W
hen Heather Anderson and Chris Kinney got engaged, they knew their living situation wouldn't cut it. With two teenage children each from previous marriages, they needed a house that could accommodate six people comfortably. The couple, who had been dating for three years, decided to look for a home in Essex County, New Jersey.

    Their budget of $800,000 was ambitious, but they knew it would be a challenge to find a suitable property within their means. "Blending a family is a process," said Ms. Anderson, a school social worker. "We wanted a house with at least three bedrooms where everyone could have some space and not feel like the home environment was a stressor."

    The couple worked with Lizette Brown, a broker with Compass, who helped them navigate the market. "I tend to start $100,000 lower than the client's budget due to bidding wars," Ms. Brown said. This strategy opened their eyes to what they could afford in their price range.

    After visiting over a dozen listings, the couple began to doubt their chances of finding the perfect home. "It seemed impossible to find something that checked all our boxes and fit our budget," Mr. Kinney said. But then they found a three-bedroom house in Verona that met their needs: an open-plan living area, granite countertops, and a large finished basement with a full bathroom. The asking price was $659,000, within their revised budget of $650,000.