New Condos Downtown San Diego - Buying Tip #1

Are You A Shopper?

Buying a condo or home is a very daunting and emotional task. Each decision you make can have far reaching consequences. This is the first tip in a series of tips for you if you are thinking about buying a downtown San Diego condo, or a home in La Mesa, or twixt and between. These San Diego buying tips will work anywhere.

Tip #1

Before you start shopping for a downtown San Diego condo to purchaseit is important to understand their are two type of downtown San Diego condoscompeting for your attention. There is the condo that meets your day to day needs and there is the downtown San Diego condo that satisfies your emotional needs and desires. The trick is to find a condo that satisfies as manyof these needs as possible. In a perfect world, that is what happens. You fulfill both your basic condo buying needs and your emotional desires. But in the real world, you compromise. Money or lack thereof creates the need for compromise. You find the best of the bunch.

Do you buy the one-bedroom condo that is right in the center of the Gaslamp District, or do you purchase the two-bedroom condo in Little Italy that allows you quick trolley access? Is living in a high-rise with multiple amenities more important than low homeowner association dues? When you begin your condo shopping, you are going to find condos that appeal to you for different reasons.

That's why a "shopping list" is important. Start with two columns---"Needs" and "Wishes". Next step is to put your two lists in order. Listing what you actually need versus what you want will help clarify your priorities. Once you see your wants and needs written down, it will help you figure out what are the most important items. Everyone will want to throw in their two cents worth of opinion. Your list will clarify what is important to you.

Your emotions will appear as soon as you start thinking about buying a downtown San Diego condo. It's like falling in love. You will go for the emotional needs first. That is human nature. If you have your needs and wants list, you will be able to ground yourself to what is practical to your lifestyle. The most beautiful unit you have ever seen might be perfect if you had all the money in the world. However, strapping yourself financially gets old really fast.

The ideal goal is to find a condo that meets your basic needs,satisfies as many of your emotional needs as possible, and is affordable to your wallet. You can always move up to your "emotional condo" the next time. Everyone starts somewhere. Plan your purchase. Get yourself a realtor who not only listens to your locational wants and needs, but also to your financial boundaries.

Tip #2 will give you insight to the financial aspect of your purchase.

By Sharyn & Victoria Crown, Downtown San Diego real estate agents

This is part of a series of articles entitled, New Condos, Downtown San Diego Style