Your Dream Home

Close your eyes. Imagine your dream home. Chances are you’d have to win the lottery to buy what you were just picturing. But how close can you get? For that, we will have to take your dream state and break it down into two lists: your must-haves and nice to haves. So let’s start big, with your Dream State.

Dream State: Okay, go ahead and picture your dream home again, you have to start somewhere! Chef’s Kitchen. Walk-in closets. Second floor laundry. A pool! “If you can find a home that checks off all your boxes that’s in your budget,” says Julia Dagistanli, Sales Associate at ERA Justin Realty, “It’s a clear winner!”

Must-Haves: Okay, so maybe you don’t need a pool. Decide what you can scratch off your list, and what is absolutely non-negotiable. Perhaps it’s that 2nd floor laundry or a certain number of bedrooms. If so, keep those things on your list.

Nice-to-Haves: “Here is where you list the pool,” says Jennifer Darby Metzger, Broker/Owner of ERA Justin Realty, “It would be nice, but it’s not a necessity.” Perhaps neither is that Chef’s Kitchen. But how nice would that be? List all the things that would be a happy surprise in this column.

When it comes to buying a home in the current market, it’s best to be realistic about your personal reasons for moving. Is a pool the main reason you want to move? Probably not. It’s more likely the need for more space or a home office, proximity to loved ones, friends or work that’s motivating you to move.

So take a good, hard look at your list of needs versus wants – and what would be a nice added bonus! A knowledgeable real estate agent will know where you should look to check off the most boxes. Perhaps you can have it all! Julia Dagistanli or any of the Sales Associates at ERA Justin Realty can help. Give us a call at 201-939-7500.