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Buying a house in San Diego, CA? Be ready to go through these 5 stages.

Home-ownership can be one of the best things you can do for your family, finances, peace of mind, and overall quality of life. It also means that it can become one of the biggest decisions of your life!  Over the years, I’ve learned to prepare my clients and manage their expectations about the real estate process.  To begin with, it should be fun, but at times the purchasing process can prove to be a roller-coaster of emotions ranging from excitement to absolute terror.  Although the best or rather, most prudent, real estate decisions should be made by evaluating data and information, there can also be an unexpected emotional element attached.   If you’re thinking of buying a home, prepare yourself to possibly experience these five, emotion-driven stages.

1. Frustration. Before you start home shopping, you likely have your dream home already in mind. Then you start looking . . . and that “perfect home” doesn’t exist. As you become more educated about your local real estate market it is possible that  your perfect house, within your perfect budget, doesn’t exist.  This is not uncommon. A step toward overcoming this frustration is to get focused. Determine the difference between home features on your list that are “wants”, and what are “needs” for your future home.
2. Obsession. With the help of an experienced real estate agent, and a reality check, you finally find your ideal house! Now it’s all you can talk–and even think–about. Savor this phase, and it can help you get through the next two.  (Remember this is fun, so try to enjoy each phase).
3. Fatigue. Just because you found your dream home doesn’t mean you’re done. Far from it, in fact; there’s still the home inspection, the appraisal, a mountain of paperwork to review and complete, possible repair negotiations, etc. If you start feeling exhausted by all the to-dos, remind yourself that the light at the end of the tunnel is very, very bright.
4. Second Thoughts. Buying a home is a huge financial decision, and some people get cold feet. Reviewing your wants and needs list can help you remain focused on why this major purchase is worth it.  If you make sure you define your real estate goals in the beginning of your home search then those goals should be your beacon of reference as you travel through the escrow process.  Did you define your “purpose of your purchase”? Simply said, why are you buying this home?  Is your family growing?  Are you downsizing?  Do you have a reason to live in this particular location?  Do you want to diversify your investment portfolio?  Are you reaching your real estate goals?  Remind yourself why you started this quest.  If you are accomplishing your goals, then you can tame the “drunk monkey” on your shoulder and eliminate your second thoughts.
5. Feeling at home. You get the keys to your new home–finally! Moving is the final push, and then you really get to enjoy the feeling of settling into your new house. Suddenly, the past four stages seem small compared to the comfort and satisfaction you get from living life in your dream home.

Clearly, you’re going to go through at least a few emotions during the process of buying a home. That’s why it’s important to have a level-headed, experienced professional to help you navigate these stages. To find a dedicated agent, who can help you find the perfect home in San Diego, so you can achieve Stage 5 satisfaction, contact Jenn Blake Real Estate Group.