Newlywed Season: Finding Your First Home Together

So you've said "I do", popped the champagne, danced all night, and gone to a beautiful get-a-way for a romantic honeymoon. Now you're back to reality and have another decision to make... Where the heck are you going to live? You might've given it some thought before the wedding, or even made a plan to move in to your spouses place before making the big move into a new place. Whichever it is now is the time for you to seek out your first home. But first, do you know what your spouse is looking for a place? Have you talked about what style of home, amount of bedrooms, and school district you'd like to live in? Somethings can be compromised, but others simply cannot. So, here are some tips on how to find your perfect home together!

1. Make a list of your needs and wants 

Many first time homebuyers have a very long list locked in their head about what their first place should look like. However, some things are simply unrealistic for the budget of you and your spouse. So, the first thing you both need to do is write down your list of must-haves. This can range from anything from the area you want to stay in, the type of home you're seeking, bedrooms/bathrooms amounts etc. Write down everything until your little heart is content. Trust me this is the fun part! Be realistic, but also have a little fun and dream big.

2.  Share your list and reasoning

Once you have created your list it's important to share with your partner what you are looking for in a home. This way you both can have an idea of what type of home the other would like to share with you. From this you can start to see what you both feel are necessary in a new home together. Sometimes this can get tricky when there is a long list of wants. Like I said, be realistic. Wanting to live in a certain school district might be very important to you, while your spouse might feel you would move again before having children. This is when you'll have to be honest and transparent with your future desires, and it might be a conversation needed to be had before moving to the next step.

3.  Get an idea of the market

I find a lot of times buyers go blindly into looking for a home, in hopes of finding a gem for a cheap price. Typically these clients learn very quickly that finding something like this is DIFFICULT, and either go up on the price of home they are seeking, or narrow down their wants/needs list. To ease the blow a little do a little of your own research before going to an agent. Get an idea of the homes in the area you would like to move into. Look for your perfect home and see how much it would cost. This will help give you an idea of what you can afford, and what is currently on the market.

4. Compromise 

Ah, the beauty of any relationship is compromise. This idea is definitely true when it comes to  finding a home. Some things you two will simply have to compromise on. Whatever it might be come with an open mind to it. Trust me, your realtor will thank you that you both are on the same page. So if it's the difference between a split level home or a ranch style, or simply having hardwood floors through out the home, make an effort to find a middle ground as soon as you can.

5. Find the right agent

Finding the right real estate agent is a crucial part of finding the best place. You want someone that is going to scour the market for your perfect place. I highly suggest meeting with different agents to get an idea of who they are and their previous work. Finding the perfect agent might make all the difference when it comes to finding your perfect home. An ideal agent will have great communications skills, well versed in the community you want to live in, and is highly organized and efficient. It would be horrible to find the right home and not get it due to agent error. So, ask your friends and family for references, look at Zillow reviews, and do your research on the agents you are looking to work with.


I hope that with these tips you and your spouse are well prepared when finding your first home together.  If you are currently looking for a real estate agent in the Atlanta area please feel free to contact me during your search. I would love to assist you. I can be reach by e-mail at patrice.sumpter@bhhsgeorgia.com or by phone at 770.639.5629.

Have a wonderful rest of your day!

Thanks,

Patrice