The spring housing market is already in high gear! Looking to start searching? Becca Barganier Brown, an agent with RealtySouth, shares five things to know before you purchase your first home.
- Get into shape – financially.
Set up a meeting with a loan officer you trust (and who provides an interest rate you’re satisfied with), then take a detailed look at your finances with his or her assistance. He or she can run the numbers to help determine exactly what you can afford, as well as provide an overview of the associated costs so you aren’t blindsided. Make sure to get pre-approved – not pre-qualified – to fully move forward with the home-buying process; many agents require their clients to receive pre-approval even before seeing the first home, so be sure to check this one off your list first.
- Do your homework.
In other words, know what you’re looking for. You’d never set off for a vacation you haven’t yet planned, so sit down and give your future home some thought! Which neighborhoods or communities are conducive to your lifestyle? Is a garage of utmost importance? What about walkability to local restaurants and shopping? You get the idea. Developing criteria for your ideal home will significantly cut down on the time it takes to find “the one,” so carve out some time to make a list.
- Recruit the right real estate agent for the job
To say the least, choose an agent who will be your teammate! Crystal-clear communication, honesty and motivation are just a few key characteristics to look for when selecting someone to work with. If necessary, ask for references from past clients to see what their experience was like with the agent. You’ll be spending a whole lot of time with him or her, so make sure it’s a good fit before committing.
- Be ready to jump, if necessary.
Considering the current nation-wide shortage of inventory and a surplus of buyers, it’s a fiercely competitive market for home buyers. It isn’t unusual these days for buyers to write an offer within hours (or even one hour) of viewing a property, so get comfortable with the idea of snatching up a home on day one. If you’ve checked off numbers 1, 2 and 3, you should be in a good position to move quickly.
- Be realistic.
There’s no such thing as a perfect house – only the perfect house for you. Don’t get caught up in finding a home in the perfect neighborhood with the perfect floorplan, location, yard and amenities. It doesn’t exist! Enter the home-buying process with an open mind, knowing you will see many houses you could live in happily. Focus on your top two or three must-have features, and you’ll have no issues finding homes that are suitable for your lifestyle and needs.
GET SOCIAL WITH ME!
Instagram: @magiccityforsaleFacebook: Becca Barganier Brown – Realtor at RealtySouth
READY TO START YOUR SEARCH? I’d love to work with you! Give me a call –or shoot me an email – for more details on my services.
Cell: 205-253-7529
Email: bbrown@realtysouth.com
