Next, you should evaluate the homes location. Is this home in an area that you not only like, but are going to be happy with in the next few years? If you have children, see what schools are available, check with your local police department to see crime rates, walk around local hang outs and talk to the "locals" to really get a good "feel" for the area you're looking at. It may not be a bad idea to do a "test drive" from this potential home to your job.

Now you've got it narrowed down to a maybe 2 or 3 contenders. It's time to look your wants. One home may have tile or wood flooring throughout, while another has carpeted bedrooms. A large kitchen with a breakfast bar may be a key point in one home, where another may not have as expansive of a kitchen, but the outdoor space is perfect for entertaining. Now is the time to sit down and really compare the homes and see which one(s) fit your "needs" as well as the majority of your "wants".

Finally, the fool proof way to know the home is right for you, is being able to see yourself and family in that home. You are the one who is going to be living in the home, not your Realtor, not your best friend, not your well meaning Aunt Sally. If you are not in love with the home, its not the one for you.

Simply put, any potential homes need to fit your needs, be in your price range, be in a good location for you, have a selection of your "wants", and most importantly, you must be in love with the home!

If you are looking to buy or sell or have any Real Estate questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Morgan Wiggins

Realtor

Plant City Realty, Inc

813-763-1280 cell

813-764-0840 office

morgan@plantcityrealty.com

208 W. Baker St

Pant City, FL 33563