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By Ted Holmes

A lifelong resident of Chappaqua, Ted began his career as a mortgage loan officer over 20 years ago, eventually co-owning The Asset Center, Inc., a mortgage brokerage firm in Armonk, NY.

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You should discuss these five home-buying criteria early and often.

What do buyers disagree over most when shopping for homes? Buying a home with a partner or significant other can be stressful. There are a lot of decisions to make along the way, so you want to have a conversation and a plan with your partner before you start your search. I have five criteria that you will want to consider:

1. Your monthly budget and how much you want to spend. Consult with a lender to estimate your monthly payment and what you can afford to buy. If you’re going to be using financing, you will need to be pre-approved before you start searching.

2. The location and community. How far is the commute? What services can you find nearby? If you have children, how are the local schools? All of these are important factors.

3. The style of home you want and its features. No home will be perfect, so regardless of what you want at the start, this will evolve and change as the search proceeds.

“You don’t need an agent to find a home, but you do need one to get a home.”

4. The condition of the home. Are the repairs cosmetic or urgent? A home that needs work can be a better value, but make sure you have the time and budget to do these repairs.

5. The agent with whom you want to work. You don’t need an agent to find a home, but you do need one to get a home. You want to be sure your agent has the experience and knowledge to help you through the whole home-buying process.

If you have questions about buying or anything else related to real estate, please give me a call. I would love to help you.