No matter what your lifestyle or what you do for a living, your life ultimately revolves around your home. It’s the place you wake up in the morning and the place you go to bed at night. It’s where you make memories, have fun with your hobbies, eat meals, relax with friends and can simply be yourself.
That’s why it’s so important to make your home a reflection of yourself, both in function and style. There are as many homes as there are people, and finding the right home — then customizing it to meet your own personal needs — is one of the best ways to improve the way you live.
FIND YOUR STYLE
A home isn’t just a few walls and a ceiling. It’s a unique reflection of who you are as a human. It can vary from wild and ostentatious to humble and cozy, and decorating your house to fit your personality is a great way to let yourself shine. It tells people who you are and how you like to live, from simple to extravagant.
When you own a home, you have a lot more flexibility with how it looks. You don’t have to ask a landlord for permission to change the wall color, for example. You just pick up a paintbrush and paint your dining room red. Or orange. Or beige.
Or, really, whatever the heck you want. It’s your house, and it can be designed to match who you are.
ON YOUR TERMS
Not only does buying a house give you more control over the decorations and style, but it also lets you find the perfect size, location and layout to meet your lifestyle.
Have a big family? You can buy a home with lots of bedrooms and a big backyard. Love big-city living? You can find a modern loft close to the city center, near all the action. Like quiet and solitude? You can find a country cottage at the end of a gravel road.
However you like to live, you can buy a house that fits your needs. And with more houses on the market at better prices today, you can be sure to find the place that makes spending time at home more enjoyable than ever before.
FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER TIPS
PRE-QUALIFY FOR A LOAN
Before you start shopping for houses, it’s a good idea to pre-qualify for a loan.
This will let you know what price range you should shop in, and it tells sellers that you’re serious about your offer. It can also help speed up the process once you decide to buy a home.
REAL ESTATE GLOSSARY
DISCOUNT POINTS — Essentially this is pre-paid interest, allowing the borrower to obtain a lower interest rate by paying an up-front fee. Often shortened to “points.”
PMI — Private mortgage insurance. It protects lenders if a borrower defaults on their loan.
APPRAISAL — Written proof of how much your home is worth. It’s generally based on what similar homes are selling for in nearby areas.
TITLE — The legal document that shows who owns a property.
