Younger homebuyers

Know your priorities. Before you begin your home search, be clear on your needs, wants, negotiables and nonnegotiable. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to finding the right house for you, so it’s vital to ask yourself some key questions, For example:

How long do you plan to stay in the house?

Do you expect your family to grow?

Are you open to buying a fixer-upper?

How much of a commute are you comfortable with?

How important is the school system?

Exploring questions like these can help you find the home and location that best fit your lifestyle. Be flexible. Housing costs and options can vary widely, even within a relatively small area, Being open to considering other parts of town, for example, can save you real money. While that doesn’t mean backtracking on deal-breakers, if you’re too close-minded in your home search, you may do yourself a disservice.

Get preapproved. Getting preapproved early in the homebuying process gives you a realistic understanding of how much home you can afford and helps avoid disappointment. It also allows you to compare lenders and loan offers — one of the best ways to maximize your homebuying budget. Taking the time to compare mortgage rates from different lenders can save you tens of thousands of dollars over the life of your mortgage, It’s a big deal.

Updated: Boston Real Estate Blog 2025

Byline – John Ford Boston Beacon Hill Condo Broker 137 Charles St. Boston, MA 02114