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Lamudi’s Newlywed Homebuying Guide aims to help newly married couples tread the challenging but nonetheless rewarding process of homeownership.
Getting married is always exciting. It is a fresh new beginning for the couple—the start of a new life together, the beginning of the dreams, and finally, the start of independence. Ideally after the wedding, unless they’re part of a traditional extended Filipino family setup, the couple is expected to move out of their childhood homes or shared apartments, and start building their new home together.
You’ve done all the research and read up almost all the articles about the dos and don’ts and what you should know about purchasing a home. Yet, you’re still left with no idea on which home suits you.
The challenge comes here: what is the perfect place for two people with different personalities, different backgrounds, and different priorities? How to choose the right property for the newlyweds?
This article will try to expand on the very first and most important step in home-hunting: identifying what type of property is best for you and your partner.
Make a List
Individually start listing down all your wishes for a home from the big to the tiniest details. The more specific, the more helpful it is. Make sure to include the answer to the following:
- What is your goal?
Why are you buying a place? Is it so you’ll have somewhere to sleep in while saving up for your actual dream home? Or is it the dream home that will finally come to life? Knowing whether this purchase is for a long-term or a short term stay is one major factor to discuss. This can affect the rest of the decision-making: the budget, the type of house, the size, and many more. Once you have decided, you can eliminate other options not leading towards the goal and start moving forward.
- What is your preferred size?
Will this home be your home for the next few years? If so, are you planning to start growing your family in this house? How many children are you planning to have in a particular period? It is always helpful to have these questions answered and planned beforehand because like in wedding planning, knowing all your needs (and prioritizing it before your wants) will help you save a lot financially-speaking. It will also help you identify whether you’ll need to have a huge space or if a one-bedroom place will suffice.
- How Do You Want it to Look?
This is where you and your partner’s individual preferences would come in. Would one of you like to have a backyard garden to plant flowers or tomatoes at? Or is a vertical garden and indoor plants in a condo setup okay? Would you want a garage by the gate or a parking lot for rent in a condo looks fine? Should the place be furnished or would you want to start buying your own pieces of furniture? The list will go on and on, but feel free to jot down all details possible. This list will help narrow done the choices of a house and lot, a townhouse, an apartment, or a condo unit fits you.
- What is Your Budget?
How much are you willing to spend on your future home? How much is the real expense for you and your partner considering all the other living expenses too? Money plays a huge part in the decision making. Knowing the budget will help you determine which are your priorities and needs. Whether you have the savings or considering getting a loan, identifying a price range will guide you towards the home you need.
It’s a good thing how the internet makes everything easier now. Searching online will quickly help you with this step. There are several sites like Lamudi.com to check the prices and availabilities of homes for sale or for rent on a specific area without the need to leave your home. Visiting sites like Lamudi will help you get an idea of how much your ideal home would cost.
- What Kind of Community Would Suit Your Lifestyle?
This time, you may have an idea of what kind of home you are looking for. Now it’s time to determine the location based on your lifestyle and needs. Would you like to live somewhere near your workplace? Would you prioritize a quiet neighborhood for peace and serenity? Or is living near places for leisure more of a priority? City or suburbs? Near the grocery or near the gym? Does it flood in when it rains? The traffic condition, the type of people, the cleanliness, the water supply, and even internet reception – these are just some of the things to check when considering a place.
Property prices also vary depending on location. Make sure to find a place that is convenient for all and will give you the rest and recreation you need when you are at home.
Discuss
Now that you each have your list, it’s time to discuss them with your partner. Identify the things you both agree on and talk about your differences. Separate your needs from your wants. Which of these items are your non-negotiables and negotiables? Come up with a new list and try to arrange them according to priority.
Prioritize
Your priority list is the should-have qualities the “best home” for you must have. This is the time to compromise with your partner and work according to your allotted budget.
Rank the importance of the items in your list. List them according to how much they would impact your future life or according to which items would, as Marie Kondo says, spark joy in your life. Which of the negotiables could you live off without for now? Which of your non-negotiables should be on top?
In this process, you’ll learn that you can’t always get what you want but at least you’d get what you need. This is just the beginning. Take it one step at a time. You can always plan later on for more of your wants once the priority things are settled.
Making it through these steps and coming up with the “final list” will help you become more focused when discussing with your real estate agent all the haves and shoulds for your future home. This could act as your bible or guideline in looking for that future place. This can help lessen all the troubles (and fights) you and your partner will have.
Good luck and enjoy the process!
