Purchasing our first Two New Construction Homes: The Painful Lessons We Learned Along the Way!

When my husband Jason and I dove into buying our first home back in 2013, we were a mix of thrilled and jittery about this major commitment, especially with our little one, Grace, in tow. With Jason on active duty, we had to go all-in on a house we hadn't even seen. I strolled through those model homes in the neighborhood and got starry-eyed over their beauty. It was a no-brainer for us to snag one of those fresh builds.

Little did we know the rollercoaster of making a model home our personal oasis. I had grand visions of recreating that glam model home vibe, only to get a reality check at the design center on our tight budget. We compromised on finishes like basic granite, dainty island pendants, and wall-to-wall carpet.

After a few years of living there, we were like, "Time for a change!" Funny enough, when we jazzed up the place to sell, we were all, "Wow, this place is pretty sweet!" And guess what? It sold in just 6 days!

So, in our new crib, I was all about those high-end designer vibes I'd always dreamed of. But let me tell you, sticking to my style with so many choices was a wild ride. Fast forward a couple of years, and we were ready to mix things up again!

With two new home purchases in the bag, here are some juicy nuggets of wisdom we've picked up:

1. Get the bones right first! Fixing up the structure early on is key. You can always zhuzh up the look later, but messing with layout, wiring, plumbing? Ouch, that's gonna hurt your wallet down the line!

2. Consider how you'll actually live in the space. If it's not functional, no matter how pretty it looks, you'll end up dissatisfied with the results. So, prioritize making it work for your family first and foremost. Functionality rules!

3. Say no to trends! Stick with a style that vibes with your life, not just what's hot in the magazines.

For all you first-time home hunters out there, buying a house is a wild ride! Slip-ups will happen, but hey, that's all part of the fun in making it yours. We're still learning the ropes, but dang, we're grateful for the lessons so far. And guess what? More adventures await as we gear up for house numero tres!