PRICE RANGE
You should have
a pretty good idea of what you can afford by now, based on
conversations with a lender. Most discussions
in this area focus on finding a monthly payment that you are
comfortable with and that fits into your budget plan. And of
course the monthly payment is dependent on the size of the loan
that you’re taking out plus additional amounts for property
taxes and property insurance.
CHARACTERISTICS
Consider making
3 lists: include "Must Haves", "Would be nice to have", "can
live without". These lists may include number of bedrooms,
bathrooms, lot size, style and age, garage or room to build one,
total finished footage (TFF), basement or attic potential,
move-in condition or a "fixer-upper", totally updated or willing
to update.
AREAS/NEIGHBORHOODS PREFERRED
Consider doing
drive-bys of the homes that you are interested in that meet your criteria,
keeping in mind that often homes that don’t strike your fancy
from the outside, may be just what you’re looking for on the
inside. Read the property descriptive comments on the
listing. Pay attention to potential re-sale value, especially if
you anticipate reselling within a relatively short period of
time. We will consider what comparable homes have recently
sold for in an area and how those figures compare with what
the homes asking price was, along with how many days a home has been on the market (DOM) and how that
may affect your offer should you decide to make one.
Now the fun
begins! The more homes you see, the better informed you and
we will be with your preferences and needs,
and the better able you will be to make a decision quickly since
the best properties move fast. Try to remain flexible;
occasionally, you won’t even realize that you really like or
don’t like something until you see it. And on the other hand,
don’t allow simple decorating to negatively influence your
reactions; sometimes a sellers’ idea of pleasing wallpaper or
paint color may not be your cup of tea, but it can be
inexpensively changed. See the immediate potential, but also
look to future potential as your wants and needs change over the
years. Persistence and a Positive Attitude are the keys
to a successful home-hunting experience.
Next:
Make an Offer
