My ‘to do’ list today included the goal of getting a blog piece done.
But what to write about? Well... I just got a phone call that helped answer that question!
Searching for a new home is exciting and can be stressful. There are a few things you can do though to help reduce that stress and make your goal of becoming a new homeowner a reality.
Here’s some of my two cents:
• Turn off HGTV. These shows are great but this is NOT real, real estate life.
• Get preapproved through a local, credible lender. KNOW what your financial limits are and what is going to be expected of your wallet during the process.
• Hire (yes hire!) an agent that you can trust and enjoy being with throughout the transaction. Buying a house is a big deal. Hiring involves interviewing and you really should interview a few agents to have the best professional on your side. And "best" shouldn’t be determined by a proclamation on a billboard. Know their experience (total & within the market you’re interested in), get references, & decide how well your personalities mesh (you will be spending a lot of time together so you should like them too!). The hired agent knows you’re serious. In return, you have a professional working for you with the loyalty & attentiveness that comes with that.
• Understand what kind of market you’re shopping in. Currently, inventory is low which means it’s a seller’s market. Sellers have choices. Be sure you’re looking at properties that you truly can afford. Multiple offers are common and you need to be in the best position possible to "win".
• Understand the role of location. We’ve all heard about it. It’s a real thing! Don’t try to compare a house in an unpopular area with a similar house in a popular area. What determines popularity? Start with school district. You might not have children but you can bet your bippee that a property in a highly ranked school district WILL command higher dollar than that lower ranked one.
• Now that you’ve hired your agent, listen to them. They really do want what’s best for you (and if you don’t believe that you should keep looking). They’ll teach you about what to expect your money to buy. For example, most recently, homes within my market are selling for 95 – 100+% of list price. What are the chances of getting a well-priced home (as supported by a market analysis) for 80% of list price? Slim to none!
We Agents have often made this whole real estate thing look easy. It’s not!
If it’s time to buy a home, it’s time to engage a professional. There’s a lot involved between seeing a house and getting the keys in your hand. Let’s talk! Your goal is my motivation!
Start your House Hunt w/ Agent Brenda HERE!
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