Purchasing a home is one of the most exciting decisions one will ever make. Unfortunately, for many, that excitement is served up with a whopping side of stress. While you may never erase all of the stress associated with home-buying, with the right mindset, and the right toolset, you can certainly minimize the stress of finding and buying your dream home.

 

1. Get pre-approved. Making sure you are able to get a mortgage will reduce the stress of the home-buying process, because you know you're eligible before you even begin hunting, automatically taking that stress factor off your plate. That's not the only way pre-approval will reduce stress – it also makes the home search easier. Many sellers won't even work with a buyer who is not pre-approved, so you automatically open up your housing pool when you get pre-approved.

 

2. Find the right budget and stick to it. Money is a huge source of stress when buying a house. Figure out exactly how much house you can afford, and refuse to even consider a home outside of that budget.

3. Make a Needs vs. Wants list. Similar to sticking to a budget, understanding your needs (three bedrooms) in relation to your wants (a gourmet kitchen) can save you time and energy during the home hunt.

 

4. Hire an agent you trust. Working with a professional real estate agent is the number one way to reduce the stress of buying—or selling—a home. Find an agent who specializes in your market and similar clients—first-time buyers, move-up clients, vacation homes, etc. While many think hiring an agent will make the home-buying process costlier, agents can help save money in the negotiating process. Regardless of money saved, working with an agent—who knows the process inside and out—will save you a great deal of stress.

 

As a Member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network®, our team has a wealth of real estate and home ownership information that may be of help to you. Feel free to contact us at any time to learn more about this important information, and be sure to forward this article on to any friends or family that may be interested as well.