Watergate at Landmark
People choose condominium life for a number of reasons. Some condos are less expensive than a traditional single-family house. Additionally, many condos have added amenities and facilities which an individual cannot afford on his own. Most condominiums have amenities you won't find on a similarly priced single family residence.
For example, a typical condo has (at minimum) a pool, a work-out room, and party room. A similarly priced house would not enjoy these amenities. Another benefit of condo living is that owners share in the burden of maintenance and lawn care. This means that some of the exterior maintenance and lawn care is provided by the condo association and the expense of that care is part of your monthly condo fee.
Many older condos have utilities included in the price of the condo fee. In new condos it is more typical to share the cost of water, but individually pay for other utilities.
Condo life in some ways is simpler for active lifestyles. Many condo owners choose condo life because they love life and they don't want to be bogged down with maintaining a lawn or cleaning gutters. A condo owner can walk out the back door and enjoy a dip in the pool while the other guy is spending time writing checks to pay his utilities.
Sixty-five percent of the millennial generation, ranging in age roughly from 18 to 34, say that their intention to purchase a house has significantly increased in the past year, according to a survey from PulteGroup.
“As the economy continues to stabilize, more young adults will wean off of mom and dad and start to live on their own, spurring added economic growth,” HousingWire reports.
Nearly 20 percent of men ages 25 to 34 reportedly live with their parents, while 9.7 percent of women that age still live at home.Your Realtor Stuart Nesbitt
As this generation gains greater financial security, more millennials will begin to embark on their own.
A recent article from Barron’s notes that Generation Y could surprise the nation in upcoming years with their spending power and economic growth. The generation is 7 percent larger than the baby boom generation.
"Millennials have witnessed the housing boom and bust, but still believe home ownership is a good investment," says Fred Ehle, vice president for PulteGroup.
Source: “Millennials Rightly Positioned to Boost Economy,” HousingWire (April 29, 2013)
Inlet Cove is alongside Route 1 This neighborhood of townhouses is near grocers and eateries Inlet Cove is close to Fort Belvoir, Alexandria, and Potomac Mills shops, in the city of Woodbridge Interior to these properties are multilevel Inlet Cove is serene
Pending home sales increased again in March, affirming that a surge of home sales is unfolding for the spring home buying season, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contracts signed in March, rose 5.3 percent to 102.9 from 97.7 in February, and is 21.1…
Some of the best housing deals are on high-end homes, many over $1 million. Some of them need TLC or they aren’t in the most-coveted locations. But there are plenty of desirable properties and lots of sellers who are getting impatient. Buyers with cash have the best opportunities. Buyers who need a mortgage should move…
The National Association of Realtors recently did a study about the characteristics of home buyers. Some of the findings might surprise you. Thirteen percent of buyers purchased a home with one or more parents and grandparents together with adult children. There were several reasons given for purchasing a multi-generational home. Cost savings; Children over the…
Step 1: Defining What You WantInside the Consultation Room at Nesbitt Realty
Start by creating a prioritized list of features you want in your home and the reasons why. Use it as your search guide, but remember that depending on your budget and funding, you will probably need to make some compromises.
Your Nesbitt Realty real estate professional can you information about communities which fit your criteria. Of course, location is a huge part of any move. If you're new to the area, keep in mind the distance traveled during your commute is not so important as the time traveled. Traffic patterns favor some neighborhoods while some areas regularly suffer with gridlock. You Nesbitt Realty real estate professional can tell you about area amenities, culture and shopping.
Step 2: Figuring Out What You Can Afford
Now that you have an idea what you'd like, it's time to see how that marries up to what you can afford.Often the preapproval process takes less than an hour, and can be handled over the phone.
Your mortgage professional can tell you how much condo you can afford and what your monthly payments would be. Additionally, a pre-approval letter demonstrates to the seller that you can afford to buy their home. When the seller knows you can move quickly, this often gives you more negotiating power. By definition, a pre-approved buyer has an approved mortgage subject to an appraisal of the property.
Step 3: Shopping For Homes
Once you know what community you'd like to live in and have an idea of how much house you can afford, it's time to start checking out some actual communities. You can beginning this search online and save time since it can help you target homes that meet your search criteria. You can view virtually every property listed by all real estate companies in the area on this web site. It's one way Nesbitt Realty makes home shopping easier for you. We will even notify you by email when properties come on the market that meet your search criteria.
Next, begin visiting homes in person. Ask your Nesbitt Realty real estate professional to arrange home showings that are in your target area and price range. If you are not currently working with one of our agents contact Nesbitt Realty at 1 703 765 0300 . We will arrange to have a knowledgeable agent assist you.
Step 4: Making An Offer
Once you find the home you want, you need to complete a purchase agreement for the house. Typically this is a very difficult and trying time since both buyers and sellers have totally different goals. In most cases it is better to have a third party, such as a Nesbitt Realty real estate professional, negotiate the offer.
If you have any personal interaction with the homeowner, don't give out any information about your move, your current housing status, financial status or your feelings about their property - positive or negative. This could hurt you in future negotiations.
Step 5: Closing
In most cases you will also have the option of a "walk through" within 3 days of the closing. This is your chance to make sure that all of the items that you and the seller have agreed upon meet your satisfaction.
Before you arrive at the closing, make sure all the necessary paper work and deposits have been completed. If the mortgage, title work, homeowners insurance and other items necessary are not completed and brought to the closing table, the closing may not happen on time. Once you close, it's official - you own the home.
Julie Nesbitt
Julie Nesbitt knows the back trails and by-ways of Northern Virginia real estate.
Established in 1974 with a mission to reduce homelessness, increase community support and promote self sufficiency, the Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services is operated by a multi-denominational board of directors and staff managing over 70 housing units. Good Shepherd Housing and Family Services is located in the Mount Zephyr Business Center at 8305 Richmond…
Most people have heard of the MLS, but many are unclear as to exactly what it is. MLS stands for Multiple Listing Service.The MLS is a database of homes listed for sale.
The Multiple Listing Service is probably your best tool as a home buyer and your best friend as a home seller.
But what exactly is the MLS?
The MLS is a database.
In the old days MLS databasing was done on filing cards and notebooks. Today that information is aggregated on computers. MLS data includes information about what properties are for sale and certain details about those properties such as condo amenities, number of bedrooms, garage parking. Almost everything you'd want to know about a given property is cataloged on the MLS.
Much of that information is public, such as the selling price and the address. Some of that information is private, or reserved for those who have professional access to the MLS. For example, real estate agents know which properties are vacant. The general public doesn't need to know this information as sharing that information might pose a risk to some property owners.
Yes, the MLS is a database, but it is also something more.
The MLS is a marketplace.
The collection of information on the MLS serves as the primary repository of details about real estate for sale or rent. MLS data is the foundation for most websites, and it is the primary reference point for most real estate professionals. As properties are contracted and sold, the data is constantly updated. Today, most agents and websites have data that is practically up to the minute.
The MLS is not free, but it's free to you the consumer. Agents and brokers pay fees for access to MLS data and to fees to maintain and improve the system. Professionals like me make that data available to the public for the purpose of helping buyers and sellers connect.
The MLS is a tool.
Like all tools, the MLS gives the best results when wielded by a professional. (More on this below.)
The MLS is for sellers.
Home sellers want access to the maximum number of buyers, in the most cost effective manner. When compared to the expense of newspaper, radio or other ads, the MLS is incredibly targeted and very affordable. The professionals who use this data will only bring qualified buyers shopping for property in your price range. It doesn't get better than that.
When a seller chooses a real estate agent with MLS access, the seller's sales force is equal to the number of agents who are using the MLS. The larger pool of prospective buyers the greater the chance that the property will sell quickly and for a fair market value.
The MLS is for buyers.
The MLS makes home shopping extremely convenient. MLS data does not cost the buyers a dime. Thanks to the internet and sites like NesbittRealty.com you can search MLS listings 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Many consumers find that a "self-search" through the MLS is a good starting point for finding the right home.
A real estate agent is for you.
In the old days consumers needed an agent to help them look through the data. These days its easy for the public to access most of the data available. So, you can do it yourself.
But if you try to find a home on your own or you try to sell without an agent, you'll quickly discover why most people choose to employ a professional. It's true: you could probably cut your own hair, change your oil filter and fill your own cavities. But why would you?
These days the problem isn't that the data is hard to find. The data is often up to the minute. These days, the problem is that there is too much data. Buyers are overwhelmed with choices. Sellers are drowned out by the noise of available information.
That's one reason why when it's time to get serious about buying or selling, a real estate professional can help guide you through the process.
Most agents know the tricks and secrets of the MLS.
As an agent, I have access to more complicated tools and search processes not available to the consumer. I work with the MLS every single day. The MLS is one of the most important tools in my toolbox. Once you have an idea of what you want to accomplish, I can employ the MLS in ways that you haven't imagined.
If you're in the market for a condo, one of the first decisions you need to make is whether to by a newly built condo, or to by a previously owned condominium. Both have advantages and both have pitfalls. Here are a few thoughts to consider.
The majority of condos that are sold are existing condos. This is
neither an advantage or a disadvantage---simply a fact. The majority of
marketing materials and advertisements you will see for condos is for
new construction. This means that it is easier to find ads, pretty
pictures and floor plans for new condos.
One of the advantages of buying an existing condo is what you see is
what you get. There will be no surprises, good or bad. There will be no
change orders. You won't have to look at a model and a floorplan to
get an idea of what you are buying. Instead, you can tour the property
that you will actually buy.
You can move into an existing condo as soon as your loan and title
work are finished. There will be no construction delays. Construction
delays can be sizable and in today's market it is even possible for
the builder to fold-up shop before the project is completed.
All properties, condos included, have kinks. That is to say, there
are unexpected problems with the construction, lay-out or plan. In an
existing condo, the owners have already discovered, identified and
usually solved those problems. In a new condo, you never know what the
problems will be. If anyone could have predicted that unexpected
problem it wouldn't exist!
Existing condos are in established neighborhoods. The traffic
patterns are set. The views are what they will be. Established
neighborhoods have a tendency to have "enough" shopping outlets.
Established neighborhoods have very predictable values in the future.
New neighborhoods can have unexpected increases or decreases in value.
One of the disadvantages of buying an existing condo is that you
might not have some of features you want. This can be simple things
like have the cable wired on the wall where you prefer to put your TV.
You might have to compromise on your laundry room and be forced to
share a community laundry. You might find that the layout is not
exactly as you would like it. A newly built condo always has the latest
features and if it is brand new construction the builder can sometimes
tailor the unit to your demands.
Let's face, brand new buildings are often more appealing than old condos.The materials, the stylings, even the smell
of a new condo is enticing. New condos are fun and bright and designed
to appeal to the latest notion in the buying public. A new condo will
not require any special assessments or repairs. It's in perfect shape.
To weigh your options between new and previously owned condos, contact Will Nesbitt with Condo Alexandria.
About the Author --- Aubrey Nesbitt is a native of Northern Virginia who attended Virginia Commonwealth University. He is a veteran of the US Army and helps his family business by providing informational articles like this one. In addition to photography and blogging, Aubrey provides administrative support for the office.
I was contacted over the weekend by several friends, associates and strangers because a reporter quoted me as an expert in the Washington Post.
For those who aren't from the Washington Metropolitan area, the Washington Post is a widely circulated paper in Washington DC, suburban Maryland and Northern Virginia, and across the country. If you think you've heard of the Washington Post, you probably have. The Post is not the most famous paper in the United States. (The USA Today or New York Times perhaps have that honor.) But the Washington Post is probably one of the most famous papers in America. The Post has a daily circulation of around 700,000 and a Sunday circulation of about a million. The Washington Post online claims to have 18 million readers per month, but I think that number sounds a bit inflated.
But whether there are 18 million or not, I'm quite certain there are a lot of readers of the Washington Post. Now only a fraction of those readers pay any attention at all to the Real Estate section of the paper, but the good news for me is that I only need to talk to the ones who pay attention to the Real Estate section.
I was contacted by a reporter from the Post and was interviewed about condos and the condo market in Northern Virginia. We talked for about 20 minutes or so, and from that conversation, the reporter selected one tiny quote: "The new builders are trying to overcome the lack of space by building a high ceiling, as if that is going to kid somebody."
I stand by that quote, but if I could pick one quote to be known for, that probably wouldn't be my pick. I'm not a stranger to this sort of thing though. A few months ago, my wife (president of Condominium Mortgage) and I were interviewed by Channel 9 News. They probably asked us 20 to 30 questions and then pulled out 30 to 50 seconds of tape to frame the story they were pushing.
Tom Meyer of Condo Alexandria says that I'm a publicity hound. This isn't entirely correct. I do make myself known, through formats such as Active Rain and Trulia. But I don't seek out reporters. They find me.
But his comment and my poorly phrased quote above forced me to reflect on a simple question. Is there a such thing as bad publicity?
My guess is probably not. But still, I think I'd rather have good publicity when possible. So now that I've had a little practice, the next time the Washington Post or Channel 9 or any other news outlet comes calling, I am going to choose my words very very carefully.
Then my neurotic inner voice says, "But you want to be a good interview to keep them coming back for more ..."
Millienials see a bright future.
They might be thought of as a nomadic generation unwilling to settle down, but a recent study by Prudential Real Estate reports millennials are more confident than any other age group that the real estate market will soon recover.
“There was a lot of negativity when all the problems in real estate were happening,” says Earl Lee, president and CEO of Prudential, “but this generation was either too young or too preoccupied with school at the time to notice.”
According to the study, real estate market confidence declines steadily for each successive age group. Eighty percent of 25-to-34 year olds have confidence in the market’s future, compared with 73 percent of 55-to-64 year olds who believe real estate is rebounding.
“Gen X and Gen Y are not as clued in to some of the troubles their parents have gone through in exactly the same way,” Lee says. As these younger would-be home owners enter the workforce and interact with others who own property, their desire to purchase a house increases, he adds.
This could translate into a significant spike in home sales among millennials, which would be good for themselves and the communities where they put down roots, Lee says.
"All of the monumental events that happen in a young person's life start to focus them on real estate and what it has to offer," he says. "These young generations are now all about local involvement, and what better place to do that than in a community where you own a home?"
— Melissa Kandel, REALTOR® Magazine
Help With Down-Payment For First-Time Buyers For A Residence In 22304 In Alexandria
Are you planning to buy a modest nice condo like this condo at 4862 Eisenhower Ave #164? Considering purchasing a home? Okay. Please rely on a professional like Nesbitt Realty to help.
First-Time Home Buyer Credit In The City Of Falls Church
Do you want a little help to purchase a $1,250,000 5-bedroom home in 22046? Has the time come to buy a your first home? Good. Nesbitt Realty am a resource that can assist.
Does Nesbitt Realty Offer A Down-Payment Assistance For First-Time Home Buyers Of $28,428 On 8417 Brookewood Ct McLean VA 22102?
Attaining your first home is an exciting milestone, and it's likely the biggest purchase you'll ever make. So don’t jump into it without doing your homework. You can count on a personable ace like me to assist.
Can A First-Time Buyer Get A Rebate On A Luxury Detached Home Like 2510 N Columbus St?
Attaining your first home is an exciting milestone, and it's likely the biggest purchase you'll ever make. So don’t jump into it without doing your homework. It's Nesbitt Realty's job to help. Do you want a very large luxury place in 22207 in Arlington County?
Help With Down-Payment For First-Time Buyers In 22015 In Fairfax County
Has the time come to purchase a a home? Alright! Nesbitt Realty is available help. Are you planning to buy a sprawling mid-market interior row/townhouse like this striking interior row/townhouse at 9514 Draycott Ct?
Young couples are more often choosing the mortgage before the marriage, according to a new survey from Coldwell Banker.
Twenty-four percent of married couples surveyed aged 18-to-34 said they had purchased a home before they were married. Of married couples aged 45 and up, only 14 percent said they had purchased a house before marriage.
Unmarried couples who live in the Northeast are the most likely to buy a home together prior to marriage, according to the survey.
In the Northeast, 60 percent of those surveyed said they waited until marriage to buy a home together, compared to 72 percent in the South.
For some young couples, buying a home together has become “the new engagement ring,” says Dr. Robi Ludwig, a psychotherapist and Coldwell Banker’s “lifestyle correspondent.” Millennials “know that they have an opportunity here, with low mortgage rates and low housing prices. And they think, ‘We’re moving toward marriage anyway, so let’s buy.’”
Some are even choosing to bypass the fancy wedding and honeymoon and save up for a downpayment instead, Ludwig says.
Couples are finding they can learn a lot about their future spouse when buying a home first, including about one another’s finances and even how many kids the other wants one day, since that often comes into play in finding a suitable size and style of home.
“It’s easy for couples to not think or talk about these things, but they’re forced to once mortgages and banks are involved,” Ludwig says.
Source: “More Young Couples Commit — To Homeownership Before Marriage,” TIME (April 17, 2013)
Help With Down-Payment For First-Time Buyers For A Residence In 22304 In Alexandria
Are you planning to buy a modest nice condo like this condo at 4862 Eisenhower Ave #164? Considering purchasing a home? Okay. Please rely on a professional like Nesbitt Realty to help.
First-Time Home Buyer Credit In The City Of Falls Church
Do you want a little help to purchase a $1,250,000 5-bedroom home in 22046? Has the time come to buy a your first home? Good. Nesbitt Realty am a resource that can assist.
Does Nesbitt Realty Offer A Down-Payment Assistance For First-Time Home Buyers Of $28,428 On 8417 Brookewood Ct McLean VA 22102?
Attaining your first home is an exciting milestone, and it's likely the biggest purchase you'll ever make. So don’t jump into it without doing your homework. You can count on a personable ace like me to assist.
Can A First-Time Buyer Get A Rebate On A Luxury Detached Home Like 2510 N Columbus St?
Attaining your first home is an exciting milestone, and it's likely the biggest purchase you'll ever make. So don’t jump into it without doing your homework. It's Nesbitt Realty's job to help. Do you want a very large luxury place in 22207 in Arlington County?
Help With Down-Payment For First-Time Buyers In 22015 In Fairfax County
Has the time come to purchase a a home? Alright! Nesbitt Realty is available help. Are you planning to buy a sprawling mid-market interior row/townhouse like this striking interior row/townhouse at 9514 Draycott Ct?
Single women make up the second largest segment of home purchases, with one out of every five homes purchases by a single woman, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. With more than 25 million single women over the age of 45 -- whether never married, divorced, or widowed -- it is making up a growing demographic, according to a recent report by FOX News.
“Single women see homes as more than just a place to live, it’s a symbol of success, and provides roots and security,” says author Jan Cullinance, author of the AARP book The Single Woman’s Guide to Retirement.
These single buyers tend to look for a home that is low-maintenance, with a sizable kitchen, walk-in closets, laundry near the master bedroom, and universal design principles to allow aging in place, Cullinance says.
Some builders are reportedly adding two master bedrooms to help accommodate the 40 percent of single women who choose to have non-romantic roommates, according to AARP.
Some single boomer women are also choosing cohousing communities, which are known as CCRCs or continuing care retirement communities. These communities allow you to progress from independent living to assisted living to skilled nursing care on the same campus, Cullinance says.
Source: “Single Female Boomers: Choose Your Castle Carefully,” FOX News (April 11, 2013)
Think of Nesbitt Realty for condos and condominiums in Northern VA
Here are some common questions to ask your agent, your mortgage broker and yourself when you are thinking of buying a condo.
How much can I afford per month?
Is the condo is my price range?
Do I like the community?
Where are the grocery stores, shopping malls, bars?
Is there enough space for my needs?
What is the condition of the condo unit?
Do the common areas need repairs, renovations?
How old is the condo?
Is there a parking facility?
Is parking assigned?
Is there a fee to park?
Is there guest parking and if so where?
Does the condominium have access to public transportation?
Metro or bus only?
Shuttle or Limo service?
What are the chances that this condo will increase in value?
What type of security system is in place?
Does the condominium association allow pets? If so how many and what type?
What are the condo fees and what they include?
What is the condo association policy about renters?
How much is in the reserve fund?
Does the condo association have a certificate of insurance?
The majority of condos that are sold are existing condos. This is
neither an advantage or a disadvantage---simply a fact. The majority of
marketing materials and advertisements you will see for condos is for
new construction. This means that it is easier to find ads, pretty
pictures and floor plans for new condos.
One of the advantages of buying an existing condo is what you see is
what you get. There will be no surprises, good or bad. There will be no
change orders. You won't have to look at a model and a floorplan to
get an idea of what you are buying. Instead, you can tour the property
that you will actually buy.
You can move into an existing condo as soon as your loan and title
work are finished. There will be no construction delays. Construction
delays can be sizable and in today's market it is even possible for
the builder to fold-up shop before the project is completed.
All properties, condos included, have kinks. That is to say, there
are unexpected problems with the construction, lay-out or plan. In an
existing condo, the owners have already discovered, identified and
usually solved those problems. In a new condo, you never know what the
problems will be. If anyone could have predicted that unexpected
problem it wouldn't exist!
Existing condos are in established neighborhoods. The traffic
patterns are set. The views are what they will be. Established
neighborhoods have a tendency to have "enough" shopping outlets.
Established neighborhoods have very predictable values in the future.
New neighborhoods can have unexpected increases or decreases in value.
One of the disadvantages of buying an existing condo is that you
might not have some of features you want. This can be simple things
like have the cable wired on the wall where you prefer to put your TV.
You might have to compromise on your laundry room and be forced to
share a community laundry. You might find that the layout is not
exactly as you would like it. A newly built condo always has the latest
features and if it is brand new construction the builder can sometimes
tailor the unit to your demands.
Let's face, brand new buildings are often more appealing than old condos.The materials, the stylings, even the smell
of a new condo is enticing. New condos are fun and bright and designed
to appeal to the latest notion in the buying public. A new condo will
not require any special assessments or repairs. It's in perfect shape.
To weigh your options between new and previously owned condos, contact Will Nesbitt with Condo Alexandria.
About the Author --- Aubrey Nesbitt is a native of Northern Virginia who attended Virginia Commonwealth University. He is a veteran of the US Army and helps his family business by providing informational articles like this one. In addition to photography and blogging, Aubrey provides administrative support for the office.
I was contacted over the weekend by several friends, associates and strangers because a reporter quoted me as an expert in the Washington Post.
For those who aren't from the Washington Metropolitan area, the Washington Post is a widely circulated paper in Washington DC, suburban Maryland and Northern Virginia, and across the country. If you think you've heard of the Washington Post, you probably have. The Post is not the most famous paper in the United States. (The USA Today or New York Times perhaps have that honor.) But the Washington Post is probably one of the most famous papers in America. The Post has a daily circulation of around 700,000 and a Sunday circulation of about a million. The Washington Post online claims to have 18 million readers per month, but I think that number sounds a bit inflated.
But whether there are 18 million or not, I'm quite certain there are a lot of readers of the Washington Post. Now only a fraction of those readers pay any attention at all to the Real Estate section of the paper, but the good news for me is that I only need to talk to the ones who pay attention to the Real Estate section.
I was contacted by a reporter from the Post and was interviewed about condos and the condo market in Northern Virginia. We talked for about 20 minutes or so, and from that conversation, the reporter selected one tiny quote: "The new builders are trying to overcome the lack of space by building a high ceiling, as if that is going to kid somebody."
I stand by that quote, but if I could pick one quote to be known for, that probably wouldn't be my pick. I'm not a stranger to this sort of thing though. A few months ago, my wife (president of Condominium Mortgage) and I were interviewed by Channel 9 News. They probably asked us 20 to 30 questions and then pulled out 30 to 50 seconds of tape to frame the story they were pushing.
Tom Meyer of Condo Alexandria says that I'm a publicity hound. This isn't entirely correct. I do make myself known, through formats such as Active Rain and Trulia. But I don't seek out reporters. They find me.
But his comment and my poorly phrased quote above forced me to reflect on a simple question. Is there a such thing as bad publicity?
My guess is probably not. But still, I think I'd rather have good publicity when possible. So now that I've had a little practice, the next time the Washington Post or Channel 9 or any other news outlet comes calling, I am going to choose my words very very carefully.
Then my neurotic inner voice says, "But you want to be a good interview to keep them coming back for more ..."
Twenty-four percent of married couples surveyed aged 18-to-34 said they had purchased a home before they were married. Of married couples aged 45 and up, only 14 percent said they had purchased a house before marriage.
Unmarried couples who live in the Northeast are the most likely to buy a home together prior to marriage, according to the survey.
In the Northeast, 60 percent of those surveyed said they waited until marriage to buy a home together, compared to 72 percent in the South.
For some young couples, buying a home together has become “the new engagement ring,” says Dr. Robi Ludwig, a psychotherapist and Coldwell Banker’s “lifestyle correspondent.” Millennials “know that they have an opportunity here, with low mortgage rates and low housing prices. And they think, ‘We’re moving toward marriage anyway, so let’s buy.’”
Some are even choosing to bypass the fancy wedding and honeymoon and save up for a downpayment instead, Ludwig says.
Couples are finding they can learn a lot about their future spouse when buying a home first, including about one another’s finances and even how many kids the other wants one day, since that often comes into play in finding a suitable size and style of home.
“It’s easy for couples to not think or talk about these things, but they’re forced to once mortgages and banks are involved,” Ludwig says.
Source: “More Young Couples Commit — To Homeownership Before Marriage,” TIME (April 17, 2013)
