Looking to buy real estate and don't want the perfect home to get away? Don't make one or all of the five mistakes that many home buyers make! Contact Katie Halle to discuss the best approach to accomplish your home buying goals. Katie Halle 602-476-1942 Katie@KatieHalle.com

2. THEY HOLD OUT FOR A “BARGAIN”
Some people have to have a “bargain”. They love the idea of getting more than
they’re paying for almost more than the purchase itself! And the internet era
has encouraged this with sites such as Ebay.
The problem is that this mentality simply does not apply to real estate in a
sellers market. In other words, real estate is not retail. Homes are not
commodities and there’s no such thing as the “Buy It Now” price. In fact, the
list price is often more like the starting price in a multiple offer situation, like
those that are so common right now.
Especially in markets where prices are increasing, our agents can show these
buyers how their insistence on getting a “discount” (whatever that means) is
actually costing them money as home values continue to rise and the
number of buyers active in the market rises also. In cases of first-time home
buyers stuck in wanna-be bargainer mode, we show them the tax advantages
they are foregoing while they spend months trying to save a few thousand
bucks. Finally, the pain of losing one too many “just-right” homes turns out
to be the experience that educates many of these buyers that this is one
transaction where “bargain basement” just doesn’t exist.
Get an appraisal if you think you are in danger of paying too much. Otherwise,
the home that is right for you and your family is a good buy in this market!

3. INSISTING ON AMENITIES THAT CONFLICT
It happens often, he wants this and she wants that and they are not usually
the same thing!
Buyers should figure out what the family “must haves” are first and the
“other” wants second. If a home meets the must haves then it should
be strongly considered even if the “other” wants have not been met.
You might even find that the other wants can be added or don’t really
matter at all.
The bottom line is, there is no 100% house (even if you build it yourself)
especially when dealing with the wants and opinions of more than one
person.

4. GIVING UP TOO EARLY
This market can be frustrating. Buyers make over list price offer after over
list price offer and nothing seems to stick. To a buyer, it may feel like
they are never going to get a house and they won’t if they give up too
early.
In a market that is increasing in price, it’s not exactly a prudent decision to
give up on house hunting until next year just because the process is
rather daunting this year. Using this logic, the buyer will set themselves
up for the task of jumping through the hoops of purchasing all over
again except, this time, they’ll be looking at buying less house for more
money.

5. LOOKING AT HOMES BEFORE GETTING
PREQUALIFIED
Buyers who “window shop” fall in love and then lose the home they just fell
in love with…period. Looking at homes before getting prequalified with
a lender is about as smart as going to the pound to pick out your dog a
month before you are ready for a dog. That’s right, the dog won’t be
there and neither will the house. So what’s the point?
Buyers that get the home that they want get prequalified BEFORE they
shop. It’s that simple. It’s much smarter to figure out what you can
qualify for, decide on the appropriate loan program, negotiate the rate,
budget for the payment, and jump through any qualifying hoops that
may need jumping before setting a foot inside any home. Buyers that
take this approach do not set themselves up to lose dream homes
because they are not properly prepared once it’s found.

6. BUYING WITHOUT REPRESENTATION
There’s a reason that Buyers agents exist. Is it because we are no longer in
that “old school” day and age where you have to go through the listing
agent to purchase a property? Or, no matter how many homes you’ve
bought and sold personally (probably with the help of a real estate
agent) you’ll never be as prepared for the nuances of the current market
conditions or as knowledgeable as a buyers agent that assists and
advises in buying and selling every day? Or, could it be because having
your own representation, a professional that is held by fiduciary duty, is
a smart thing to do in the largest purchase of your life? You wouldn’t
represent yourself in court, would you? You wouldn’t self diagnose a
health condition, would you? Like Lawyers and Doctors, licensed
buyers agents are helpful professionals.
A buyers agent will guide and assist you through the trenches of the real
estate world and has only your best interests at heart. And, the best
part about it is they are FREE to you. The home seller pays for you to
have your own representation. This decision should be a no-brainer!

7. TEAM EVOLUTION REAL ESTATE
We are a full service real estate team and we are here to help! To purchase
or sell in Maricopa or Pinal County Arizona CALL NOW!
Katie Halle, Team Leader / Owner
602.476.1942
Katie@KatieHalle.com
TeamEvolutionRealEstate.com