1. Be picky, but don’t be unrealistic. There is no perfect home.
2. Do your homework before you start looking. Decide specifically what features you want in a home and which are most important to you.
3. Get your finances in order. Review your credit report and be sure you have enough money to cover your downpayment and your closing costs
4. Don’t wait to get a loan. Talk to a lender and get prequalified for a mortgage before you start looking.
5. 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.
6. Decide when you could move. When is your lease up? Are you allowed to sublet? How tight is the rental market in your area?
7. Think long-term. Are you looking for a starter house with the idea of moving up in a few years or do you hope to stay in this home longer? This decision may dictate what type of home you’ll buy as well as type of mortgage terms that suit you best.
8. Don’t let yourself be house poor. If you max yourself out to buy the biggest home you can afford, you’ll have no money left for maintenance or decoration or to save money for other financial goals.
9. Don’t be naïve. Insist on a home inspection and if possible get a warranty from the seller to cover defects within one year.
10. Get help. Consider hiring a REALTOR® as a buyer’s representative. Unlike a listing agent, whose first duty is to the seller, a buyer’s representative is working only for you. And often, buyer’s reps are paid out of the seller’s commission payment.
Reprinted from REALTOR® Magazine Online by permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
Copyright 2005. All rights reserved. http://www.REALTOR.org/realtormag
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I agree with the tips mentioned above especially checking your finances and making sure you’re on the right track to avoid mistakes. Nice blog by the way and thanks for sharing these tips!
Great list! Thanx for your efforts and writing you have done to compose the list.Every person have a dream of home. Buying a home is most biggest purchase of people.They spent more money to purchase the home and they will make in their lifetime.This article is so conveyed.
I guess I can agree with you when you said that asking too many people for a suggestion will drive me crazy, so it is best if I just spoke with one or two persons. I actually tried asking at least five people back when I was getting a phone, and it made the search harder. Surely the same thing will happen now that I am looking for a house. Because of this, I will just settle with asking my mom and dad. Thanks!
Thank you for chiming in from Cordova, TN!
Thanks for these tips for buying a home. I’m glad you mentioned that you should look at a house with a long-term goal in mind. This seems important so you can make sure you get the most value out of a house.
Thank you for reading my article all the way from Westerly, Rhode Island!
Thank you for mentioning that one of the best ways to make sure that we get the right home for us to set what we want for it to have before actually doing the house hunt. We are planning to buy a new home, but now that I think about it, we never actually discussed exactly what we want. If that is the case, then I will call everyone for a family meeting to hear the feature that we want to see in the house.
Thanks for chiming in from North Captiva, Florida! ~Val~
I can see where you were coming from when you said that in case a person wants to have a second opinion, it is best for them to consider asking just one or two persons. You did say that it will drive a person crazy. Anyway, I will be sure to remember that since I am looking into getting a luxury home. Since there are so many options to choose from, I need a second opinion. Thank you for sharing this.
It’s nice that you mentioned not busting the bank just for a nicer or bigger house. I’m compiling a list of tips for my younger sister as she starts her search for her first home. I really like this tip because it’s important to remember that you need a place to live, but there are also other things that are more necessary than more space. Thank you for including this.
It was really good that I came across this article and learned that when it comes to finding a good home, it’s best to ask one or two people to ask ideas and suggestions from. I understand that because having to consider the opinion of so many people will make the search more difficult since you will have to incorporate them into one another. I will surely note that down because I plan on asking a few friends for tips and opinions. Thank you for the info!
My husband and I want to get our first house and then start our family. I like how you suggest to make sure that you get a home inspection and maybe even a warranty from the seller. Your tips should help us find some real estate for us.
Thanks for the tips for buying a home. My wife and I hope to buy our first home soon, so we are trying to get informed. I like what you said about getting a loan in advance. That way, you can know what you can afford to pay before you start looking. I will be sure to keep this in mind!
What I appreciated the most was how you pointed out not to spend all the money on the house alone because this will allow us to have enough left for the maintenance and decoration. I never thought about until I came across this article, so it was really great! We’re planning to buy a house soon because my hubby and I don’t like the idea of raising our baby in an apartment. I thought house hunting was easy. It turns out I was wrong. Thanks for the useful advice. I appreciate it!
Larkfleet Homes build affordable, and sustainable homes for all the community. This is a great article and great points of view from all., thank you
If you are really serious of buying a new home, it is important to be financially prepared to get your ideal home. Thanks for sharing tips. These help to save more time and money in purchasing a home.
Purchasing a home is one of life’s major landmarks and for some, it is even a dream come true. Securing a knowledgeable and experienced Real Estate Broker like Val J Aranda, it is the most important piece of the homebuying puzzle. If you follow some simple steps, you can make sure that the process runs smoothly. Find Homes in Ladera Ranch