Home Crushes: An Ode to your One True Love (Er, Home)
Some say love at first sight only happens (in most cases) a few times in the average person’s lifetime; but anyone who has a love affair with houses knows how easy it is to fall in love with the beautiful, man made structure that wraps you up in its walls and gives you shelter—only if you promise to nourish it with tender, love and care.
Taken from www.kitchenandbathsolutions.com
In southwest Florida it is not uncommon to spot a whole street filled with potential love interests and ooh and awe at their splendor.
But rest assured, house lovers because you are not crazy.
69% of respondents reported that they have had a home crush. And house-hunters with a “home crush” are drawn to the same house again and again, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Realtor.com surveyed 1,082 individuals from Jan. 9 to Jan. 20 who reported falling head-over-heels for a home.
Taken from www.laurabenko.com
Date your Home Before you Take the Plunge
Seeking out a home is like dating.
“You have to make sure you know what’s really out there. You evaluate what is a turn-on and turn-off, and perhaps you’ll fall in love,” Realtor.com’s consumer-housing specialist and an agent with Pacific Union in Lafayette, Calif., Leslie Piper says.
Maybe you don’t like the color or it doesn’t have your top must-have features. Whatever the case, men and women approach a home crush differently—according to the survey.
Men tend to lose attention quickly and bounce from one crush to another: 36% of men said they find a new home crush every week, compared with 29% of women.
Women are more likely to fall for more expensive homes: 41% of women said their home crush is out of their price range, compared with 30% of men.
But ladies, doesn’t that just increase its allure?
Men and women can agree on one thing: outdoor living spaces are the most attractive home attributes to both men and women: 54% of women and 46% of men said outdoor living spaces—like decks, backyards and patios—make them fall in real-estate love.
Both men and women still have their priorities. 42% of women preferred open-floor plans, and 40% of men wanted garages.
No Time to Meet (Er, look at) Homes? Go Online and Check Out Their Profile
Nearly 80% of homebuyers first find their one and only on their computer. After that, only about one-third decide to go meet the house in person.
A Real Life Example of True House Love
About 16 years ago, Brenda Van Fossen of Lynchburg, Va., stumbled upon a 2,600-square-foot, contemporary-style house with 10-foot ceilings and an open-floor plan. But when she called up the agent, Van Fossen was disappointed to learn that the house was already spoken for.
But Ms. Van Fossen couldn’t get the house off of her mind.
And a year later, when she found out her crush was back on the market, she scooped it up for roughly $170,000.
“That first night there, it sounds silly, but it was like I was in love,” Van Fossen said.
Have you ever fallen in love with a home?
Tell us about it in the comments section.
