Good morning, I hope this message finds you well and enjoying a cup of coffee or maybe something a bit stronger if you’re not reading this until later in the day.

Thanks to HGTV and many other channels, we have all been engrained with this idea of a wish list when buying a home:

Must Haves

• 4 Bedrooms
• Pool
• Finished Basement
• Open-Concept Kitchen & Living Area

Would Like, but Not Required

• Three Stall Garage
• Granite Counters
• Within 10 Minutes from Golf Course
• Playset in Backyard

Does this sound familiar? Yeah, it’s great to have goals and know what you want in life but our market here in Brown and Outagamie counties unfortunately doesn’t allow for this level of requests in most budgets. Sure, if you have a budget over $1 million dollars, you can probably get exactly what you’re looking for, but it also might take a few years because we have limited inventory at that price point.

Within The Home Buying Process, I explained the process to buy and home and you’ll notice in there I did not say create a wish list. I also did not say this in Buy a Home by Fall & Build Equity Part’s 1 or 2. Why? Because our market won’t allow for that in most home buyers’ price points, there is just too much demand and not enough inventory to get all your wishes.

And yet, many people buying their first home have a wish list like this, and I spend time talking with them about this. My job is to focus on the items on that wish list that are non-negotiable.

A great example is the number of bedrooms;

"Why do you want four bedrooms?" - Well, if a family has 2 kids and is expecting a third, and one parent works from home, that’s not a “wish” it’s probably a “need” for them to have at least four bedrooms.

But the pool & finished basement are things that can be done, to your liking, over time. And the “open concept” idea, well let’s just look at homes first and see if it’s truly a need, or if you fall in love with a home that is different. I’ve learned over my time in this industry, many people think they know what they “need”, but they learn about themselves as they tour homes and “needs” change.

So, the key to remember with this is what? Your first home is just that, it’s your first home. Remember my advice in Buy a Home by Fall & Build Equity, specifically Part 2. Owning a home helps you build equity, and then you’ll turn around and use that equity down the road to buy your next home, and subsequently do this again down the road and each time you’ll probably upgrade the home to include more of your desires. 

So, in summary, your first home may not give you all the dreams on your wish list that you would give to the host on a tv show, but it’s your first home and you’re going to own other homes down the road. Owning a home is an amazing thing and I love helping first time home buyers realize this dream, and I’m cognizant of dreams. I take time to walk through with buyers and figure out what they want vs. need and always work to help find a home that meets their needs, and if we can find the wants then that’s a bonus. It’s about #HumansOverHouses, so I will make sure to take the time to help you find the right home, but I will ask you to remember it’s your first home.

If you know someone looking for their first home, or their second home, give them my information and let them know I’ll be patient and help them find the best home that fits their needs today!

Your First Home is Exactly That; Your First Home!!