Are you thinking about buying a house but can’t decide where or what to buy? In this video, I’m going to help you decide the what, where, and how of the next property you’re going to purchase. I’ll also explain the three main things you should consider so you can find the home of your dreams.

The Process Of Elimination

There are a lot of things you’re probably considering when looking to buy a house. It can be overwhelming, right? There are so many questions to consider. Do you need to be near work or closer to your family? Are schools important for you and the kids? Or better yet, where you can get the biggest bang for your buck?

When you buy a new house, it’s really nothing more than that process of elimination. Analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of what you’re looking for can help you narrow down your choices—and using logic will help you make the final decision. 

Ultimately, there are three things you need to consider when purchasing a house. Number one is how much you want your monthly payment to be and how much you’re willing to spend on the house. Number two is the location. How important is it to you? Do you need to be over here or do you need to be over there? Third, what kind of features do you really need to have in your next home? Do you need it to be updated, or is that fourth bedroom much more important?

Weighing Your Options

Before we get started with this exercise, it’s really important to understand that nobody gets off free, no matter what your purchase price is. The only goal of this exercise is to determine what’s most important to you as well as your wants and needs. That way, you can make a good decision that will work out best for you long-term.

I want you to prioritize the three main things when purchasing a house: price, location, and amenities. Figure out that priority list and you’ll be ready to go. For example, let’s say you find a home in a great neighborhood for the right price, but the interior isn’t what you really want. Or maybe you went over budget by $50,000 but you got the house of your dreams in the ideal location. What if you stay under budget and get everything you wanted in your house, but the location isn’t exactly where you want to be?

Everyone should start on price and budget because everybody needs to try and buy something that they can afford. You’ll be able to instantly rule out different areas that aren’t in your price range. The next thing you should consider is location. Can you sacrifice it for the right house, or are the amenities going to be more important? For example, would you be willing to move 20 minutes away from your ideal location to get the house of your dreams? Lastly, you should consider amenities. Do you really need an updated kitchen? Or would you rather have a big ass backyard?

Narrowing It Down

As you begin to list down your wants and needs, you’re going to be able to narrow down that location so you can begin house hunting with a purpose. Your great realtor should know about different neighborhoods so they can help you with this decision. I’m just going to warn you: plenty of buyers end up buying something completely different than they thought they would. This is normal. Still, you should always start with this same process.

After selling thousands of homes, we’ve realized that clients who follow this process spend a lot less time out there looking and more time enjoying their new home. I hope this process helped you narrow down what you really need when buying your house—and what you really don’t need at all.

If you have any other questions about this process or would like to chat about home buying or selling, we would love to help you. We help other buyers and sellers just like you every day here in Sacramento, and we’d love to talk to you and earn your business. Feel free to reach out to us and we’ll be happy to connect!