Everyone has a dream home. From a large farmhouse in the countryside to secluded cottage in magical woodland or even a treehouse on a tropical island, perfect means something different to all of us. Regardless of how ambitious your home buying plans, there is always light at the end of the tunnel if you work out what you can compromise on and what you can’t. If you’ve reached that exciting time in life when you’re in a position to make your dream a reality, it’s time to make a list of all the features and qualities you want your home to have. With this list, you can start to narrow down exactly what you’re looking for.
Your dream home is not about what you need such as a certain number of bedrooms or the shortest possible commute to work. You need to fall in love and know that you will be truly happy there for the long-term. Not an easy task, but this guide should help you in your search.
The Must-haves & Wish Lists
Unless you’re buying a home just for yourself, it’s likely that you’ll have a partner or children who will also be living in the dream home. What would make it a dream home for them? Ask everyone to make their own wish-list so you can bring them together and see what you need to find to make everyone happy. It may be that your children want to be close to their friends or that your partner wants to be able to walk the dog in beautiful scenery, but you are obsessed with the idea being able to watch the sunrise from your kitchen table. Everyone will be able to rank their list in order of importance, and you’ll end up with your family’s dream home on paper.
The Problem of Money
Even the best dream has to be balanced with reality, and you need to be confident that you can afford to buy the home. This includes the initial purchase, ongoing mortgage payments, taxes as well as budgeting for maintenance costs and utilities that you’ll be responsible for. Don’t commit to more than you can comfortably afford or your dream home could quickly turn to a nightmare.
On the other hand, some people can run into another financial issue. You’ve found your dream home, and you can definitely afford to buy and maintain it, but your current home has not sold. Do you risk missing out on your dream? Not necessarily if you take out a bridging loan which enables you to purchase a new property before the sale of an existing one.
The Practicalities of Daily Life
You may intend to buy a home which is secluded and private and if this is the case you need to make sure you have access to all the amenities you need. If you’re joining a community, is it somewhere you can see yourself blending in with? Are there parks, coffee shops, restaurants, nightlife, sports centers or community events to be involved with? Before you buy, you should spend some time in the area to get a sense of what life will be like there. Is the lot that you’re buying big enough to accommodate your future plans for extension? Is the garden large enough for your children now and as they grow? Don’t get carried away with a beautiful home in a great location if you can’t see your family living there for the long-term.
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