payment, closing costs, monthly mortgage payments, property taxes, maintenance costs, homeowners’ association fees, etc. As far as emotional preparation goes, you need to be ready to say goodbye to your longtime family home and hello to your new home, with your new lifestyle and all the excitement that comes along with this new change and stage. Try not to dwell or focus on what you’re leaving behind, but rather start becoming excited about the future! You still have a whole life waiting for you! Then you’ll need to consult your lists of needs vs. wants that you put together in Chapter 14. Completing these lists will narrow your search criteria considerably, saving you a lot of time and energy. If you’ve hired a real estate agent — which I highly recommend doing as soon as possible, if you haven’t already done so — then contact him or her to let them know that you’re ready to begin the home-search process! They should be informed of what type of property you’re looking to purchase as you downsize — a small house, a townhouse, a condo, an apartment — as well as your list of needs and wants, and your price range. And finally, remember that no two buyers’ home-search experiences are the same. Your story of finding “the one” will be different from someone else’s, whether that’s your friend, your neighbor, your sibling, or even your agent’s previous client. Now we can get into some tips for home searching and finding the right new house, townhouse, condo, or apartment that meets all your needs and hits most of your wants.
SCHEDULE ENOUGH TIME UGH TIME
Take your time. This is very important. You don’t want to rush going through a home that you’re potentially considering
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