FIVE TIPS FOR FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS
So you’ve decided it’s time to buy a place to call home! Congratulations!
Being one of, if not the largest and most expensive purchases most people make, the risk of a poor purchase versus the reward of a smart one can create even more angst in the process.
Real estate professionals will help balance this for you, but even in that case, there are areas that first-time homebuyers should learn to do themselves, to create the best possible buying scenario.
These five tips can help you (and your agent if you have one) accomplish the most in your new home search:
Set your goals. Know your credit history and make a budget of what you’re comfortable paying for a new home (consider your mortgage, and other expenses like electricity, water, sewer, trash services, cable, HOA fees and general maintenance costs of the home) Be as detailed and as honest as possible with these goals and you’ll feel more at ease as you begin to look at homes.
Create two lists; MUST HAVES and NICE TO HAVE. Prioritize what you are looking for in your next living situation and place each item on one list or the other. As you begin to look at homes, stay flexible (and it’s ok to rewrite your list a few times!)
When you leave a property after viewing it, if it’s one you may consider, take a picture of the front of it so you remember, and makes notes as to the pros and cons before you forget them (…or they get mixed-up with the other 4 homes you viewed that day!)
As you continue your search, you’ll be compiling a lot of pdfs and web pages with property listings, so make files on your computer and stay organized. After viewing a property, slide ones that you like in to one folder labeled “Possibilities”, and ones you’re not interested into another labeled “Archive.”
Keep your head clear and focused. You may be fortunate and find your dream home in the first week, or it make take you a few months. With such a large purchase at hand, don’t get caught up in the “rushing” game. It doesn’t matter if so-and-so found the perfect home in two days and you’re still looking two months later; it’s about enjoying the journey as much as possible while finding the right home that fits you!
If we can help answer any other questions, please feel free to reach out…
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MELTON & CO is grounded in hard-earned industry Sales Experiences, fostered by our team of professionals who have worked for some of the largest Brokerage houses in the Valley, and we package and present these attributes with the highest-level of our “boutique” Client Services.
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