Lots of buyers are entering the market driving the volume of sales. The number of sales in July for metro Austin, Texas, reached the same of July 2008. Jan.-Feb.-March-April-May-June all showed sales to be 20-25% lower than 2008, until July. I want to focus on buyers who are entering the market for the first time AND buying with a partner-husband-wife.
Of course buying is easier if there are two incomes for the qualifications. But when buying with your spouse or partner, you have to work as a team and teams have plans. For example, with a married couple the wife needs to create her list seperate from her husband (and vice versa). This list needs to have the first 5 most important items if a person was to agree in buying a home. Each person needs their own list starting with #1 - #5 in order of preference - the preference of the creator (and seperate from what a parent, kid, friend, and especially the person your buying with). Once each person has their list of 5 (#2 is more important than #4), and then extends the list to items #6 - #10 in order of importance. The key is realistically having the first 5 goals for the property be "must haves that won't be negotiated" and #6-#10 be "hope fors but dont' have to have". Finally, and maybe with an adult beverage of choice, the couple needs to sit down and agree on 1 list highlighting their desired house. Don't trash the individual list, this is helpful later.
This process will help improve communication when properties are being toured. Buyers should give themselves room to change. Over time an item can become more or less important and shift on a personal list. When this happens, explain to the partner "...my #8 is now more important and sits at #3, can we agree?" Buyers must be able to change their direction and be communicating it to one another. I want to stay away from listing any criteria, but will add price is often overlooked on the first 5.