Do you ever stop looking?

I am just wondering when in the home buying process did you give up looking at other houses. How did you know you were making the right choice and that there wasn't something better out there?

Re: Do you ever stop looking?

For me, personally, we had looked at enough homes to know what was available in the area we wanted to live and the price range we wanted to stay in. We knew what features were must-haves and what were like-to-haves. When we saw our home, I just had a gut instinct that this was the home for us. It was an intangible feeling that I could SEE us living there. It had everything we needed and a lot of the extras we wanted (e.g. a fireplace, deck, master bath). BUT - it wasn't the perfect house or my dream house. I made trade offs (no 4th bedroom) and realized that I would have to do some updating (some of which would need to be done over time). But it was the best house that we saw in the area we wanted and within our budget, by far! Once we committed to buyng the house, I stopped looking online and started focusing on my paint colors, decorating ideas, etc. I mentally committed, too!

It's kind of like finding a husband -- after you've dated enough, you know when you've found the right one. It's not that there aren't other good ones out there, and it's not that the one you choose is perfect in every way -- but he's the best one for YOU.

I tell my customers, it's not about settling, but it's about being educated about the market (and what your money can buy there) and realistic. I am skeptical when someone wants to buy the first house they see, but I am also skeptical when someone tells me they've been actively looking for over a year.

Like everything else in life, if you always think "the next best thing will come along" you will never be happy with what you have (and sometimes never able to make a choice). Sometimes you just need to make a decision and be happy with it.

Also - I think people who constantly look on the internet are the ones who struggle most with the decision of whether they've found the right house or whether they should keep looking. But remember -- looks can be deceiving on the internet (you can't judge the size, layout, or perceive the related sounds and smells that come with the house). So the grass isn't always greener, even if it appears to be.

Plus, if interest rates go up even marginally, and prices go up a bit, it's going to cost significantly more (in terms of monthly payments) to buy a home. So I think that's a huge incentive to buy now.

Good luck with the search!

Re: Do you ever stop looking?

With this house we looked for almost a year and I knew as soon as I walked in it was my house. We have sold this one (closing in a week or so) and we have been looking at new houses since March. Same thing happened I walked in and felt home in the house we are buying. I will continue to look till we sign contracts but then I am done. I look sometimes at MLS for decorating ideas

Re: Do you ever stop looking?

I haven't looked since we closed on our house in June. I couldn't imagine loving any house more than I do mine!

Re: Do you ever stop looking?

We stopped looking after the engineer's report came back. The house we bought was by far the best value at the time and it was also one of the bigger ones our money could buy is, and def the nicest. We made an offer on the spot and had all negotiations done within two hours. We made a strong first offer so there wasn't much back and forth.

Is this our dream house? No way. We actually tries to sell it and that was a nightmare that I won't even go into again. But it made us both appreciate our house. We will probably stay for another five years or so.

Re: Do you ever stop looking?

I bought my home a year ago and haven't stopped looking. D*mn Househunters show!
:D

I'm hooked on real estate and househunting. This is my third home in 10 years.

But realistically, unless you're a househunting nut like me, you should stop looking once the home inspection is done otherwise you may just face buyer's remorse at seeing something better. Homes go up for sale all the time.

Re: Do you ever stop looking?

I haven't stopped looking. I am perfectly happy with our home but I like seeing what's new to the market and I like watching price trends.

Re: Do you ever stop looking?

i was this way after we closed on our house.. but then i stopped because i told myself i was going to drive myself crazy wondering "what if" (that, and all of the prices of houses dropped shortly after which ticked me off even more! haha!)