Starting with the end in mind

Decide what you want in home ownership, then find the home and neighborhood to match.

At any moment, there are literally hundreds of available homes in Petaluma, thousands in Sonoma County. The first time logging on the Petalumahomes.com search page you’ll probably have a fairly common experience…Westside vintage, Eastside 4 bedroom, country ranchette, enticing raw land - all within your price range! You’re torn, all over the map! Sound familiar? Here’s an alternative…start with the vision, then find the home to fit.

It’s always good to explore your options, but we guarantee that this method will save you time, headaches, and perhaps even money. Not to mention, you’ll spend your time looking for what you truly want.

What do you really want?

Whatever your situation in life, whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or a repeat buyer/investor, you need to ask yourself what you really hope to accomplish with your new home. Rather than simply compiling a laundry list of necessities (i.e. more room, less commute, etc) we like to encourage our buyers to begin with the “end in mind”.

Without considering price for the moment, what is your ideal picture of home ownership?

• Playing with your children on a safe, quiet cul-de-sac?
• Enjoying the short stroll home from your favorite restaurant or bistro?
• Throwing on your boots and maintaining your acre plus parcel: your automotive shop, organic garden, or hobby vineyard?

Start your search by answering these questions first, then looking for the ideal fit within your price range. Beginning in the opposite direction, browsing properties to see if they somehow spark interest, you may walk your fourth country property before realize that while an open acre in the country sounds idyllic, Septic Systems and Wells (not to mention the commute) are probably the worst fit for your personal lifestyle. Or conversely, while a leisurely 3 block spin to the office certainly is convenient, you’d trade 15 minutes of driving for a quiet dirt lane any day, not to mention the backyard the size of your driveway!