Good Morning Everyone,

The time is now to start your search for your forever home or your summer get-away. Already we are seeing things pick up in anticipation of the summer heat in the low-lands. Don’t wait, or you may miss out on a great deal. Prices are the lowest we have seen in many many years. There are some challenges associated with buying these days but with the help of your agent, they can be overcome.

Enjoy today’s article, it contains many good tips for starting that Home Search.  

Happy Reading!

Sandra & Bruce Paulow, GRI’s

Your High Country REALTORSâ

Tips to Guide for Your Home Search

1. Get your finances in order. This really is the Number One Priority in today’s market. You must know upfront what you can afford before you start shopping for your home. Lending criteria is very strict these days so you need to know before you start shopping how much home you can afford and what the terms for the loan are going to be. There is nothing more disappointing than finding the perfect home only to discover cannot qualify for a loan to purchase it.

Take the time to review your credit report, the availability of down-payment monies and where they will come from, and don’t forget to include closing costs. In today’s market closing costs can be significant, you will want to know up front if you have it covered or if you may need some assistance from the seller to meet those higher costs. You want to know this upfront so you can ask for the sellers help when you make your offer to purchase.

2. Research before you look. Decide what features you most want to have in a home, what neighborhoods you prefer, and how much you’d be willing to spend each month for housing. Your lender should be able to give you an idea how much home you can comfortably afford so you have a starting point in your search.

3. Be realistic. It’s OK to be picky, but don’t be unrealistic with your expectations. There’s no such thing as a perfect home. List your priorities and separate them between needs and wants. This will help you evaluate each property more realistically.

4. Don’t ask too many people for opinions. It will drive you crazy. Select one or two people to turn to if you feel you need a second opinion, but be ready to make the final decision on your own.

5 Decide your moving timeline. You will want to know up front when you want to move. You will need that information when formulating your offer to purchase. Be firm about it and know that when your sale closes, you will want to be ready to move.

You will want to talk to your Agent about this. What are your circumstances? What are the Seller’s Circumstances? Are there other offers on the table? What will it take to make your offer stand out from the others? Too short a time can put undue pressure on the seller to move, and too long a time could preclude you from buying because of changes in your own circumstances or changes in the lending terms on your loan.

6. Think long term. Are you looking for a starter house with plans to move up in a few years, or do you hope to stay in this home for a longer period? This decision may dictate what type of home you’ll buy as well as the type of mortgage terms that will best suit you.

7. Insist on a home inspection. If possible, get a warranty from the seller to cover defects for one year.

8. Get help from a REALTOR®. Hire a Professional REALTORâ to help you. Today’s Real Estate World is very complex and volatile. Things change almost daily in the industry. You need a Pro to help you over the myriad of details relating to a Real Estate Transaction and to act as your Coordinator, your Advisor, your Facilitator, and your Negotiator. By employing a Buyer’s Agent to help, you will be assured of things going as smoothly as possible from Contract to Closing. Call a Professional REALTORâ today.

HAPPY MONDAY EVERYONE!

Sandie & Bruce