home that doesn’t meet all your criteria (your list of needs, as per Chapter 14). But then you might end up making a major decision that you’ll regret in the end. Never make an emotional decision when it comes to buying your next home. At this stage in your life, you don’t want to have to start the home selling and buying process all over again, do you? No. You want to enjoy your best years yet, living out your golden years in relaxation, comfort, and leisure — not stress. So how do you avoid becoming too attached? One trick you can use to avoid becoming too attached right away is to see the potential home as just a building that needs to be inspected and assessed for any major issues. This can help give you some emotional distance as well as give you more power in the negotiation process (if it gets that far).
THE FINAL CHOICE
So, now it’s finally decision-making time! Before you put an offer on the home that you believe is the right home for you for this next season of your life, please bear in mind the following: • You might need to make certain concessions; there’s no such thing as a perfect home. Double-check that the home meets all your needs and some of your wants — at least the most important ones. If you can check these off, then you’ve probably found the right home! • If the home is just a bit out of your price range, consider going back to your bank or lending agency to see if you can increase your mortgage slightly, but only if it’s manageable for you. At this season of your life, financial trouble down the road is never worth it. • Consider lowering your expectations slightly on minor issues of the home’s condition (obviously, major issues are
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