“The ache for home lives in all of us.” — Maya Angelou

There comes a point in our lives where we want to put down roots. Where we want something we can wholly call our own.  Whether you are a young man or woman who has always had a dream of owning their own home, a freshly married couple that wants to set down roots, or you have had enough of your 4,000 sq ft house and just don't want to clean it anymore or walk up and down the stairs and have found it is time to downsize... and it is time to make that very big, very scary purchase.  So if you are about to make one of the biggest investments of your life, you need to explore and understand why.

1. Autonomy from Landlords
The word landlord comes with quite the stigma, as many people have negative experiences with them. Often, it is what pushes people into looking into home buying.  As we learned during COVID the real estate market affects not just buying and selling, but rental markets too.  ...

There’s nothing like moving into a home that is truly new, with no smells, smudges or dust left behind by a previous owner. Even better is when you get to make your own custom selections. But buying from a builder is a different ball game and it’s important you know how to play. Consider these questions if you are considering new construction.

Should you use a real estate agent? I think so! The builder may have sales agents or an assistant that helps buyer’s through the process, but those people work for the builder. It’s always a good idea to have a professional advocating for you, and most builders will pay agents a commission for bringing the buyer. It’s important that your agent accompany you to the first visit to the model center or builders’ office so that representation is established.

Does the builder have a good reputation? We’ve all heard stories of builders who fail to deliver on their promises, using lower grade ma. ...