Home Needs vs. Home Wants

Before you begin looking for your home, make a realistic "shopping list" to help narrow down the properties you look at. House-hunting is time-consuming, especially if you have not narrowed down exactly what it is you are looking for.

It is important to understand the difference between a "Want" and a "Need". You don't want to dismiss a house that fits your needs while continuing to search fora house that has your "wants." Your budget should be the determining factor, not your "wish list." This does not mean that the home you buy cannot have the features that you want, but rather that you should cover your "needs" first. Many items on your "want" list can be changed or added if the home doesn't have that feature now.

Some examples of home "needs" would be:

A few things that would qualify for a "want" list would be:

As you begin to think about buying a home, make your own wants vs. needs list. Then when you look at homes, look at finding a home that includes all of the items on your "needs" list and as many items on your "wants" list as you can find within your budget. This will make the house-hunting process a great deal easier and less frustrating!