Suddenly we've decided it might be time for us to pack it up and move. We've been in our 900 square foot starter ranch for six years and just about doubled our investment, so we are very happy with where we are. We don't have a ton of equity because we went through some rough times and used it to bail us out, but we are okay. So we are starting to look at possible places to go.
And, my goodness, is this hard! I am a Realtor... I have the keys and the listings at my fingertips. I know exactly what I will have to pay for, deal with, and go through to make this move. I know how to price my home and advertise it. I know how long this will all take and I know how to negotiate. This should be pretty great, right?
Nope. It's really hard! It's hard to think about letting go of the home we got engaged in, came home married to, brought home our babies to, and watched them both learn to walk in. In this home, I graduated college, got and lost my first great job, launched a career. We've been sick and healthy, happy and sad, optimistic and completely downtrodden, but we have always loved this home.
What should we pack away? How many toys can I realistically ask the children to live without? Do even I have to pack all of our family photos? Do I even really want to move? I have the opportunity to get myself a great deal and make more money (as I tell others thinking about "moving up," everything appreciates by percentages), and my family would be so much more comfortable with a little more room to spread out. Not to mention the pool at one of the houses we like...
But then there is the inevitable fact that our mortgage payment will be a little higher, taxes will be a little more, and we will have to paint, paint, fix and customize. We like the fixing part, though! This is a really hard decision because the logical and the emotional just can't meet. Or, rather, they can... but they keep changing my mind.
We see and we give a lot of advice to buyers and to sellers, but here are Christina's emotional homebuying tips of the day, use them as you will.
- Are you ready? Be sure that you really have good reasons for leaving your old home. If you can list more reasons to go than to stay, you're ready. If you get panicky and teary at the mere mention of moving, you're not.
- Can you REALLY afford it? It won't be fun to live in that big new home if you can't buy enough furniture to live there, and something you need to fix up is only as good as the fixing you can afford. Be realistic or maybe even a little negative when you consider this, and the answer may become clear.
- How does the family feel? Many times, we have to move and that's that. But when it is optional and some of the family (especially kids) are dissenters, it might not be time. Sometimes they need to be overruled, but they should be considered.
- Sleep on it. So, you are just beginning the process. Maybe you've already called me or some other qualified professional, and maybe you've just been looking at the paper. Either way, it is easy to get mired in all the lists, budgets and emotions. Take two aspirin and think about it in the morning.
- Is it REALLY a good deal? There is a lot of activity in the press about prices falling and it being a buyer's market, but be sure to consult with someone who knows the market well to determine if that is true. Not all areas fall into this category, and others are at different stages in the swing. Be careful that if part of your decision is taking advantage of that phenomenon, that you're really getting that and not just hype. Also remember... if you are buying low now, you will be selling low now too!
So, that said... what am I going to do? I'm not sure yet. I think we, like so many other families, will take teetering steps towards expanding and see what comes. I'll be sure to keep you posted.
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