Dona S. Cardenas - Embracing Freedom: Downsizing Your Home, Elevating Your Life

the time to dream like you were a kid again. Decide what your next years will look like. You've worked hard so why not?

Step #6: Looking at Homes

For some, this is part of the fun of the home-buying process, but it can also be a bit tricky to navigate. The fun is seeing what’s out there, particularly how the options fit in line with your needs and at least some of your wants. It’s exciting to picture yourself in a new home, a new home that will better suit your needs, your situation, and your lifestyle as you enter the next chapter of your life. Visiting several open houses — with professional representation, of course — is a great opportunity for you to figure out what’s out there within your price range and your spectrum of needs, what is and what isn’t the right home for you, and then find it! So that’s the fun and exciting part. The tricky part involves closer, more careful inspection, as you examine each property’s condition so you know exactly what you’d be getting if the home becomes yours. Once you are under contract, you will hire a qualified home inspector so they can inspect everything about the home, including structural issues, doors and windows, plumbing and electrical systems, heating, water damage or mold, infestations, and, if applicable, issues related to the yard, driveway, and walkway(s).

Step #7: Choosing a Location

“Location, location, location!” While this term is often thrown around loosely in real estate, it’s used for a reason. In this case, this term refers to the fact hands down, that one of the most important choices someone can make when deciding which home to buy is location.

We'll discuss this further in the next chapter but one of the

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