Three Ways to Manage Your Home-Buying Anxiety

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A real estate transaction can be an emotional roller coaster, especially for first-time buyers. A home is not an everyday purchase—you’re buying your future, the place where your kids will grow up and a lifetime of memories will be made. And a house has a much higher price tag than anything else you’ve ever bought. That alone can be scary. The money and emotions make up a big cocktail of stress. Here are three ways to help manage the stress of buying a home.

Your agent has seen the problem before.

While your real estate agent is there to guide you through the process, know that getting from point A (making an offer) to point B (actually closing) will involve challenges. You might find a problem during the inspection. The seller might have second thoughts. The key here is to communicate with your agent. Ask questions and be open to their advice. Whatever the problem is, know that your agent has seen it all before and knows how to solve it. Work as a team.

Cold feet are totally normal.

As buyers get closer to closing, they often see problems that they didn’t notice before. Suddenly that beautiful tile floor in the kitchen looks crooked and the ceilings are too low. And wait, was the living room always so small? When the reality of the purchase sets in, the emotional floodgates open: Is this the right home? Am I spending too much? Should I spend more? Will I love this? There are so many other houses, am I making the right decision?

The truth is, sealing the deal on a house (any house) is hard. It’s easy to second guess your choices when making a purchase of this magnitude. Know that the feeling of unease is incredibly common, and it will pass.
Remember why you fell in love.

When the going gets rough and you just want to toss your hands up in the air and give up, remember why you fell in love with that home. What was it about the property that made you want to buy it? What was it about this house that called to you? When the obstacles arise, envision yourself gardening in your very own back yard, or entertaining friends in that amazing living room, or preparing a special meal in that kitchen. Let that vision inspire you to keep a positive mindset.

The stress and anxiety over buying a home can be real, but generally the best things in life come with challenges—college, landing your first job, planning a wedding, none of these is easy. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t great and worth all the effort.

When buying a home, stay focused on that end goal; moving in, decorating the space, building your amazing life. You’ll look around at your new home one day soon and think that it was all worth it.

Adapted from an article by Ryan Serhant on Forbes.com.

This material is meant for general illustration and/or informational purposes only. Although the information has been gathered from sources believed to be reliable, no representation is made as to its accuracy. This material is not intended to be construed as legal, tax or investment advice. You are encouraged to consult your legal, tax or investment professional for specific advice.

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