Realty Reaction

It’s no wonder that psychologists rank buying a home high on the list of stress-producing events. Not only is it the biggest purchase most people make in a lifetime, but it also forces a wholesale examination of goals, commitments and lifestyle. It’s an emotional as well as a financial investment.

People buy homes for lots of different reasons. Before you go into the market for a home, examine your motives, clarify your wants and needs, and focus your investigation.

With so much at stake, don’t rush into the market without thoughtful preparation. If you join the ranks of buyers charging about searching for answers without knowing the right questions, you may, by luck, end up with a house you can live with. Then again, you may spend weeks, even months, looking at houses only to end up feeling thwarted and confused.

Before you take the plunge, address questions like these:

What does being a homeowner mean to you? To your spouse?

What do you really want in a home, and from a home? If you have children or plan to some day, how will your choice of home affect them ? Your home determines where children will go to school and what facilities will be nearby for recreation, shopping and worship. What about proximity and convenience for friends? Its location or design can make it a favorite gathering place for your friends or extended family.

How will becoming a homeowner change you and the way you live? Who hasn’t heard stories about the totally unhandy new buyer who ends up renovating his or her home from top to bottom; the successful business that had its beginning in a spare room or basement; or the irrepressible free spirit who is transformed into a model of financial responsibility by homeownership?