are on their way to the dream home. When all is said and done, go back to your list of needs and make sure that they’re all met. If you’ve got at least a few of your most important wants, then you’ve probably found the right home! • If you’ve found the right home but it’s just a bit out of your price range — let’s say your agent negotiated well but the house still isn’t quite affordable — then consider going to your bank to see if they are willing to increase your mortgage slightly, but only if you can manage. Financial trouble down the road just isn’t worth it. • Regarding the property’s condition — consider lowering your expectations on minor issues (obviously, major issues like water damage, mold, and structural problems are big red flags). You can do some minor repairs and improvements yourself, or use these as bargaining tools to get a better deal on the home sales price. Make sure you get your agent to handle this, so it’s done properly as well as smartly. • Be prepared to walk away. That’s right — do not get emotionally involved with the home until you’ve actually gone through with the purchase and moved in. If something just doesn’t seem right, reject any pressure you might feel and simply walk away.
HOW TO GAIN AN ADVANTAGE:
While it’s important to stick to your list of needs in the home-search process, and to keep your list of wants handy, you need to keep an open mind if a property that you’ve
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