Century 21 Affiliated
Barry Shaw - CENTURY 21 Affiliated

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Barry goes above and beyond for each client whether buying or selling, regardless of the price point. WI and MN Licensed.
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Having a wedding and buying a house: two of the biggest moments, with two of the biggest price tags in adult life. But lately, it seems the word “and” is being replaced with the word “or”, at least according to this REALTOR Magazine article!

82% of unmarried people surveyed said they’d rather skip the formal “I do’s” and spend their money on a house instead. That’s a mind-blowing percentage. Is it reality? Probably not. These were unmarried people who were surveyed, and only time will tell if they do actually opt to skip the wedding and invest that money in a house.

But it certainly makes you stop and think…

Ideally, most people would probably prefer to do both. But weddings aren’t cheap! The average cost of a wedding was $22,500 in 2021. But that’s a deal, mainly due to the pandemic affecting the wedding industry. From 2015 to 2018 the average cost was right around $33,000, which is probably where it’ll bounce back to (or higher) once COVID has exited the scene for good.

That’s a pretty hefty chunk of change to drop for a single day. Sure, it’s traditional, and it creates memories that’ll last a lifetime, but it’s still a lot of dough for what amounts to a bunch of people getting together for a ceremony, some food, drinks, and music.

On the other hand, that’s a solid downpayment for a place you can call home for years to come, which will most likely appreciate in value. Let’s just round the $33,000 average wedding cost to an even $30,000 for easier math…

That equates to a downpayment of:
20% on $150K house
10% on $300K house
5% on $600K house

Of course you’ll still have to pay the mortgage on that house on a monthly basis, but you have to pay to live somewhere, so it may as well be something you’re accruing equity in.

This isn’t to say it’s an “either / or” decision for everybody; if you can do both, that’s fantastic!

But if you can’t do both, and are wrestling with whether it makes sense (or is just plain acceptable) to forgo a wedding and buy a house instead, it sounds like you’re in good company. So, feel free to pare down your nuptials and invest your money in a home instead! It may not be a decision people have always made in the past, but data indicates it could easily become a trend in the very near future.



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What my clients are saying  

Barry is the best in the business! He exceeds expectations and truly cares about the people he is working with! Thanks Barry, we look forward to working with you again.

 

~ Kelli Joy

"Great experience would use Barry again. All worked out well. Excellent experience."

 

~ Collette

First time home buyer, and he was great to work with! I will definitely be using Barry in the future! Best guy in the business!

 

~ Jon K.

"Pleasure to work with. Answered all of our questions and always responded promptly. Made his schedule flexible to fit ours. Overall great experience."

 

~ Brad

"Barry helped my husband and I buy our first house. A lot of people advised me when I started talking about the home buying process that it was very stressful and time consuming. Yes, it felt a little stressful but I have to say buying our first house was a smooth transaction. Barry was excellent with communication. I prefer using my email since I don't always have my cell phone on me. Barry was very quick at replying to all my emails and was always very polite. Barry was also very professional when setting up showings for us, showing the house and at closing. When we received a counter offer on the house from the owner I wasn't sure how to go about it. Barry walked me through all possible options. The options he gave with his opinions felt trustworthy (he wasn't just trying to make the sell). I also really liked that Barry was laid back. He has a calm and friendly demeanor, made him a pleasure to work with!"

 

~ Katarina

I chose to work with Barry because he was recommended by a good friend. Barry was amazing. The process went smoothly because he constantly kept us up to date on EVERYTHING. I have already recommended Barry to a few people.

 

~ Liz

I was purchasing this home from out of state and Barry carefully chose a beautiful home for me and my price range.He carefully listened and answered all questions and was always available.I would highly recommend him!This was the perfect place to come home to.

 

~ Mike

This realtor is more on selling your home and investing his time and money into it. He works with you and is very respectable of your home. I have not found another realtor that cares about you selling your home instead of how much money they make. He is the best by far!! I have also heard from others how nice this person is and how helpful he is; who goes out of his way to please!

 

~ KT N

Barry was wonderful to work with, especially as I was a first-time home buyer and being completely novice with the home buying process. From working with me on affordable homes and proffering advice, and knowing when it was right to delegate concerns as appropriate, Barry definitely knew my needs and interests in a home. His approach is no-nonsense. Definitely not pushy. On the contrary -- On the day I saw the home of my dreams, there were still a couple homes on the list to check out and he had asked me if I was sure I didnt want to see them. I'd said no, but it was fantastic he encouraged me to try one or two other homes. But even my mum has an old adage - when the right house is found, one knows straightaway that is the one. And he was very helpful for a post-sale issue too. Am most grateful! And he's right - living in Wisconsin is fantastic. Barry is highly recommended - again, much thanks!

 

~ David

If you are looking for a new home Barry Shaw is your guy. He is excellent! He found us the home of our dreams and helped us with all of our questions through closing. Thank you Barry!!

 

~ Robb

Barry understands all the emotions you go through when buying/selling your home. He responded to emails quickly. He set up home showings quickly for my husband and I to view. His negotiation skills are excellent. I highly recommend Barry to sell your house or find the house you always wanted! He found the perfect house for my family.

 

~ Jennifer

It was very enjoyable to have Barry show us houses in Prescott,WI. and surrounding areas. He was responsive in showing us the homes we were interested in, with no pressure. He was very helpful.

 

~ MC

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