Real Estate Advice I'd Give You (If I Wasn’t Afraid to Hurt Your Feelings)

Let’s be honest… Real estate is emotional.

It’s about dreams, milestones, and finding a place that feels like home.

But it’s also about numbers, timelines, and realities that can be tough to hear. So today, I’m pulling back the curtain and giving you the kind of advice I’d share with my best friend- even if it stings a little.

1. A motivated seller won’t take $100K under asking- just because you really want the house.

I get it- you’ve fallen in love. The kitchen makes your heart skip, the backyard feels perfect for summer nights, and suddenly you can’t imagine living anywhere else. But here’s the truth: wanting a house badly doesn’t automatically mean the seller is willing to hand it over at a massive discount.

Yes, negotiations happen. Yes, there’s often wiggle room. But a $100K price drop on a fairly priced home? That’s not a strategy- it’s wishful thinking. The more realistic your offer, the better chance you have at actually winning the home you love.

2. The fixer-upper isn’t a “steal” if you don’t have the skills, time, or extra $50K it needs.

HGTV has us all convinced that a weekend with a sledgehammer and a Pinterest board is all it takes to turn a disaster into a dream home. In reality? Renovations are expensive, messy, and time-consuming.

If you don’t have the skills (or a cousin who’s a contractor), the time, or the budget cushion to cover the surprises behind those walls, that “deal” will quickly drain your bank account and your sanity. Sometimes, paying more upfront for a move-in ready home is actually the smarter (and cheaper) choice.

3. If you’ve been house hunting for 6–9 months with no luck… something’s off.

This one’s tough, but necessary. If you’ve been actively searching for a home for the better part of a year and still haven’t landed one, one of two things is happening:

• Your agent isn’t doing their job.

• Or… your expectations are out of touch with the market.

A good agent should be proactive, honest, and strategic. But even the best agent can’t deliver the impossible. If you’re searching for a fully updated 5-bedroom home in your dream neighborhood at half the going price… well, that unicorn doesn’t exist.

Sometimes, the key to finding “the one” is a reality check- adjusting your must-haves, opening up your search area, or rethinking your budget.

4. Buying “the dream home” before you’re financially ready is a recipe for stress.

It’s easy to fall in love with a house that checks every box- but just because you can get approved for it, doesn’t mean you should. Living at the very top of your budget leaves zero room for life to happen- think job changes, surprise expenses, or even just wanting to go on vacation without guilt.

Stretching too far now can turn that dream home into a nightmare when every monthly payment feels like a weight on your chest. The right home isn’t just the one you love- it’s the one you can comfortably afford.

The Bottom Line

I say all of this not to burst your bubble, but to protect your heart (and your wallet). Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions of your life. A little tough love now can save you from big regrets later.

So here it is: be realistic, be flexible, and trust the process. The right home is out there- it just takes a smart strategy (and a dash of patience) to get there.

XO,

Jen

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