Listen up, buyers. I have an important question for you.
Is YOUR vision ideal or real?
While this is directed more at those folks buying their first home, since they have no experience at it, it certainly can, and likely does, apply to buyers who have been through the process before but in different times.
We all know that goals are important, whether having to do with your job, your personal life, your financial objectives, or otherwise. The same is true of buying a home.
Certainly the larger goal IS to achieve the dream of owning your own home. Simple enough. But so often that goal never gets defined very clearly, or remains a dream, and here is where the issue of an ideal versus a real vision arises.
This is not to say that a vision of what you hope to buy must be either one or the other. Indeed, having an ideal vision can provide inspiration and hope that carries you through the trials and tribulations of finding, and buying, a new home. When frustration mounts, or things are not going as you hoped for, having that dream can help keep you focused.
The situation becomes problematic when there is no real vision. Or put another way, when the goal is not realistic. And believe me, it happens a lot, especially in today's market where buyers are confounded by huge inventories, dropping interest rates, and reports in the media that imply things are getting worse and worse, so better deals are coming your way. While some of that may be true, the danger is that buyers start thinking:
- If they wait long enough they will get their dream home at a dream price
- Or that because of having so many choices they can be as particular as they want, which results in missing out on a home that fits the real vision, but not the ideal one
- Or that a foreclosure or short sale is the deal of the century - who hasn't heard at least one story of someone buying a distress home for 50% of value or less?
- Or that low-ball offers will get them the best deal, despite the fact that other buyers are willing to pay more
A real vision is likely to be defined more than anything by budget. This will result in a wider range of choices for some buyers than others depending on how much and where. The ideal seems to have little to do with budget but more with the vision of the home itself. The danger today is that buyers tend to believe they can purchase a new home at a rock bottom price - this is an ideal. Yes, the purchase pendulum has swung from a housing market where sellers called the shots and buyers would pay whatever they needed to in order to get a home, to one where buyers are now in control. But...
- The homes aren't any different - there are just a lot more of them
- Prices are dropping in many areas instead of rising
- In the past buyers would accept a home for what it was and pay the price, but now pass up homes because they are not exactly what they want, or unrealistic price expectations prevent them from achieving their goal
This is not to say that you should pay whatever a seller is asking, as buyers would have in the past. Many sellers are still stuck with their own ideal vision of what their homes are worth. And some are in a financial position where they CANNOT sell below a certain price point. You don't need to play that game unless you want to and it fits with your real goal.
Now, more than ever, you need to have a real vision of what you want, so your ideal does not lead you astray and prevent you from buying a home.
1. This means knowing your actual budget, and having a clear idea of what you really need to have plus a realistic acceptance of what you are willing to live without
2. It has to do with understanding what options you really have within your financial capability to choose from, versus believing that if you look long and hard enough you will find the ideal home at an unbelievable price.
3. It means knowing the reality of your particular market, not believing what the media is touting as the doomsday prediction of the day
4. And it means recognizing the difference between what is real and what is ideal.
Research on the Internet will provide you with a wealth of information about the local market, if done correctly. Work with a knowledgeable REALTOR who will help you better understand your options as they relate to your particular budget, and educate you on the pros and cons of distress sales so you are aware of the risks. Seeing homes that meet your criteria AND your budget will help clarify what you want and need. But only you can truly make the decision to focus on a real goal, versus an ideal one.
READ MORE: What is YOUR Buying Strategy for 2009?
Is YOUR home buying vision a REAL one, or an IDEAL one?
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If I can provide more information about Carlsbad and surrounding areas, or the housing market in general, or otherwise assist you in your homes search, please contact me by phone or text at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JDowler@remax.net.
All content copyright © 2008 Jeff Dowler Carlsbad Homes and Real Estate Tidbits
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ALL ABOUT THE CALIFORNIA RELOCATION DUDE
If I can provide more information about Carlsbad homes and real estate for sale and surrounding areas, the housing market in general (or locally), or otherwise assist you, friends or family in a home search or sale, please contact my mobile office or text me at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JeffDowlerSolutions@gmail.com
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Sounds like the start of a great movie, doesn't it?
While it might seem to be a simple matter, at the same time there are some things one has to consider in planning a wedding on the beach - I'm sure there will be others we have yet to think about:
Encinitas is doing something about this issue.
Leucadia is a community in the northern part of Encinitas, clustered along 
Leucadia offers an eclectic mix of retail and dining, the sort one would expect in a small beach town with a strong surfing history and a resistance to becoming gentrified and upscale.
Restaurants along this scenic stretch of road provide a casual mix of seafood, California, Mexican, Japanese, Thai and more. Want raw food? Try The Greenery. There's the Mozy Café, 
Leucadia real estate is some of the most eclectic around, in part due to the town's history and growth as a popular surfing destination and vacation area. The dense residential area to the west of the coast road to the edge of the continent overlooking the ocean is a mix of bungalows, mobile homes, vacation rentals, small motels, condos, apartments, and ocean-front homes. Since the stretch of road is over a mile, some homes in this area will have more limited amenities within walking distance than others, depending on where you are located.
If you are considering buying a home in 2009, or perhaps have been working on it but it hasn't happened, you might want to do some planning.
Bluwater Crossing is being built with the environment and saving energy in mind. The proximity to the ocean will likely result in little to no need to AC. The exterior siding is green, and the manufacturers of flooring, cabinets and carpeting all use planet-friendly practices. Reclamed water is used for landscaping.