Agree on Property Criteria
Determining the characteristics of the property you aim to buy is another pivotal step in the co-buying process.
💰 Price
Establish a budget range that is feasible for all parties involved. This narrows your options and sets clear financial expectations.
📍 Location
Decide on a location or multiple locations where you'd like to buy. Consider factors like commute times, safety, and proximity to essential services.
🔎 Amenities
Discuss what amenities the group wants. This could range from school districts and public transit accessibility to proximity to parks, nightlife, or hospitals.
📐 Size
Agree on the size of the property in terms of square footage, number of bedrooms, and other spatial considerations.
🏡 Home Type
Settle on the type of home that suits your group's needs—whether that's a single-family home, a condo, or something else.
🛠️ State of Repair
Discuss your willingness to take on a fixer-upper versus preferring a move-in-ready home. This will affect your budget and the amount of work you put in post-purchase.
⚖️ Relative Importance Weightings
Compromises will likely have to be made. The most efficient way to get ahead of this is to assign relative importance weightings to your property criteria.
→ What's negotiable?
→ What's non-negotiable?
Prioritize the things that are most important to the group. If you can reach mutual acceptance on a home that ticks all your boxes without stretching your budget, it's a win! If you need to adjust your search criteria or relax your expectations, you'll be prepared.
💡Fast Fact
According to a recent survey, 93% of all US homebuyers had to compromise on at least one of their search parameters. Location and price topped the list.
By aligning on these property criteria, you'll be better equipped to conduct a focused and effective property search, reducing the likelihood of future disagreements or dissatisfaction.
Matt Holmes (LinkedIn) is co-founder and CEO of CoBuy, formed in 2016 to unlock homeownership for everyone. Before hopping a flight to Seattle to start CoBuy with his mother, Matt worked in investment banking and financial markets in London for a decade. He holds degrees from University College London (BSc Economics) and ESCP Business School (Masters, London & Turin).
Pam Hughes (LinkedIn) is Co-founder and COO at CoBuy. She has over 40 years of experience across finance, real estate, insurance, and construction. Pam has committed to personal empowerment through financial education for decades, which inspired her to start CoBuy with her son in 2016. She's best friends with a small dog known as Francis.
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