Buying your first home is a big deal. It’s a major life event that comes with a multitude of new and difficult decisions, mixed feelings, educational experiences, and more. No matter what goes on when you’re in the midst of your very first real estate purchase, you should never apologize for any of the feelings, opinions, or questions that crop up along the way. Let’s take a look at some of the unexpectedly common feelings you might be questioning as a first-time buyer.
Anxiety
Your house will most likely be the biggest purchase you make in your entire life. It’s completely normal to have some anxiety about buying your first home. New buyers constantly find themselves subjected to others’ horror stories about homeownership and their buying experiences, which will do nothing to quell the fears that might already be lurking in the back of your mind. In addition to signing up to spend a good amount of money on a mortgage payment each month, you’ll encounter a lot of new jargon and legal terms and learn a ton of new information. Rest assured that your anxiety and fears are completely valid. Lean on your Realtor® to help guide you through them!
Asking Lots of Questions
This is your first adventure in real estate. No one expects you to know everything, and there definitely won’t be a pop quiz at the end. When you buy your first home, there will be a whole team of experts at your disposal, from your Realtor® to your mortgage broker to your home inspector and beyond. They’re there to help you and guide you through the process. Feel free to ask as many questions as you need to. Any question you come up with is probably one they’ve all heard before and will be more than happy to answer.
Sticker Shock
In the long run, owning a home will be a much better investment than renting, but it might seem a lot more expensive at first. First there’s the mortgage payment, then the property taxes, homeowners insurance, utility bills, furniture to fill all those rooms, upkeep and maintenance… Then there’s the issue of having to pay for every little problem that arises—a leaky pipe, air conditioning that’s not cooling properly, a broken water heater…you name it. But trust us: pride of ownership and the equity you’ll build in your home are well worth the up-front expenditure.
Buyer’s Remorse
It happens. You compromise, you settle, and you end up moving into a house you don’t absolutely love but told yourself you can tolerate for the time being. You find yourself dreaming about your next home and constantly thinking about what’s not quite up-to-par in your current house. Don’t feel guilty. This isn’t strictly a first-time buyer thing; it can happen no matter how many times you’ve bought and sold houses. But don’t let it get the best of you. Focus on all the positive things your new home has to offer and figure out a way to change the negatives.
Not Getting Everything Done Right Away
There’s so much to do when you move into a new home, from unpacking and hanging window treatments to replacing countertops and buying new light fixtures. Don’t feel like you have to get it all done right away, and don’t feel bad if it takes you a while. You’ve earned some couch time after the hard work of finding a home, making it to closing day successfully, and moving in. No one says you have to have everything organized and finished right away. Take your time and enjoy the process.
Feeling Proud
Never let guilt creep in and cast a shadow over your pride. You should absolutely be proud of yourself for taking such a big step! So go ahead: throw yourself a housewarming party and bask in the pride of ownership you’re feeling at this moment.
