That\u2019s easier said than done, of course. And it can be even harder if this is your first time buying a home, says Adil Dinani, sales representative at Royal LePage West Real Estate Services in Vancouver. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you’re a first-time home buyer, psychology is very different, and sometimes you’re disconnected from market realities,\u201d Dinani says. If you have an unwavering stance toward the home you\u2019ll end up with, you may wind up disappointed.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But how long should you look before you start making concessions? If you\u2019re willing to reassess your wish list, where do you start? And at what point does being flexible become fertile ground for buyer\u2019s regret later? <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The many faces of flexibility<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Finding a house takes patience, but there may be a time to revise your approach. \u201cThere’s a disconnect if you have to go on for months and not find something,\u201d Dinani says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBeing flexible\u201d might seem like a euphemism for squashing your hopes. But making adjustments to your housing search<\/a> doesn\u2019t mean settling for something you don\u2019t like.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Start with something easy. Rank all the qualities you\u2019d like in a home from most to least essential, and reconsider the ones at the bottom of the list. For example, Dinani says the first-time home buyers<\/a> he\u2019s worked with are typically willing to compromise on location but are less willing to compromise on square footage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Flexibility can be about addition, not just subtraction. Pauline Aunger, broker and owner at Royal LePage Advantage Real Estate in Smiths Falls, Ontario, says the process of looking at homes can reveal a must-have feature that wasn\u2019t on your original wishlist. Subbing in that new factor for a feature whose importance has waned after touring a few homes may result in a more fruitful lineup of options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You might also expand your options by understanding the motivations behind what you want instead of strictly relying on the categories<\/a> used in home listings.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, you might initially think that you\u2019d really like a basement or a two-car garage when what you\u2019re really after is a playroom for kids or a place to store your bike collection. With those insights in mind, you might spot an otherwise-overlooked home without a basement that has a home office suitable for a playroom. A house with one garage might also have a large weatherproof shed in the backyard large enough to hold your cycling gear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSometimes it’s not so much upgrading or downgrading \u2014 it’s looking at alternatives,\u201d Aunger says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The ability to quickly scroll through hundreds of listings without getting out of bed has some advantages. It can also impose unnecessary blinders. \u201cI think we all have a perception on what we think the perfect home is for us,\u201d Aunger says. \u201cBut sometimes it’s about physically being in these houses and saying, ‘oh, wait, that wouldn’t work so much for my family.’\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Aunger once had a client who was interested in buying a bungalow, but, after touring a few in person, realized that the low-slung ceilings weren\u2019t a practical choice for someone who stood 6\u20194\u201d. \u201cWe had a discussion, and I took them to see a Victorian home,\u201d she says. \u201cThe older brick homes were built with higher ceilings, and they fell in love with it.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Equally important is exploring the area surrounding the home. Dinani says buyers who can\u2019t find options in familiar neighbourhoods should turn to their agent\u2019s expertise; they can suggest alternative areas that offer similar settings. \u201cYou should go check out the neighborhood, grab a coffee, walk the streets, Dinani says. \u201cCheck out the restaurants, see how you feel in the neighborhood.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Aunger says she has clients test the livability of a neighborhood by making their work commute and, if they have children, a trip to nearby daycares and schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you take your initial preferences for a test drive in the real world, you may discover that changing your expectations is part of a natural evolution toward finding a home that\u2019s the best fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One possible outcome of reassessing your housing search is realizing that the homes just above your budget are the ones you\u2019re after. There may be a pathway to get there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cPeople don’t buy the price point or the purchase price,\u201d says Dinani. \u201cThey buy the monthly payment.\u201d If you can find room in your monthly budget and if a price still falls within the range of what a lender will approve, getting the home you want may be worth the financial tradeoffs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Alternatively, you might decide to put your house hunt on hold and increase your savings. A higher down payment<\/a> could help you attain the type of homes you\u2019re interested in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIs there a perfect home for everyone?,\u201d Aunger asks. \u201cIt exists in each of our own minds, but does it exist in reality? You know, yes \u2014 sometimes. But sometimes 80% of it’s perfect, and the other 20% I’m okay with.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Even with a bigger budget, it\u2019s tough to find a house that ticks every box on your original checklist: Dinani says clients who buy multimillion dollar homes<\/a> can feel like they\u2019re getting most, but not all, of what they originally sought.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Success is not a guarantee when house hunting, even in a buyer-friendly real estate market. But by being open-ended with your idea of \u201cperfect,\u201d and by leaning on the expertise of your agent and lender, you\u2019ll have better chances, even if that means living with two toilets instead of three. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Kurt Woock started writing for NerdWallet in 2021 and has covered mortgages, cryptocurrency, electric vehicles and small business software. Prior to joining NerdWallet, Kurt worked for the Colorado Public Employees'…<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead more about Kurt Woock and explore their articles<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t Could buying a home actually be harder in 2025 than it was in 2024? Some signs point to ‘yes’.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t A little knowledge about the housing market, mortgages and incentive programs can help you afford your first home.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t Use our mortgage affordability calculator to see how your interest rate, down payment and debt ratios affect your housing budget.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t Interview several real estate agents before choosing who you\u2019ll hire. Ask about their experience, familiarity with the area, commission and preferred method of communication.<\/p>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t Remaining flexible during a housing search can feel hard for new buyers, but it’s an essential part of the process.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":88,"featured_media":58844,"parent":106,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"page-templates\/article-sidebar.php","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"2024-02-26T15:49:26Z","apple_news_api_id":"0025ff6f-4dfb-47a0-80b5-1edb98512a6c","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2024-02-26T15:49:26Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAD\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/w==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/AACX_b037R6CAtR7bmFEqbA","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"GENERAL","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":"[\"https:\\\/\\\/news-api.apple.com\\\/sections\\\/258a2d7c-962b-47be-93aa-4e3a3f4b4a02\",\"https:\\\/\\\/news-api.apple.com\\\/sections\\\/ff6f03d3-5d35-4234-ac35-51f87783566e\"]","apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":"","_nw_pros_cons_block_schema":""},"content-classification":[16],"topic":[121],"cluster":[246],"pp_author":[880],"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\nTry houses on for size<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Make your finances flexible<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Almost perfect is perfect<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n\t\t\tAbout the Author\t\t<\/h4>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\tDIVE EVEN DEEPER\t\t\t<\/h4>\n\t\t\n\t\t
![\"Buying](\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/12\/GettyImages-1222192160-e1640198387294-460x191.jpg\")
\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\tBuying a House in 2025: 4 Things to Know\t<\/a>\n<\/h4>\n\n\t
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/03\/IMG_20220329_114424-150x150.jpg\")
Clay Jarvis<\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>![\"First-Time](\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/08\/First-Time-Home-Buyer-Guide-e1627939673963-460x191.jpg\")
\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\tFirst-Time Home Buyer In Canada? Here’s What You Need To Know\t<\/a>\n<\/h4>\n\n\t
Clay Jarvis<\/a>![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/07\/kurt-woock-40x40.jpeg\")
Kurt Woock<\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>![\"Calculator:](\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/GettyImages-1369972502-435x290.jpg\")
\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\tCalculator: How Much Mortgage Can You Afford?\t<\/a>\n<\/h4>\n\n\t
![\"How](\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/05\/GettyImages-1322491762-e1653513612357-460x198.jpg\")
\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\n\t\n\t\tHow to Find the Right Real Estate Agent\t<\/a>\n<\/h4>\n\n\t
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2021\/07\/Sandra-MacGregor-e1626212852416-40x40.jpg\")
Sandra MacGregor<\/a>Kurt Woock<\/a>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"