Is bigger always better?
We've been looking for a home in the California housing market. Prices are down, but it is a crazy complicated time to buy. It's difficult, but possible for the average person to get a good price on a home in this market, but things are never what they seem. Because Americans dream about big homes, and banks lust after big loans, buying a home has taken on a whole new meaning. For most Americans, a home represents so many different things:
We've been looking for a smaller home to downsize and be more energy efficient. But the temptation to go large is very great, especially if the price is similar. Concerns about where to put all of the stuff, where will family stay when they visit, how to have a sense of privacy and of course, "Where's the family room?" We certainly wouldn't want to live in the living room.
Another important consideration is the appraisal. As an investment, the square footage is the first consideration in appraising a property. Getting the right home at the right time and price can be as lucrative as winning the lottery or at least a game show prize. The temptation to look for the prize creeps its ugly head into many real estate deals in California. Have we lost sight of looking for health and happiness through healthy eating and healthy relationships? I talk about it a lot, and facilitate workshops and presentations on health and happiness, because that's what it takes to keep me on track with my vision and values.
We've been looking for a home in the California housing market. Prices are down, but it is a crazy complicated time to buy. It's difficult, but possible for the average person to get a good price on a home in this market, but things are never what they seem. Because Americans dream about big homes, and banks lust after big loans, buying a home has taken on a whole new meaning. For most Americans, a home represents so many different things:
- a right
- a showcase
- a possession
- an investment
- an entertainment center
- a place of beauty and refuge
- a place to store all of your stuff
- a welcome place for guests to visit
We've been looking for a smaller home to downsize and be more energy efficient. But the temptation to go large is very great, especially if the price is similar. Concerns about where to put all of the stuff, where will family stay when they visit, how to have a sense of privacy and of course, "Where's the family room?" We certainly wouldn't want to live in the living room.
Another important consideration is the appraisal. As an investment, the square footage is the first consideration in appraising a property. Getting the right home at the right time and price can be as lucrative as winning the lottery or at least a game show prize. The temptation to look for the prize creeps its ugly head into many real estate deals in California. Have we lost sight of looking for health and happiness through healthy eating and healthy relationships? I talk about it a lot, and facilitate workshops and presentations on health and happiness, because that's what it takes to keep me on track with my vision and values.
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