Real Estate Special Section
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 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 smart by doing
your research. Is now the time to put your home on the market?
What’s the buyers market like this season? Don’t rush to make a
decision just because spring is here. Homes are bought and sold
throughout the year, so make sure the time is right. As a first step,
review your finances. If you’re on the right track to having a good
bit saved, you’re probably ready to start your must-have/wish lists.
Reach out to a real estate agent to help you get acquainted with
the communities you have in mind and the neighborhoods you
can afford. If you’ve been talking about moving, take a look at your
home. Do you have repairs to make before putting your home on
the market? You’ll want to make any small upgrades, declutter and
rearrange rooms prior to taking pictures of your home to show
potential buyers. n
Importance of a Local Real Estate Agent
You wouldn’t undergo surgery without a surgeon, or do a root canal
without a dentist, so why would you buy or sell a house without a real
estate agent? Agents have in-depth knowledge of local communities,
an insider’s view of the real estate market, and early access into listings
that go on the market. By having a real estate agent on your team,
you can take full advantage of these perks when trying to buy or sell a
home!
Moving into a new community? A real estate agent is familiar
with the lay of the land—from what the neighborhood is like, to the
local hotspots. He/she will be able to guide you in the decision that
best fits your ideal location and wish list. Making a move into a new
neighborhood or town with kids makes a real estate agent even more
necessary. Agents can provide an inside look into school districts,
sports teams and available extra-curricular activities that could be a
game-changer for you and your family.
Having an agent as an insider into all things local is just one benefit.
With access to other real estate professionals, such as mortgage lenders,
home inspectors, attorneys and title companies, agents are valuable in
streamlining the process of making a transaction. They also have access
to the multiple listing service (MLS) to provide you with information
on available homes. Access to the MLS is restricted to licensed agents
and brokers, providing them with a wealth of knowledge that they can
then pass along to you. This includes information that sellers don’t
necessarily list on public sites, such as square footage, seller disclosures
and HOA regulations.
Armed with facts from the MLS, including comparable listings in
the area, real estate agents can negotiate on your behalf. They are able
to develop an offer that reflects market value, while still staying within
certain budgetary guidelines. Once these offers are reviewed, agents
can make recommendations from inspections on repair costs and how
to appropriately counter an offer.
If you are in the market to buy or sell, start by doing some research
on a real estate agency that is right for you. Have new neighbors? Ask
who their agents were. They obviously did a good job of selling your
neighborhood to buyers. If referrals aren’t available, look for a local
office in your neighborhood or in the neighborhood where you’re
interested in moving. The agency can offer guidance and support
throughout the entirety of your home buying or selling process. n
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