Home Buyers Wishlist in New York City

Your home buyer’s wish list may include a penthouse with views, a newly renovated kitchen, and a bathroom. For many, this is out of reach, of course. Still, plenty of people, particularly first-timers, have unrealistic expectations. This dilemma causes many home buyers to miss out on excellent properties. Shopping for real estate is often a stressful experience for new buyers. Being well-prepared will enable you to be in a position to move fast when finding the ideal home. Everyone has a list of things they want when finding a new home. You can make any place your dream home if you maximize the property’s potential.

We can assist you in avoiding this fate by helping you create a realistic home buyer’s wishlist.

Home Buyers Wishlist Consideration

When you start your search, it always feels optimistic. You may think that you could live just about anywhere as the options open. Some homebuyers make the mistake of choosing a place just because the opportunity is there, only to find out later that they didn’t think things through. It is essential to know what you want and how to have it before starting your search.

An essential part of your search is knowing what to consider and prioritize. Create a checklist that makes your search easier and categorizes your wish list by order of importance. The critical section would be wise regarding location, size, and home age. The list would include more idealistic factors like flooring, paint, and appliances for custom desires.

The Needs

When examining your needs, try to anticipate what these will be down the road. For example, if you are newly married and planning on children down the road, you should consider those requirements. Similarly, if you have an elderly parent and believe they might live with you, factor this in. You may plan to upgrade in a couple of years, but the real estate market may be vastly different, and selling your unit may take more time.

Essential considerations

• Location: Think about your living needs outside of the apartment. Do you want to be able to walk to work? Are shops nearby? Do you prefer to live close to transportation? Does a busy street bother you? Do you want to live in a neighborhood with many young families?
• Size of the building: Do you want to live in a high-rise building? On the other hand, is the townhouse living more your style? Perhaps brownstones charm you.
• Square footage of your unit: Can this accommodate your lifestyle? Do your furniture and other items fit?
• The number of bedrooms: This is an essential question to answer. Remember, a seller may claim it is a two-bedroom apartment. Still, there are legal definitions based on minimum square footage, along with at least one window that opens to the street, yard, garden, or court on the same lot and a heating/cooling element. There must also be two means to exit (windows count and doors).
• The number of bathrooms: If you are a family of five, think about the waiting time.

The Wants

This is where things get exciting and potentially complicated. You may only need 800 square feet to live comfortably, but you want 2,000 square feet to live very comfortably. Excluding these considerations, we compile a list of wants to consider.

• Door attendant: You may think this is indispensable, but we put this in the want category.
• Building amenities: If you like everything about the apartment and it meets all of your needs, consider what you want in the building versus what you need. Going to the gym may be a part of your lifestyle, but you can go to a local place if the building does not have one.
• Apartment amenities: This includes flooring and windows. Certain features, such as walk-in closets, a master suite, and an updated kitchen, are not easy or inexpensive to put in place. Therefore, we advise prioritizing what you want. You may wish to hardwood floors, but you can install these later, providing it is not against your house rules, and it fits your budget.
• Appliances: If your unit has outdated appliances, remember you can purchase these down the line.
• Decorating style: Many people intend to avoid what they consider a poorly decorated apartment. However, many of these, such as painting and removing wallpaper, are quick, easy fixes.
• Living space: Consider how great the layout is to you.

When to Settle on Your Home Buyers Wish list.

Whenever anyone plans a move to New York City, they tend to be in for some reality checks. While making a move tends to be inspiring, searching for the perfect property to live in intends to cause some sticker shock, to say the least, whether you are moving in from home or abroad. To help you stay active and bear the brunt of the disappointment before you even start looking for a property, here are some tips to help you readjust your expectations.

Be Prepared to Modify Your WishList

As you prepare for your meeting with a real estate buyer’s agent, make a wish list of everything you desire in a property. Be forewarned, however, that you may not meet many of your desires. If you are serious about buying a property in NYC, know that you will likely have to compromise on your vision.

For example, while many local and foreign buyers are used to having lots of space and some yard or garden, these luxuries are rare in New York. You will most likely be surprised to know that even exclusive buildings have smaller areas and fewer outdoor options than many other cities.

Knowing what you want can help your buyer’s agent narrow down your list and give you realistic options that fit your broader needs—and your budget. If you have always dreamed of having a swimming pool in your building, know that it probably won’t happen; only about a dozen feature swimming pools. Being prepared to compromise on unnecessary home buyer wish list items like swimming pools will help make your transition to the Big Apple easier.

Be Prepared to Compromise

New York isn’t the most expensive city globally, but it is there. The price per square foot is much higher than in other places in the country and even the world, so you may slightly alter your lifestyle from the one you are used to. Also, be prepared to compromise on size, ceiling height, and even the building itself. In return for your potentially smaller space, you have the city of New York at your doorstep.

New York real estate is excellent for investors because it is a liquid market. And right now, interest rates are at an all-time low, making it the perfect time to invest. While there is a stereotype that foreign investors pay in all-cash, in reality, many foreign investors also take advantage of fixed-rate financing. They can lock in the lower interest rate, unavailable in many other countries.

Compromise Everyone Does

Some say that compromise is the key to a happy life. That doesn’t mean you have to give up the essential things when choosing a home. A home is a big decision, so there will naturally be some things you are unwilling to settle for.

You may not find everything on your list, but if you’re ready to let go of some of the shallow details, you may end your search sooner. Review your checklist by order of importance and select the things you are unwilling to sacrifice in your pursuit.

Think Ahead

If a property doesn’t feel right to you, go ahead and sleep on it. Don’t feel rushed if you are still uncertain. Remember, too, that your home is also an investment. The longer you own the property, the better. If you sell too quickly or at the wrong time, you may lose money by getting stuck in a downward trend. And with today’s economy, you have to be even more patient.

For buyers planning to own the home for five years, make it closer to seven in the current market. Your home should match your demands and be sustainable through the market trends or rental yield.

If you can hold on to a property, you can rent it when you move out to maintain a profit.
Finding a perfect property isn’t easy, but compromise is the key to getting as close as possible.

Learn to DIY

Everyone has their idea of what makes a happy home. For you, it may be a space with an open concept; but the person who owned the place before you may feel happiness is found in a closed-off kitchen area. Some things are easy to fix. It isn’t hard to knock out a wall to open some space, so your ideal space could be a project away.

Instead of looking at the space for what it is, look at what it could be. Is there a fireplace that could be closed off? Do you see a walk-in closet where the previous owners saw an office? Can you picture the den with hardwood floors instead of that weird, shaggy carpet?

Some homebuyers have turned down a place just because they didn’t paint it the “right” color. Don’t let a simple DIY project stand in your way of an otherwise perfect home.

Wishlist Final thoughts

Thinking about your housing needs and wants helps write things down, even creating a home buyer’s wish list. You should not be able to live without the items on your essentials list. After that, it is about prioritizing your wants. It is not easy to give up certain things you want; your search may prove frustrating if you do not compromise.