One of the hardest things about buying a home is balancing your needs, wants and affordability.  An article recently posted in Realty Times does a good job of explaining how to maintain this balance.

“To buy the home that's right for you and your household, you may already have a dream home in mind. Then comes "what if we had a…..?" Reality sets in - you've got McMansion tastes on a starter home budget.

That's when it's time to face the question - how much home do you really need?

Nearly every buyer compromises on something. Maybe you get a fixer upper instead of a new home. Or, you buy a smaller home in a more expensive neighborhood. Or, you get a larger home in a suburb and compromise on the commute.”

Read the entire article here… http://realtytimes.com/consumeradvice/buyersadvice1/item/26393-20131016-how-much-home-should-you-buy