Buying a home is enough to make anyone crazy, but everyone goes crazy in different ways. Even you. Which first-time home buyer are you?
House Stalker
You prowl the neighborhoods on the daily, whether you have the perfect house picked out or not. You just really want to make sure that no better houses have gone on the market. Or that you can't find a better deal. Basically, you just want to know what's out there at all times. It's never too late to change your mind. So what if you're in closing already?
Commitment-Phobic
You've found the perfect house. Unfortunately, you've found the perfect house approximately 27 times. No matter how hard you try, you just can't bring yourself to make an offer! Your friends make fun of you, your parents just don't understand. But how often is it that you effectively sign your life away? You're just not ready. Or so you tell yourself as you dodge yet another meeting with your real estate agent.
One and Done
You want to buy one house. Period. You don't play these “starter home” games. Or at least you hate moving and never want to do it again after buying a house. Other people buy a house and then have to sell because they relocate. That won't happen to you; you know where you want to be. The house you choose is the house you're going to love for the rest of your life.
More Than You Can Chew
Maybe you fell in love with a 200-year-old house that oozes with character. Or maybe you have McMansion taste on a McDonald's budget. Either way, you've bitten off more than you can chew, but you just can't move on from that dream to something more practical. Instead, you dream up ways to get that house. You think, “maybe I can just quit my day job and do all of the renovations myself?” Or “Could I work two jobs to afford the mortgage on that dream home?”
Judge By the Cover
They say never judge a book by the cover, but for you, that doesn't apply to houses. You want turn-key, move-in-ready perfection. Orange walls are a deal-breaker; you're not about to paint the walls in your brand new house! It had better be flawless if you're going to buy it. You have high standards, but they favor houses that are deceptively well-staged.
Every bout of home buyer madness comes to an end eventually. Just take a deep breath and get a grip. It will all be over soon.
