Finding Your Perfect Home in a Fixer Upper

If you’re trying to buy a home and are having a hard time finding one you can afford, it may be time to consider a fixer-upper. That’s a house that needs a little elbow grease or some updates, but has good bones. Fixer-uppers can be a really great option if you are looking to break into the housing market or want to stretch your budget further.

“Buying a fixer-upper can provide a path to homeownership for first-time home buyers or a way for repeat buyers to aford a larger home or a better neighborhood. With the relatively low inventory of homes for sale these days, a move-in ready home can be hard to find, especially if you are on a budget.”

Basically, since the number of homes for sale is still so low, if you are only willing to tour homes that have all your dream features, you may be cutting don your options too much and making it harder on yourself than necessary, it may be time to cast a wider net.

Sometimes the perfect home is the one you perfect after buying it.

Here’s some information that can help you pinpoint what you truly need so you can be strategic in your home search. First, make a list of all the features you want in a home. From there, work to break those features into categories like this:

• Must-Haves If a house doesn’t have these features, it won’t work for you and your lifestyle
• Nice-to-Haves These are features you’d love to have but can live without. Nice-to-haves aren’t dealbreakers, but if you find a home that hits all the must-haves and some of these, it’s a contender
• Dream State This is where you can really think big. Again, these aren’t features you will need, but if you find a home in your budget that has all the must-haves, most of the nice-to-haves, and any of these, it’s a clear winner.

Once you’ve sorted your list in a way that works for you, share it with me. I will help you find homes that deliver on your top needs right now and have the potential to be your dream home with a little bit of sweat equity. Lean on my expertise as you think through what’s possible, what features are easy to change or add, and how to make it happen.

I can also offer advice on which upgrades and renovations will set you up to get the greatest return on your investment if you ever decide to sell down the line.