REAL ESTATE SPECIAL SECTION
1. Give yourself some credit.
Now is not the time to open a new
credit card, increase your credit
limit or make a big purchase. The
first thing lenders check is your
credit score when determining
how much you are approved for
on a home loan. Work on keeping
your credit card balances low, and
paying down balances. Limiting
your spending may seem hard, but
is worth the payoff when you are
approved for your new home.
2. Location. Location. Location.
When narrowing down where you
want your home to be, it’s best
to first determine how much you
can borrow. You don’t want to
have your heart set on a location
and come to find it is out of your
budget. Look at what is most
important to you. Is it proximity to
parks and good schools, or access to
entertainment and nightlife, or lots
of land to spread out? From there,
you may find exactly where you
want to be that fits your spending
limit.
3. Create a must-have list and a
wish list.
What’s non-negotiable in your
new home? Is it an integral garage
or open-concept floor plan or
a pool? Now, is a pool really a
non-negotiable? (We do live in
Pittsburgh with sunny days less
than half of the year.) Be realistic
with your must-have list and your
wish list. While a pool may seem
dreamy, many communities have
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local swim clubs or gyms that
provide all the joy of having a pool
without the work. You may not
get everything on your must-have
list, but be creative on ways to
potentially add those “musts” once
you move in.
4. Things (including houses) are
not always as they appear.
Just like models in magazines
with no wrinkles, home photos
are often taken at their very best
angle. What may seem dreamy and
flawless on a computer screen may
be crumbling and cracking in real
life. Hit the streets with your local
agent to see your favorite homes in
person. You’ll be able to explore all
of the sights unseen in the photos,
including what the neighborhood is
like. Maybe you find a lovely home,
but come to learn it’s next to a busy
freeway or shopping center. Never
stray from the sentiment that seeing
is believing!
5. Be patient; it’s a process.
Unfortunately, you’re not the only
buyers in the market. Many are
looking for similar offerings in a
home. You may lose out on what
you think is the perfect home, but
keep your head up! Something just
as good, if not better, will come
along—because where there are
buyers, there are sure to be more
sellers!
Whether you’re looking to buy or
to sell, there are hundreds of resources
available to you and your family. Start
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