1. Home Buying Tips for 2017
Buyinga home can be verystressful onyourpart. We have a lotto consideronchoosinghouseswe like,
wantand need.The keyisto knowthe difference betweenwhatyoureallydolike,wantandneed.Now
these three wordsare verypowerful!Theycanmake orbreak yourdecisionmakingonyourpurchase.
Buyinga house insteadof rentingone hasmanybenefitslike equitybuildup,tax incentives,pridein
ownershipandcommunitytiestoname afew.Here are some home buyingtipsforyouas you start your
journeytoa lovelyhome:
1. Start Planning Now
Your home buyingprocessshouldstarta few monthsinadvance.Ipersonallyrecommendatleastayear
to prepare butyou can start yourhome search bymeetingwithareal estate agent whoknowsthe area
inwhere youwantto stay or live in.It’simportanttowork withsomeone withwhomyoufeel
comfortable withsince youwillbe spendingalotof time withthem.It’sbetterif youask familyand
friendsforrecommendations.
2. Get Your Mortgage Pre-Approved
A veryimportantstepinthe home buyingprocessasit savesyoutime inyourhome search by
specificallydefiningthe price range inwhichtolook. A pre-approval alsoallowsyoutosubmitastrong
and competitiveofferwhichmay give youanedge overotherbuyersinmultiple-offerornegotiating
situations.
3. Identify Your Needs versus Your Wants
Sometimeswe confuseourneedstoourwants.You and yourfamilyshouldmake alistonall your needs
and wants.That way,you’ve alreadyidentifiedthem.It’sveryimportantthatyouand yourfamily
compromise onhome featuresandthe areawhere youwantto live.It’salwaysagoodideato prioritize
your needsandwishlistitemsstartingfromthe mostimportanttothe leastthatyou can get bywithout.
4. Start Your Home Searchand Be PreparedTo Act Quickly
Visitareasor neighborhoodsandhomesthatalignwithyourbudgetandneedsbasedonyourdiscussion
withyourfamilyandlenderandreal estate agent. Recently,home inventory hasbeenlow whichcan
2. oftenleadtomultiple offersandbidsoverthe askingprice sobe readyto move quickly.Pricescan
become quite steepconsideringthatthere are a few housesonthe inventory.
5. Make a Realistic Offer
You wantto make sure yourofferisconsistentwiththe sale pricesof similarhomesinthe areathat you
chose and make sure to reviewthe listof comparable saleswithyouragentsothat yourofferstandsout
amongthe rest.
We hope these tipscanhelpyouinyour future home.There are reallylotsof questionswhen
purchasinga house,it’sagiven.That’swhere yourreal estate agentcome in.neverhesitate toask
questionstoyouragent.Inthiscase, itreallypaysto ask andto know more rather than leavingitatthat.
You and yourfamilyhave tobe involvedinthe entiretyof the process.Happyhouse hunting!
BY: Dan Kitchens
Sources:
Hud.com
Trulia.com
BuyEveryhome.com
Redfin.com
Zillow.com
Bankrate.com
forbes.com