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Helping Newlyweds Find that PERFECT FIRST HOME

by: Camilla Brinner        
Ah newlyweds! You are married, all the hard work of planning the wedding is over, and you are back from your fabulous honeymoon. Life is good!  It's hard to think of a more exciting and special time in a couple's life.  A time filled with hope and promise.  So what next? Now you need the house with the white picket fence, a dog, and possibly a baby, right? For many newlyweds the next step in solidifying the unity of marriage is purchasing a home and achieving the American dream!

My love of people is what led me to my career in real estate. I enjoy everyone--- young, old, single, married--- but probably the most rewarding is working with newlyweds.  Now as anyone who has purchased or sold a home knows, the process can be fun and exciting, however it can also be quite arduous.   Working with a real estate agent can help make the entire process a lot easier, allowing the newlyweds the opportunity to sit back and enjoy the ride. Trust me, buying a house is no easy task, especially if it's your first! 

There are so many decisions that newlyweds need to take into consideration before submitting an offer on a house.  What's the ideal price range they can afford?  Who are reliable professionals they can talk to about financing options?  What neighborhood is best suited for them? What kind of home style do they prefer, and what kind of floor plan? Are they planning on staying in this house for 2 years, 5 years, 10 years?  Can they qualify for the $8,000 tax credit? If so how does all that work? There are endless things newlyweds need to take into consideration before purchasing their first home.  And that's where an agent comes to the rescue. 

At Coleman-Etter, Fontaine Realtors we sign an agreement with our buyers saying you are hiring a buyer's agent, therefore forming a client relationship enabling us to represent you, which includes the following:   "Provide the duty of confidentiality, provide professional skills & experience to better serve you, suggest alternative solutions, counsel you throughout the the real estate transaction, provide price counseling, educate you to the current market conditions, strategically negotiate on your behalf" and so on.  But it goes way beyond all that.  I often tell people I am not only a real estate agent, but also a decorator, an educator, a maid, a therapist, and a cheerleader.  Newlyweds often need all of these things throughout their search for the perfect home. 

While buying your first home as newlyweds is not an impossible task without a real estate representative, I do (of course!) firmly believe that hiring a Realtor can be quite beneficial in the long run. A bit of handholding and guidance from a good real estate agent that truly understands your needs and what you are looking for is important.  An agent who cares about the couple and their future can help make the first time home buying process a memorable one.  Your first home is inevitably where you create so many of your "firsts" as a couple.  Your home is where you retreat to after a long day; it should be a haven, perfectly suited to your taste and needs. 

It's so rewarding when I go to a closing with newlyweds.  I never fail to be inspired by the spark of anticipation in their eyes.  When the transaction is made, and you put the keys to their first house into their hands, it's so exciting to think of all the memories they are about to create there.  I think the following note I received from a newlywed client couple sums up how helpful an agent can be to a newly married couple: 

"Dear Camilla,
Thank you so much for everything.  You have been a tremendous help, and provided a great deal of insight into our home-buying experience.  You honestly went above and beyond, and helped answer so many of our "never-ending" questions.  We are very thankful to have found someone we felt very comfortable with, and who helped us find the perfect home.  You are absolutely great; and we thank you again for all the help! "

My job doesn't get much more rewarding or fulfilling than this.  So to all those newlyweds out there, do yourself a favor, and find a Realtor that can help you find the perfect house.  It sure makes the whole process so much easier!