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Top 3 Mistakes Maryland Homebuyers Make

By
Real Estate Agent with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage

Most of us have bought at least one car. We want to buy for the lowest price, while the dealership wants to sell for the highest price. We negotiate with the dealership until both sides agree. It's the same when buying a home. Buyers wants a deal while sellers want to receive the maximum amount for their home.

 

Some homebuyers unintentionally make mistakes when buying a home in Maryland. Avoid the top 3 mistakes homebuyers make:

 

mistakes homebuyers make

 

 

 

The first mistake is not speaking with several lenders. Just like each auto insurance company offers different coverages and rates, each lender offers different mortgage types, interest rates and fees. Loan types can include Conventional, FHA, USDA, VA. Additionally, there are a variety of grant programs available and the Maryland Mortgage Program. However, not every lender offers these programs. Homebuyers who do their homework will find the best program to meet their needs. 

 

low balling when buying a home in Maryland 

The second mistake is "low balling" when making an offer on a house. This strategy rarely works and often results in disappointment. Submitting a low offer is insulting to homesellers, and many times another buyer comes along at the same time. That buyer makes a better offer and ends up buying the house. The availability of public data rarely justifies "low balling".

 

 The third mistake homebuyers make is not using a buyer's agent. Just like you wouldn't go to court without your own attorney, buyers shouldn't buy a house without their own dedicated buyer's agent. Listing agents work exclusively for the seller and can offer no advice to a buyer.  Buying a house from the listing agent only benefits that agent's pockets.  A buyer's agent costs homebuyers nothing, ensures confidentiality, and provides expert guidance throughout the entire process. 

 

Buying a home is the largest purchase of most peoples' lives. Don't make the same mistakes others have made!

 

[Melissa is an Accredited Buyers Agent, a designation issued by the National Association of Realtors. Contact Melissa for the homebuying experience you deserve!]

 

Posted by

Melissa Spittel, Carroll County Maryland real estate agent 

 

 

Comments(9)

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Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

This is excellent advice to share with prospective home buyers.

May 23, 2017 04:41 AM
Melissa Spittel

Thanks for taking the time out of your day to leave a comment Roy Kelley 

May 23, 2017 09:30 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Excellent advice on what NOT to do when buying a home! Great post!

May 23, 2017 06:13 AM
Melissa Spittel

Sharon Tara All buyers have to do is make a mistake or two and they learn quickly.

May 23, 2017 09:31 AM
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Good post Melissa. Those are the biggest mistakes that are made and there are many little ones that follow.

May 25, 2017 08:15 PM
Melissa Spittel
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage - Westminster, MD
"Achieving Results Together "

Debbie Reynolds Ah, yes, many little ones too. 

May 26, 2017 11:58 AM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Hi Melissa - this is certainly sound advice.  All three decisions if made correctly will result in the best outcome.

 

Jun 01, 2017 12:10 PM
Melissa Spittel

Grant Schneider If only all buyers would listen to advice from the start! Enjoy your day!

Jun 08, 2017 07:01 AM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Good Morning Melissa - buyers in Maryland would be wise to choose you as their trusted advisor.

Jun 07, 2017 04:42 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

What wonderful advice, Melissa! I'm getting a LOT of calls from buyers who are shopping on their own - thinking it's best to go through the listing agent!!  I think that over the past month I have said exactly what you said, "The listing agent has an established - possibly long-term relationship - with the seller and YOU need your own representation!"  

Jun 11, 2017 08:45 AM
Melissa Spittel

Debe Maxwell, CRS There's so much information online, and with all the home websites and apps, buyers certainly shop on their own. As they try to navigate the process on their own, they have no idea how they may be hurting themselves. Educating those buyers is very important.

Jun 11, 2017 09:10 AM
Lou Ludwig
Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Melissa

Maryland home buyers should all read your post.

Good luck and success.

Lou Ludwig

Jun 17, 2017 08:41 PM
Patricia Feager
Flower Mound, TX
Semi Retired Real Estate Agent

Melissa E. Spittel - This is great information! You can't tell it enough times because just when we think everyone knows, we discover, consumers don't know and they make these 3 mistakes and many more. 

Last year I sold a property for a gentleman as his listing agent and the house sold over list price. He was thrilled! But he shared that when he bought the house he didn't have representation and wished I had represented him the first time. Well, he moved out of state and I ran into him several months ago. The job didn't work out and he came back to TX and was happy to tell me he sold his other house and bought a new one. When I asked him, who did he use for representation and why didn't he call me, he said, "I used the Listing Agent!"

YIKES! SCREAM! This goes on all the time! You did an excellent job spreading the word and I'll bet you could write and revise this same post every month and someone will tell you an experience they had, just like mine. 

Jun 19, 2017 10:04 PM