Newlyweds: 3 Tips to Finding your New Home

The reality of finding a new place to live on your own can be scary because it encompasses an incredibly large numbers of factors. When you add a new marriage to the mix, it can be downright frightening! Deciding where to live can be one of the most difficult decisions you can make as a couple. So make sure you follow the “Three C’s” of newlywed house hunting – Communicate, Compromise, and Collaborate.

 Communicate

The key to any good relationship is communication. Whether it’s discussing what you want for dinner, what your finances should look like, or what you want in your home, communication is the crucial. Where are you living now and how did you decide to settle there? What are the factors that are most important to you? Do you want to live close to work? How is your significant other going to know that unless you tell him/her? Make sure to have open discussion about what you see want to your future home to look like, explain to your partner what your deal breakers are.

Compromise

It’s what a marriage is all about. You’re not always going to agree on everything and that is okay. Maybe I don’t want to watch “Real Housewives of Whatever City”, but if I don’t let my wife watch reality shows where grown women yell at each other and pull each other’s hair then there is no way she is going to let me watch the extravagant zombie deaths that occur in “The Walking Dead”. So we compromise: she gets to watch her shows and I get to watch mine, and we both feel like we win. It’s the same for house hunting. Come ready with a prioritized wish list. Have your deal breakers at the top and have a list of things you are willing to compromise on. Maybe you really want to live near your parents but are willing to give that up for a smaller home.

Collaborate

An even better idea is to sit down with your spouse and discuss what your family and your dream home would look like. Collaborate with them and create a wish list together. In order to find the right place to live, you both should do the homework together. If you both want to live in a walkable area, take a look at websites like WalkScore together. You should be vigilant, search sites like realtor.com and share the listings you find with each other.

Once you’ve learned how to communicate, compromise, and collaborate, finding the perfect place to live will be much easier. Happy home hunting!

-From Realtor.com