Buyer Tips

No one wants to contract a case of buyer’s remorse. You know what I’m talking about. It’s that feeling you’ve either paid too much, or received too little. In most cases, there is no recourse for the buyer once the contract has been signed. Why do so many people suffer from buyer’s remorse? The answer is simple, most of these people engaged in a transaction without doing their homework first.

The best way to make sure you choose the right home is to properly prepare yourself. The purchase of a home is a tremendous investment, both monetarily and emotionally. The purpose of this page is to provide you with some tips to help your transaction progress smoothly, and result in you being a happy homeowner.

Don’t Do it Alone

Your home is likely to represent one of the largest investments in your life. In order to make sure the transaction goes smoothly it is important that you choose the right agent to represent your interests. The right agent will be someone whose experience and personality makes you comfortable. You should try to find an agent that is familiar and knowledgeable about the area you plan on moving to.

Get Pre-Approved

Do you already know how much home you can afford? There is nothing more frustrating than looking for a home, finding the perfect home, then discovering it is out of your price range. Speak with a lender to learn about the different financing options available to you. When you find the right lender, get the paperwork processed before you start looking at homes, so you will be ready to buy once you do find your perfect home.

Avoid Major Purchases

When determining the amount of home you can afford, a lender will use your debt-to-income ratio to determine the percentage of your pre-tax income you spend on debt. Your debt ratio will include: monthly housing costs, car payments, credit cards, student loans, and any other installment debt. If you take on more debt before buying a home it will have an impact on the amount of the loan that the lender will finance, which could impact your ability to buy the home you’ve chosen.

Sign Up for Property Watch

In order to make an educated decision you need to know what type of homes are available, and how much they are going for. You can browse all the active listings from my website. Once you have found some homes you like, save those searches and sign up for property watch so new listings will be emailed to you. The best homes move fast! I’ll make sure you’re on top of the available inventory so you do not miss out.

Ask Questions

No one knows their home better than the seller. However, it is not always in the seller’s best interest to disclose all information. If you find out the seller’s motivation for selling, you might be able to negotiate a better deal on the home. And make sure to inquire on the last time service was performed on the roof, furnace, and water heater. Asking the right questions now can end up saving you a lot of money in the long run.

The last thing you want to discover after you have bought a home is that you have purchased a “money pit”. By “money pit” I am referring to a home full of defects which will end up costing you a lot of money. Save yourself from future litigation by bringing in an experienced and licensed professional home inspector before you buy. If any problems are found, the report will help you make an informed decision or negotiate a better price.

Remember, if you have any questions I am always just a phone call or email away.