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Keys to Home Buying Happiness

By
Managing Real Estate Broker with Keller Williams Bellevue 47538

Buying a home can be an exciting time, but it can also be challenging

Keys and stressful.  There are so many issues to consider, processes to understand and obstacles to contend with.  My goal is to provide the kind or process that smooths out as many of the rough parts as possible and be a solid resource to achieving your goals as a home buyer.  Having completed many transactions over 15 years and experienced markets in various conditions, I’ve learned a few things to help my buyers achieve their goals more often than not. 

With that experience in mind and knowing things change, and often change quickly, I’ve come up with these keys to Home Buying Happiness.

  1.  Set realistic expectationsIt seems to be a universal law that whatever our budget is, what we really want tends to be just outside of it.  By no means am I saying to compromise on your key desires, but as the process unfolds most of the time buyers reassess what their goals may be in light of the available inventory and their budget.                  
  2.  Understand the way the market is moving and adjust expectations accordingly.  When a market is flat or declining, a well-priced, well prepared home may be had at or below the list price.  But, when the inventory is low and competition is high, the same home may receive multiple offers and sell well above list price.  Understanding the type of market you are in and also understanding that a List Price, is not a value, it’s a strategy can help you adjust your strategies in finding and getting that home.                                                                                                                                   
  3.  Use top professionals in all aspects. Having a top Agent, Lender, Inspector and other vendors on your team will make a huge difference in your experience and total happiness.  You may have a friend or relative who recently got their license and expects you to use them.  The choice is always yours, but being a test subject for a new or inexperienced agent can be very risky & stressful.  As someone who’s been around for a while, who stays up to date with technology & trends, I know my profession, my colleagues and vendors well.  I wrote Use Top Pros not Expensive Prose to illustrate the difference between a quality agent versus someone with a budget.                                                                                                                            
  4.  Don’t rely on false, misleading or uninformed sourcesFamily means well, websites have their own agendas, newspapers are there to sell newspapers not homes.  No one knows what’s really going on in the market like the people who daily participate in the market.  As you are involved in the process, your perspectives will change and what you have heard, read and been told will either ring true or be proven out of date or outright false.  No website can accurately determine a home’s value. Your friends and families’ experiences are good to hear, but will not likely be the same as yours and the strategies used just a few years ago may not be the most helpful now.                                                            
  5. Endurance can pay off.  In my current market, there is a shortage of homes and an abundance of Sold Signbuyers.  It’s not uncommon at all for a buyer to lose out in a bidding war a few times. The temptation is to give up and wait, but that can backfire if the values continue to climb and you end up priced out of the market.  Sometimes, it takes working through the process and taking a few swings before you finally connect.  When you do, you’ll feel like it was meant to be.  Don’t let the ones that got away get you down, learn from them and move forward until it all comes together.

These are just a few Keys to Home Buying Happiness.  There are likely more and the process will have rough spots.  I believe by referring back to this list and staying positive when things don’t go as you hoped, the final outcome can be a great one and you can find Home Buying Happiness. 

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Did you like this post?  Do you know someone else who might?  Do you know anyone who might benefit from our services?  Please pass this along to family or friends or contact us, we love to help.

Dan Tabit       206-310-8629    425-868-SOLD(7653)  DanTabit@Northstone.net

One stop Real Estate & Mortgage Services Serving Sammamish, Issaquah, Redmond, Bellevue, Mercer Island and the greater Seattle area.  

Comments (26)

Lisa Von Domek
Lisa Von Domek Team - Dallas, TX
....Experience Isn't Expensive.... It's Priceless!

Congratulations on the Feature Dan Tabit great points in this post!

May 21, 2016 01:19 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

It's good to be challenging with stuff like this once in a while. Great work!

May 21, 2016 04:09 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

I started probably just mad because that was your style and I want to be more involved in the West Coast

May 21, 2016 04:12 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

So we stay within the means that you have is really the way to go in this scenario.

May 21, 2016 04:20 PM
Bob Force (REALTOR®)
Weichert Realtors - Aspen Hill - Mount Airy, MD
The FORCE in Maryland Real Estate

Dan:

Great post.  Captured the topics and ideas I try very hard to present and guidance to give.

May 21, 2016 04:47 PM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

Buying a home can be stressful, and following your tips above can help.

May 21, 2016 09:45 PM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

You would think one could take their time when this type of money is at risk. Not so if you want to get the home that captures your heart.

May 22, 2016 12:13 AM
Shirley Coomer
Keller Williams Realty Sonoran Living - Phoenix, AZ
Realtor, Keller Williams Realty, Phoenix Az

Congratulations on a features post.  Great guidelines for buyers.  Once it is known someone is buying a house, everyone has advise.  The advice might be from 20 years ago!  But there is no shortage of advice, most of which may not be useful or relevant.

May 22, 2016 12:14 AM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

Good advice, Dan. Unrealistic expectations and misleading information can make a deal a nightmare for an agent. I try to be open and honest upfront, but when a buyer is listening to Papa, the game is over. At that point, facts don't matter.

May 22, 2016 12:15 AM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Dan, Those are all great tips that will lead to home buying happiness. It applies to all market and most especially to a strong or extreme seller’s market.  Patience and endurance wins the race. 

May 22, 2016 12:37 AM
Sajy Mathew
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Lancaster, PA
Making your real estate dreams become a reality!

Such solid information here.  Thanks for sharing!

May 22, 2016 05:11 AM
Dan Tabit
Keller Williams Bellevue - Sammamish, WA

Wow! Thanks for the feature and for all the comments. I've had several buyers this year that helped me refine this.  I'm glad you've found it helpful. 

May 22, 2016 05:47 AM
Kristen Correa, Broker
Kristen Correa Real Estate & Reedy Creek Realty Services - Keller, TX
I love coffee & real estate. I am out of coffee!

If you are shopping for a home for the first time THIS is sound advice. Take it from another who has been in the industry a similar amount of time and has 15 agents under her... this is a good piece... Many of the "for example" sections are related to today's seller's market and the "for example" will change as the market does, which you pointed out. That is so important. Having your finger on the pulse of the market. Choosing solid partners. ONE piece of the partner puzzle doesn't fit, the whole puzzle can be undone. So it's all really good solid advice. Enjoy the rest of your Sunday.

May 22, 2016 10:25 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Excellent tips for home buyers!  Congrats on the Feature!

May 23, 2016 02:03 AM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Dan Tabit - it's a challenge to combine the happiness with home buying - and working with a right professional can make that happen.

Great post with good points.

May 23, 2016 01:25 PM
Athina Boukas
Virginia Capital Realty - Richmond, VA
Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)

Good advice, especially #4. Buyers can be misled by well-meaning friends/family.

May 23, 2016 03:55 PM
Joe Petrowsky
Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT
Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Good morning Dan. A well deserved feature and important topic to all in the real estate and mortgage business. Each one on your list make such good sense.

May 23, 2016 06:05 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

I think that enjoying the small things makes the big things that much sweeter and better!

May 26, 2016 04:57 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

I didn't even realize this was a feature until just now when Joe pointed out that it was! Much success!

May 26, 2016 04:58 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Excellent post and excellent advice!  Congratulations on the well deserved Feature!

Jun 10, 2016 05:50 AM