A new home is probably the largest purchase you’ll ever make. Naturally, buying a house will be a stressful process. Being realistic, communicating with your partner and real estate agent, and taking care of yourself can make things manageable.
Get Clear About Your Goals
Knowing what’s important to you will make it easier to focus on houses that are right for you. If you’re searching for a home with your spouse or partner, it’s essential to discuss priorities up front. Couples often want different things but don’t realize that until after they begin house-hunting.
Sit down together and explicitly discuss what’s important to you. You might discover that one of you is most concerned about square footage or specific amenities, while the other wants a large yard or a home in a particular location.
You might not be able to find a house that checks all the boxes. Identify the features that you consider essential and the ones that you would like to have but could live without.
Discuss Your Budget
Before you start looking at houses, get preapproved for a mortgage. That will help you figure out how much you can afford to spend so you don’t waste time looking at properties in the wrong price range.
The amount you get preapproved for is the amount that a lender would be willing to give you, but it’s not necessarily the amount you should borrow. You’ll have to look at your budget and figure out what makes sense. For example, you might spend a large sum of money on childcare each month. A lender won’t consider that when evaluating your application.
Remember that you’ll have to cover a lot more than just a mortgage payment. You’ll also have to pay for property taxes, homeowners insurance, maintenance, and repairs. Calculate the total that you can comfortably afford for all home-related expenses. Agreeing on a limit now will help you and your spouse avoid arguments later.
Stay Organized
You’ll have a lot to manage during the home-buying process, such as loan applications and communications with your real estate agent. Creating an organizational system can help you minimize stress. That might mean sharing documents electronically, having group texts with your agent and spouse, or scheduling regular check-ins.
Take Care of Yourself
When you’re shopping for a house, it’s particularly important to have healthy ways to manage stress. Continue to do things that help you relax, such as working out, having dinner with friends, and participating in hobbies. Make sure that you get enough sleep.
Don’t hesitate to share your feelings and concerns with others, including your spouse and agent. If you just need to vent, family members and friends may be happy to lend an ear.
