Real Estate Special Section Summer 2022 your area , pricing trends and inventory available , and work to price your home appropriately . A fair market price will attract buyers interested in making your home their dream home .
WANT TO BUY IN 2022 ?
You ’ re ready to buy a house . Whether it ’ s your first home , your forever home , or your retirement home , buying a house is an exciting and exhausting experience . Make sure you ’ re prepared with knowledge of the market and of what exactly you ’ re looking for in a home .
1 . Watch your credit . Start preparing early by avoiding expensive purchases on your credit card and making sure you don ’ t deposit a large amount of money into your bank account . The first thing lenders check is your credit score and bank balances to determine how much you are approved for on a home loan . Try to pay off as much debt as possible in advance of your home purchase and to keep your credit card balances low .
2 . Where in the world ? Choose the locations where you ’ re interested in purchasing a home and check out home prices in those areas . You don ’ t want to have your heart set on a location and come to find it is out of your budget . Determine what you like about certain areas , such as the school district , accessibility to work , and proximity to parks and restaurants . Your real estate agent can then help you narrow down more specific locations in which to focus your home search .
3 . Create a list . Or create a few lists . Must-haves versus wish lists are critical , especially if you ’ re buying a home with someone else . What do you consider a non-negotiable ? For you it may be a certain number of bedrooms or bathrooms . For someone else it may be a big yard . Do you dream of owning a home with a pool ? Writing out the specifics not only helps you identify what is important to you and your family , it also helps your real estate agent determine what is on the market that fits those needs and wants .
4 . Photos may be deceiving . Home photos , if done right , are often taken at the very best angle , in the best light , and sometimes with retouching . Photos of problem areas will not be posted , so keep an open mind when you find something online that you like . Room sizes may appear quite larger in a photo than in person — that ’ s why it ’ s important to work with your real estate agent to visit any home that may have potential . Your agent might also show you homes that may not have photographed well but are exactly what you ’ re looking for . Don ’ t be fooled by a real estate catfish !
5 . Be open-minded and on your toes . There will likely be several buyers vying for a similar home in the same market as you . If you think you ’ ve found the perfect home , alert your real estate agent as soon as possible to go see it in person . Being quick , but smart , could help you secure the home of your dreams in a low-inventory market . If you do get outbid by another buyer , be patient — something is sure to come along ! ■
Get REAL : A Real Estate Agent !
When you ’ re ready to make the biggest purchase of your life , or sell one of your biggest investments , it would be silly to go it alone . Having a real estate agent by your side means having an ally ready to work for you . Armed with knowledge of area neighborhoods , the local housing market , and buyers and sellers ready to make moves , a real estate agent can help guide you on the journey to a new home .
Whether you ’ re moving to a brand-new town , or just one town over , real estate agents are familiar with the surrounding community . They can inform you of the local school districts , shops and restaurants , or even petfriendly neighborhoods that align with your needs and wants . Be sure your agent has a list of your must-haves and your wish list for a new home , as this will help in understanding exactly what you ’ re looking for and may even be able to expand your search beyond what you thought you had available to you .
Having an agent who is privy to insider community information is a perk but not the only thing real estate agents have to offer . They provide valuable access to the multiple listing service ( MLS ), other real estate professionals , mortgage lenders , home inspectors , attorneys , and title companies , allowing a streamlined home buying or selling process . Access to information that isn ’ t often public on home listings , such as square footage , seller disclosures , and HOA regulations , is also available to you through your real estate agent .
With a wealth of information from past experiences , colleagues , and connections in the field , and access to the MLS , real estate agents can provide you with a concrete foundation for making your home purchase . They ’ ll be able to identify whether something seems too good to be true , or if you ’ re getting all the facts . You can also count on your agent to develop an offer that reflects market value , negotiate on your behalf , and interact with the selling agent .
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