07/13/10
The World Cup final definitely had its ups and downs for teams and fans, and as I watched the game I started to think how it’s possible to draw some analogies with buying a home. Having gone through that process myself lately, I think there are a few things we can all learn from Spain (the winner, for those of you who missed it). P.S. I know sports analogies can be goofy, but, oh well, here it is:
- It won’t always be pretty – In little over 120 minutes of play, there were 14 fouls which warranted yellow cards (warnings) and 1 red card (a player is sent off the field for a blatant violation, leaving his team to play one man short) in the World Cup final. Not to mention countless missed opportunities and failed attempts. In today’s housing market, tighter lending requirements, competition with all-cash buyers, and the uncertainty of a short sale can make the goal a challenge. That’s why it’s a good idea to get pre-approved and put together a strong game plan for your house search.
- Don’t forget to think competitively – Both Spain and the Netherlands showed up ready to play on Sunday, and the competitive spirit extended into the final minutes of the game. LendingTree can help you with this in your home search because once you submit your new home loan or refinance form, you can get competitive bids from up to 5 lenders.
- It pays to surround yourself with a team you can trust – Andres Iniesta may have scored the winning goal, but Spain credits its trophy to copious amounts of teamwork. When buying a home, your real estate agent and lender are part of the team that will help you navigate the world of offers, loans, and paperwork. And it helps to have a track record of success. In case you are wondering, LendingTree’s network of lenders has served over 25 million borrowers.
- It’s never time to give up hope – After years of disappointment, Spain has finally won a World Cup trophy. The winning goal came in the 28th minute of overtime, less than 5 minutes from the end of play. You can draw inspiration from Spain when that place you’ve had your eye on turns out to look nothing at all like the picture online, or when your offer gets rejected, or contracts fall through. Just dust yourself off and keep your eye on the goal.
- By Lindsey Johnson, LendingTree/Tree.com
photo courtesy of Wikipedia
