If you want to buy one of the homes for sale in Arlington, VA right now, you should make it your number one priority.
What?
You are thinking - I have a demanding job! I work 14 hours a day and never can take a day off! I have a vacation planned! I am running a marathon this weekend! I had planned to tour Mt. Vernon with my boyfriend then spend the day outlet shopping!
The reality is right now in Arlington, VA the good homes for sale that are priced right will sell immediately with multiple offers. The ones that are not will sit for a few weeks but will still sell for close to list (unless just crazy over priced or in really bad shape). You need to put your other plans to the side, tell your employer you are buying a house and will need some flexibility at work and be ready to jump to buy a house. If you can't make buying a home your #1 project right now, you need to re-think whether you really want to buy a home in Arlington right now.
Be ready to accommodate fast showings - If you can't get out of work for an hour or two to see houses, or have a weekend packed with activities, you will probably miss out on the best houses on the market in Arlington VA right now. I have been scrambling to make my schedule flexible for my clients who are truly ready to buy a house.
Be ready to take 3-5 hours off work to attend a home inspection in the next few days after finding the house - There is no time for a leisurely 14 day inspection period. Why not? Because there are 2-3 other buyers lined up who will get theirs done in a day or two. As your agent, I will help you find a thorough, professional inspector who will be able to accommodate these fast time frames. Sellers want this contingency removed quickly because the deal is not done until the inspection is over and parties have agreed to repairs or credits. Buyers can walk at any point during that period if they get an inspection.
Get your loan completely approved. This means, call the lender, fill out an application and send documentation and get that file thoroughly vetted - right now, before you find the house. Listing agents and sellers are not going to be pleased with an approval letter that says "This person is approved pending verification of assets, credit and income." That, my friends, is a not worth the paper it is written on. Plus, things come up. Sometimes there are problems with credit you may not know about, or a piece of financial documentation you don't have at the ready. It is best to get these things cleared up before you've found the dream house that 3-5 other people also want who are more prepared to buy than you are.
If you are thinking of buying one of the homes for sale in Arlington, VA in the spring of 2012, contact me so I can get you prepped. It is a race right now and only those who have trained will win.
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