I'm looking to buy a house and I want a single-family home. I have been living in a townhouse for two years and I am tired of having common walls and very small yards. My new house will have to have a lot more square footage, a large lot size, an open floor plan, great curb appeal, and lots of upgrades.
My agent has been showing me fixer-uppers, while I want a home that's in move-in condition. The problem is, I can't afford a high mortgage. I'm not holding out for a mansion, but I want this new house to be a step up from my townhouse.
My real estate agent tells me that I have to adjust my expectations. I asked him, “Do you mean I can't have the house I want?” And he said, “Of course you can. All you have to do is move—to Alaska!”
