How Do I Make a Wish List for My First Home in the Greater Tulsa Area?

Make two lists, not one. Your must-haves are the things you can't change later or can't live without, like location, layout, and lot. Your nice-to-haves are the things you'd enjoy but could add or change over time, like paint, flooring, and light fixtures. Talk with an agent, then a lender, so you know your budget. Then rank your must-haves and bring the list to every showing.

Whether you're buying in Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Jenks, Owasso, Collinsville, Coweta, Glenpool, or Catoosa, the same two lists apply.

I'm Christina Shortsleeve, a REALTOR® with REMAX Results, and I help first-time buyers across the Greater Tulsa Area buy with a clear plan.

A must-have is something the home has to have for you to buy it. A nice-to-have is something you'd like, but you'd still buy a home without it.

A useful test: can you change it later? Paint, flooring, and decor change. Layout, location, and lot don't. The things you can't change usually belong on the must-have list.

• Your budget. Talk with an agent first, then a lender. Your pre-approval tells you the price range to shop in. My article on how pre-approval works explains that step.
• Location. Your drive to work and the places you go every week.
• Bedrooms and bathrooms. How many you need, and how many you'd like.
• Layout. One story or two, an open kitchen or separate rooms.
• Garage and parking. How many cars, and whether you need storage or a work space.
• Yard. A fenced yard, a patio, or as little yard work as possible.
• Condition. Move-in ready, or open to a home that needs some work. My article on whether to buy a fixer-upper can help you decide.

• Pick your top three must-haves. If a home misses one of those, it's not the one.
• Keep the must-have list short. Too many must-haves can rule out good homes.
• If you're buying with someone, make your lists separately first. Then compare them and agree on the top three together.
• Update it as you tour. Seeing homes in person often moves an item from one list to the other.

Your wish list is how you compare homes. I recommend touring at least three to five homes before you make an offer, even if you love the first one, and I usually keep it to about six homes in a day so they don't blur together. I keep notes on every home you tour, including what you liked and didn't like, and your list is what you and I check each one against.

Your wish list is part of how I start with every buyer in my Buyer Confidence System: Listen, Educate, Personalize, Guide, and Follow Through. I listen first, then walk you through the Purchasing Pathway, the document I use so each step makes sense before you reach it. My article on how many homes to tour before you make an offer covers how to know when you've found the right one.

• Making one list for everything. Every item looks equally important, and no home checks them all.
• Too many must-haves. Most homes will have something you'd change.
• Falling for the decor. Paint and furniture change. Layout and location don't.
• Touring homes outside your budget. It makes the homes you can afford feel like a step down.
• Never updating the list. What you learn on tours should shape what you look for next.

How do I make a wish list for my first home?

To make a wish list for your first home, split it into must-haves and nice-to-haves, know your budget, and rank your top three must-haves.

What should be a must-have when buying a house?

Your must-haves are usually the things you can't change later, like location, layout, and lot, plus anything you can't live without.

How many must-haves should I have?

Keep your must-have list short. I suggest picking your top three, so good homes aren't ruled out over smaller items.

Should I make my wish list before I'm pre-approved?

You can start your wish list before you're pre-approved, but your pre-approval tells you the price range, so finish it once you know your budget.

If you're starting to think about buying, start with my page for first-time buyers in the Greater Tulsa Area. When you're ready, send me a message. I'll walk you through the Purchasing Pathway, so you know what each step looks like before you reach it, starting with your wish list.

Christina Shortsleeve is a REALTOR® with REMAX Results in the Greater Tulsa Area, helping first-time buyers, homeowners ready to upgrade, and downsizers buy and sell with a clear plan. She has sold 127 homes since 2020.