Pinetop White Mountain Blog

Take the Stress Out of Homebuying

Buying a home should be fun experience for you. As you look for your first home, your retirement home, your summer getaway or your dream home, keep these tips in mind.   

1. Find a REALTOR® you are comfortable with.  Home buying is a big financial commitment, but also an emotional one. It’s critical that the REALTOR® you chose is both highly skilled and a good fit with your personality.  You need an agent you feel "safe" with and who you have confidence in.  Experience counts for a great deal, but a comfortable relationship goes a long way toward making your home buying experience a pleasant one.

2. Remember, there’s no “right” time to buy, just as there’s no perfect time to sell. If you find a home now, don’t try to second-guess interest rates or the housing market by waiting longer.  You risk losing out on the perfect home for you. The housing market usually doesn’t change fast enough to make that much difference in price, and a good home won’t stay on the market long. Your REALTOR® will help you determine if the home is priced right and will help you feel comfortable with your decision to buy.

3. Don’t ask for too many opinions. It’s natural to want reassurance for such a big decision, but too many ideas from too many people will make it much harder to make a decision. Everyone has an opinion and there are always those negative nellies out there who will try to make you feel bad about your decision.  Listen to your heart.  If your heart tells you this is the home for you, go for it.  You are the one who is going to live there, not that person feeding you negativity.

4. Accept that no house is ever perfect. If it’s in the right location, at the right price and you feel good about it, don't sweat the small stuff as the saying goes.  A good rule of thumb is if it meets 75% of your expectations and you can live comfortably in the home, go for it.  There is no such thing as the "perfect" house. 

5. Don’t try to be a killer negotiator. Negotiation is definitely a part of the real estate process, but trying to “win” by getting an extra-low price or by refusing to budge on your offer may cost you the home you love. Negotiation is give and take. Your agent will guide you through the negotiation process and help you make good decisions about your offer. Low-balling an offer rarely produces the result you hope for.  More than likely it is just going to insult the seller and you will "lose" the home you really wanted.

6. Remember your home doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Don’t get so caught up in the physical aspects of the house itself — room size, kitchen, etc. — that you forget about other important issues. Is the home in a location your feel comfortable with? Is it close to the amenities that are important to you? Is it noisy, is it too isolated?  Look at all aspects of the property before you make a final decision.  Don't look for things that are "wrong" just for the things that will make it right for you.  

7. Plan ahead. If you are serious about buying a home, don’t wait until you’ve found a home and made an offer to get approved for a mortgage. Lenders are very careful about loan approvals these days so get things in order before you start looking.  Find out how much you can comfortably afford for a monthly house payment. Talk to more than one lender and ask your agent for recommendations if you aren't sure where to begin.  Different lenders have different loan products and you need to find the loan that is going to work the best for you.  Other things to look into, Home Insurance Availability and Costs, make sure you know when you want to move so your offer can reflect a realistic closing date.  Sellers tend to take a very dim view of offers that are contingent on a lot of unresolved issues.  Make sure you are ready to move forward when you find that perfect home. 

8. Factor in maintenance and repair costs in your post-home buying budget. Even if you buy a new home, there will be costs. Don’t leave yourself short and let your home deteriorate.

9. Accept that a little buyer’s remorse is normal and will probably pass. Buying a home, especially for the first time, is a big financial commitment. But it also yields big benefits. Don’t lose sight of why you wanted to buy a home and what made you fall in love with the property you purchased.

10. Choose a home first because you love it; then think about appreciation. While U.S. homes have appreciated an average of 5.4 percent annually over from 1998 to 2002, a home’s most important role is to serve as a comfortable, safe place to live. In today's market all the news is negative about home ownership.  Don't let it put you off.  Real Estate is still one of the most solid investments you can make.  Right now things might be a little stagnant in your marketplace but it will improve.  You just have to look at it as a little longer term investment. Plan to stay put for a few years and you will come out just fine.

FOR SERVICE YOU CAN COUNT ON FROM CONTRACT TO CLOSING. GIVE US A CALL. 

REMEMBER OUR MOTTO ----"WE WORK FOR YOU!"

SANDRA & BRUCE PAULOW, REALTORS®

PINE COUNTRY REALTY  280 E. Deuce of Clubs in Show Low, Arizona

(866) 537-9001 or (928) 242-0300