Which is the RIGHT house IV

Sorry about the Roman numerals--didn't know how many of these were coming--if we start getting into the Ls and Ms we're all in trouble. I took 3 years of Latin in high school--and could even do math! Did me no good in later life, but I did name some new species and it might have helped then--bad form to improperly derive a scientific name from the Latin. Taxonomists would chuckle throughout eternity--but they need some humor in their lives--global warming and all that!

Back to houses! We're talking about the RIGHT house, but I should make it clear that the RIGHT house is not perfect--oh, it could be, but that's highly unlikely. If you search for the perfect house you'll not buy anything and drive your agent round the bend--that could be a short trip, depending.

If you recall my definition, the RIGHT house is the house that best meets your wants and needs AMONG those houses available for sale. If the RIGHT house isn't that close to being perfect, you get to choose whether it's one you want to buy. It may not be. The important thing is to reach an objective decision about whether it's perfect enough. Don't get tripped out on perfect--I've know many people who worked with an architect to DESIGN their perfect house--and when it's done--not perfect. There's usually a list of things they'd do differently, if they could do it again.

How do those all important priorities shake out? They shake out more easily if there's only one Buyer or if there are two or more that have similar vision (fat chance!). Get ready for some negotiating in the process, or buy a nice duplex and take turns visiting. Priorities come in different flavors. There are absolute priorities, relative priorities and the "gee, it would be kinda nice if" priorities.

Before you spend lots of time looking in what you believe are your favored areas--get an MLS print out from your agent of what's available in those areas in a price range that generously brackets your financial and amenity expectations. See anything good? If you don't, have your agent run the same search on the SOLDS for the two years--same areas, broader price bracket. If nothing looks alluring among two years of SOLDS--it may be time to shift the search other areas or buy lottery tickets and search higher prices. Needle in haystack searches can pay off, just don't tell your agent you've been looking in a particular area for 8 years and remain hopeful for a miracle to come on the market.

Absolute priorities are requisite attributes, such as--you've got 3 teenagers and they each have a bedroom now. You NEED a four bedroom house. Three bedrooms are not going to work--unless YOU sleep in the back yard. Your spouse is an artist and needs a room with north light for a studio. Those type of priorities are good and bad--good because you can eliminate MANY houses without a second thought, bad because you may eliminate all the houses. If the absolute priorities aren't met, RIGHT is just a word that has nothing to do with a purchase decision.

Next post--relative priorities--no it's not about in-laws!!!!

RW