Please Tell Me About Your Lifestyle
To truly understand all about the buyer's needs, a series of questions are needed to be asked to uncover any areas of compromise or substitution that the buyer will accept. In a highly competitive market, successful buyers know they may not get everything they want in a house but can still be happy with their choice. This is a great post by Jeff Dowler.
I Don’t Mean to Question Your Lifestyle, But I Must!!
Perhaps that sounds like an intrusive question, but it’s an important one when searching for a new home in Carlsbad, or nearby.
I work with a lot of buyers who are relocating here from other parts of California, or other states, and usually there are some pretty important things they are seeking when moving to Southern California, either to Carlsbad or other nearby communities in North San Diego County.
Of course there are important things about the house that you want and need because of your personal situation, and the lifestyle you lead, or perhaps hope to lead.
In fact it’s critical to make some decisions about the must-haves versus the amenities that are not essential when you are searching for a home so you don’t waste time seeking something that doesn’t exist, or isn';t in your budget.
Do you have to have 4 bedrooms or can 3 work?
Are 2 full baths essential or will 1full and 1 half bath work?
Does the yard have to be fenced?
Can you get by with a 2-car garage instead of 3?
Are you OK with a 2-story home or must it be single story, or a 2-story with a first floor bedroom or master bedroom?
Do you need a home office or can you use an extra bedroom as one?
In our Carlsbad market inventory is limited, and prices have been rising. So it’s important to have a good sense of what you need as it relates to the available inventory. It may or may not be difficult to find exactly what you want for the budget you have. Keep in mind there are always trade-offs when buying a Carlsbad home so it best fits your desired lifestyle.
But the other essential component, perhaps even more important, is the community and the lifestyle it affords you. I have yet to have a buyer say that the community was not an important factor, and in some ways it may be the most meaningful. The right house in the wrong area will not work!
Southern California offers a different lifestyle for many because of the great weather we have most of the time. And a big part of what most Carlsbadians like about being here is the fact that they can enjoy the outdoors most of the time, if not all year – with a wide range sports, recreational options, dining and much more. And for those moving from colder climes, like the Midwest or New England, the change in lifestyle can be most welcome but also very different! And that’s often a big part of what buyers are looking for when they move here.
Want to know a little bit more about out outdoor lifestyle in Carlsbad and nearby?
READ MORE:
Carlsbad Homes – Outdoor Living, Dining and Cooking
Carlsbad – Outdoor Living at Its Best in Southern California
Things to Do at the Beach in Carlsbad
In addition to finding out what is most important for your new home, it’s very useful for me to understand how you live and what you are seeking when you move here so I can guide you in the right direction. Here are a few examples.
Some neighborhoods will not work for you if you want to be within walking distance to the beach, or directly on the beach
If you want to live or near a golf course, that will eliminate many neighborhoods and narrow the search to specific areas and price ranges, which means there is a more limited pool of available properties
Do you want to be able to walk to the amenities like shopping and dining or is a car drive OK
Pools and spas are more prevalent here (it’s a weather thing!) so if that’s important your search criteria should include that, or perhaps a willingness to install a pool or spa. Or will a community pool work?
I created a questionnaire to target buyer’s home search criteria they are seeking and ask buyers to complete this. This helps guide them in their thinking about what’s most important for their new house, but also helps me better understand your needs. You can download this questionnaire on the home page of my real estate website.
Because lifestyle is such a key issue for buyers, I created a second questionnaire focused on lifestyle questions. I have found many buyers have fairly specific expectations of what they are seeking in their move to Southern California and they vary quite a bit. These expectations impact the type of home, location, neighborhood, access to amenities and many other factors that we need to sort through to find the right property for you that fits your budget. You can download the Lifestyle Questionnaire on my real estate website, too.
It's not unusual for buyers to have questions about schools, crime and safety, the "best" neighborhoods and similar issue. Please understand that I cannot anwer questions such as: where arae the best schools? Is this a safe neighborhood? Who lives in this neighborhood? But I can provide guidance as to resources and ways to gather this information so you can satisfy yourself.
Here’s to your new lifestyle in Carlsbad or elsewhere here in coastal North San Diego County.
Why not give me a call (760-840-1360) or send me an email at JeffDowlerSolutions@gmail.com so we can discuss your hopes, dreams and budget and get started finding you the right home here in Carlsbad, or nearby.
Check out the Carlsbad Lifestyle in the slide show below.
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If I can provide more information about Carlsbad homes and real estate for sale and surrounding areas, the housing market in general (or locally), or otherwise assist you, friends or family in a home search or sale, please contact my mobile office or text me at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JeffDowlerSolutions@gmail.com
Serving Carlsbad (including Aviara, La Costa & Carlsbad Village), Encinitas (including Leucadia & Olivenhain), Cardiff, Solana Beach, Del Mar, La Jolla, Rancho Santa Fe, San Marcos (including San Elijo Hills), Oceanside, Escondido, and San Diego
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