Tips on Buying a Home

We all know the old adage….  What’s the most important thing when it comes to buying real estate? Location, location, location.  That is so, so true, but there’s more than that too!  Here are a few tips to keep in mind which should help as you enter into and navigate the home buying process – and just as an aside, it’s best if you can do them all concurrently ….. 

1. Write a home feature list of must-haves and can’t-haves – and prioritize the list.  For example, if one of the main reasons you are moving is to have more yard space, write that down.  And if you absolutely do not want to live on a busy street, write that down as well.  This list will serve to do a few things during the process.  First, it will allow you to eliminate some of the inventory, which can be completely overwhelming depending on the town and the time of the year (think the Spring market).   So if you know you need a five bedroom house, given the size of your family and the number of house guests who come to visit, you will be able to delete the three and four bedroom homes from your search.  Second, it will keep you on track and grounded during the process – reminding you of the reasons that you are moving and what you are really looking for.  That being said, it is very possible that your list and/or your priorities will change over time as you see homes.  Maybe the most charming, warm-feeling home you have seen was on a busy street, and it turns out that it’s more important for you to have a charming, warm-feeling home than to be on a quiet, side street.

2. Choose a real estate agent to serve as your buyer’s agent.  Your buyer’s agent will be working completely on your behalf, but most of the time, s/he will still be compensated by the seller.  (Good news, right?)  You want to choose someone who really understands what you are looking for in a home.  Your agent will be the one who is out scouting and looking at homes for you during the week, so it’s important that s/he understands your needs and can contact you as soon as s/he sees something that will appeal to you.   It’s also important that your agent is reliable, responsive, knowledgeable, competent and trustworthy.  You will be spending a fair amount of time with your agent, so the chemistry has to be right too.  Finally you want someone who will be a team-player and is as excited as you are about your quest to find your “dream”  home.

3. Take the time to understand the market.  Have your buyer’s agent sign you up to receive emails with listing information on all of the properties in the market that fit your criteria and price range.  Go to see as many properties as you can.  As some of them sell, you will then have first-hand knowledge of the selling prices in the market.  This will help guide you when you find your “dream” home and decide you want to make an offer.

4. Secure your financing.  Get in touch with a mortgage broker or a mortgage officer within a financial institution, and have them take you through the pre-approval process so you fully understand what you can afford to buy.  It is customary in today’s market that offers be accompanied by a pre-approval letter so this is an important step in your home buying process.  

5. Have fun and enjoy!  You are moving and looking for a new home, which will hopefully be an exciting, rewarding and fun time in your life!        

Click here for even more home-buying tips……

Contact Lisa Williams today, (781) 267-2844 or lwilliams@pinnaclehouses.com, for the best in real estate service, knowledge and experience. Click here for a complimentary search of the MLS real estate listings where you will have access to all homes currently on the market in  Weston, Wellesley,  Needham,  Dover and surrounding communities.