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    Before You Look for Your Dream Home: Know What You Want vs. What You Need!

    Before You Look for Your Dream Home: Know What You Want vs. What You Need! In this day and age of being able to shop for...

    • Juan Murray
    • July 12th, 2019
    • 2 min read

    Before You Look for Your Dream Home: Know What You Want vs. What You Need!

    In this day and age of being able to shop for anything anywhere, it is essential to know what you’re looking for when you start your home search.

    If you’ve been thinking about buying a home of your own for some time now, you’ve probably come up with a list of things that you’d LOVE to have in your new home. Many new homebuyers fantasize about the amenities that they see on television or Pinterest, and start looking at the countless homes listed for sale through rose-colored glasses.

    Do you need that farmhouse sink in the kitchen to be happy with your home choice? Would a two-car garage be a convenience or a necessity? Could the “man cave” of your dreams be a future renovation project instead of a make-or-break right now?

    The first step in your home buying process should be getting pre-approved for your mortgage. Getting pre-approved allows you to know your budget before you fall in love with a home that is way outside of it.

    The next step is to list all the features of a home that you would like and to qualify them as follows:

    • “Must-Haves” – if this property does not have these items, then it shouldn’t even be considered (ex: distance from work or family, number of bedrooms/bathrooms).
    • “Should-Haves” – if the property hits all of the ‘must-haves’ and some of the ‘should-haves,’ it stays in contention but does not need to have all of these features.
    • “Absolute-Wish List” – if we find a property in our budget that has all of the ‘must-haves,’ most of the ‘should-haves,’ and ANY of these, it’s the winner!

     Bottom Line 

    Having this list fleshed out before starting your search will save you time and frustration. It also lets your agent know what features are most important to you before they start showing you houses in your desired area.

     Courtesy of Simplifying the Market 

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    About the author

    Juan Murray

    (617) 721-0961
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    Juan got his start in the residential real estate market in 1994 and has never looked back. His mission is to provide excellence to his clients, and he is always looking for ways to improve the real estate experience for his clients and colleagues in the industry. Early in his real estate career, he worked as the Housing Rehabilitation Director for a national non-profit organization, Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America (NACA). His goal was to gain more knowledge of the construction and renovation of existing homes in conjunction with working with 1st-time buyers. He effectively managed over 25 residential construction project managers on the East & West coasts while implementing procedures to improve communication between contractors, property owners, and banking representatives. He also developed resources, designed processes, and organized all aspects of real estate property acquisition and renovation. Juan completed a home inspector licensing course on his way to becoming a licensed home inspector. But after completing 30 inspections as an apprentice observer, after crawling under numerous porches and “crawl spaces,” he decided it wasn’t his cup of tea. Juan has always had a sharp eye for market trends and an innate understanding of what his clients need. That’s why, as a top real estate agent in Boston, he is constantly ahead of the curve, anticipating changes in the market and helping his clients manage their real estate goals. His keen intellect, quick wit, and tireless work ethic make him an invaluable partner for anyone looking to buy or sell property in the Boston area (or via his referral partners worldwide). Although Real Estate is a large part of his life, it is not the only part. He loves hanging out with family and friends, being in the kitchen, enjoying great food, anything Apple or Cole Haan, gadgets, great cigars, F1, motorcycles, photography, and traveling (to name a few). He lives with integrity and tries not to take life too seriously.

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    Juan Real Estate Group

    Juan Real Estate Group

    769 Centre St, Suite 209, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

    769 Centre St, Suite 209, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130

    Call Us:

    (978) 581.0801

    Message Us:

    [email protected]

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