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A Buyers Preliminary Involvement In Purchasing A House

By
Real Estate Agent with Classic Realty Realtor

Someone called me a short time back asking some questions in reference to assisting them in finding a house. We visited for a while and then the gentleman asked: "What kinds of things should we be doing to get ready for the purchase even before we utilize your services?"

I gave them some simple research to perform in four specfic and vital areas. By the way, I am making an assumption that you have already spoken with a Mortgage Lender.

First, I suggested they use my website to their benefit. Specifically, use my Northern VA Real Estate MLS searching tool to assist in finding your house. This means you can shop till you drop without being bothered by me or another agent.

In addition, there are other uses for the internet that can work to your advantage: Type the name of the city/town into your Web browser that you would like to live in and see what comes up. In addition to the official town Web site, look for other local organizations that have information online. Good resources include the local chamber of commerce, area newspapers and radio stations and even chat rooms in the given area. If you are moving to a metropolitan area, use the Internet to research the city and the specific region that interests you.

A second suggestion that I offered was, use the Internet and newspapers as a source to learn about the major issues facing any given area you are considering calling home. Perhaps there is a wide-spread flood problem or a proposed change in traffic patterns that could adversely affect the area. These types of problems may not mean you need to abandon a particular house or area as a whole, but it is better to understand the following truth in house shopping: Not knowing is NOT BETTER. Knowing what is real is always best!

A third suggestion (since they had children) was take the time necessary to investigate the school systems. Look for positive ratings by outside institutions, good standardized test scores, the percentage of students who go to college and the opportunity for extra-curricular activities. Even if you do not have school-aged children, a strong school system is a definite plus, especially when you decide to resell the home in the future. By the way, I have a couple of links to Outside Institutions in the Northern Virginia Information section of my website.

Finally, consider the big picture. Does the area offer public transportation systems? Does it have open space for recreation? Does it offer activities that interest you? Is the tax rate acceptable? What about shopping? How about churches, doctors, hospitals, restaurants and other significant places?

When you combine the answers to these questions with the information you will acquire while actually touring homes, you will be on the road to making a wise investment with the purchase of your next home.

David L. Burrows, Realtor®
Envirian of Warrenton
Warrenton, Virginia  20186
Phone: 703.391.9200   x9119
Email: david@burrowsproperties.com
Web Site: Burrows Properties



A Burrows' Thought worth considering: Before beginning your search for a house, always see a Mortgage Loan Officer first. The Loan Officer will pre-qualify you for a certain amount of money. You will then know the house to shop for by way of price. When you are ready to make an offer, your offer will carry more weight when the sellers know you are pre-approved!

Interested in Some Great Reading on selling your home? Take a look at these writings on my website: Selling Your Home: Where do you begin?

Seller Guidance:
I would encourage you to employ a Realtor®® to help you sell your home. When your agent or another agent is showing your house, go away and let them do your work for you. I also urge you to utilize my FREE SELLERS TOOLKIT before selling your house.

Buyer Guidance: I would encourage you to really check out anything and everything you are told by a well meaning seller. Employ the services of a Buyer's Agent to help you discern what you read and listen to about the area you are thinking of calling home. I would also urge you to get my FREE BUYERS TOOLKIT before heading out on the journey to find your new house.

Try this powerful link to help you find your next home: Fairfax Homes For Sale  The search engine on my site will allow you to find a house by Mapping, County, Subdivision, Zip Code, Address or City. I encourage you to try the Fairfax MLS and in fact, search the entire Northern VA Real Estate area. 

Northern Virginia Information - Here you will find answers to your questions about schools, auto registration, taxes, things to do this weekend, popular destinations. It only takes a moment to look and it is free with no registration required!

Click on the following link for your Complimentary eCalendar & Daily Planner. This is a Free Gift from David. There is absolutely NO sign-up, registration, tricks, or gimmicks. It really is free for you to enjoy! This is a great tool for keeping track of your schedule for all of your Real Estate needs. There is NO obligation.

This blog may contain links to other Web sites operated by third parties. These links are provided as a convenience to access the information contained therein. David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton have not reviewed all of the information on other sites and disclaim any responsibility for the content of any other sites or the products or services that may be offered on or through those sites. Inclusion of a link to another site does not indicate any endorsement or approval of the site or its content.

David Burrows and Envirian of Warrenton disclaim liability for any damages or losses, direct or indirect, that may result from use of or reliance on information contained in this blog.

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