So you have decided that it's time to buy a home in the Fort Wayne area. Sweet. Here is a short list of helpful tips for you.
1. Call a local Fort Wayne Realtor to help you. Of course we would highly recommend calling us (260-704-0843), but if you don't, call somebody! You need a local professional to help you through the complicated process.
2. Educate yourself. Talk to a local mortgage broker/lender about your financial situation and how much you can comfortable afford. Talk to your Reator about the process and what other costs are going to come up.
3. Don't settle. Buying a home is a HUGE deal. It's a HUGE decision. It's a HUGE investment. Make sure that you love the home you buy. Don't settle and be unhappy in six months.
4. Don't become house poor. Just because you can afford a $300,000 home doesn't mean that you have to buy a $300,000 home and stretch yourself financially.
5. Check the emotions at the door. Yes.. buying a home is exciting, but it can also be very stressful. Do your best to keep the emotions out of it. It's a hard thing to do sometimes, but as your Realtor, we'll do our best to help you with this as well.
6. Stop taking advice from your Uncle Buck that used to sell real estate in Vegas during the boom. Or your hairdresser. Or your mom's neighbor's milkman's sister's cousin that used to be a Realtor in 1972. Times have changed. Things are different. Listen to your trusted Realtor. Please! :)
7. Look into the future. If you know that you are going to be selling this home in 5 years and upgrading, then maybe buying the artsy home with only a spiral staircase that is sitting right by a busy street with a railroad crossing under power lines maybe isn't the best idea. Even though that home may appeal to you, it isn't going to appeal to many when you go to sell it in the future.
8. Educate yourself on the area. Make sure you know the crime rates in the neighborhoods and also the school systems.
9. HAVE AN INSPECTION. Just because we can't see damage or defects during the walk through doesn't mean they aren't there. A good home inspector will find the things wrong that we can't see. Consider having a radon test as well. If the home is on a well and septic, get those inspected too.
10. Have fun! As stressful as buying a home can be, it doesn't have to be. We like to have fun with our buyers an even though we take our jobs VERY seriously... it's okay to make it light and fun.
If you are considering buying a home in the Fort Wayne area, we are here to help. We'll put YOUR needs way before ours, and we will take care of you and be right beside you through the entire process... and beyond. Hope to hear from you soon!
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