Thumbnail of user sonjag17

Sonja G.

Contributor Level

Total Points
181

1 Review by Sonja

  • Renewed Homes

8/14/18

Buying real estate can be a monumental process, particularly if you have never done it before. While the expenses associated with buying real estate can cause stress, this stress can be exacerbated by the impending commitment. Consider each of the tips contained here, and rely on them to ease your concerns and maximize the chances of a smooth, successful transaction.

The Internet can be your best friend when house hunting, so remember to use the net to check out homes and neighborhoods. Some areas may have more information that others available, but at the very least, you can find certain information. General demographics about the neighborhood, such as income levels and age distribution, can give you a good idea of what to expect if you were to move there.

Properties that require updates and many improvements are usually sold at reduced prices. You may end up getting a real bargain that you can fix up exactly the way you want it. Doing this allows you to make the design changes you want, and also build valuable equity in the home through improvement projects. So always consider a home's potential, rather than just focusing on the negatives that you can see. Behind the outdated kitchen and the peeling paint could be the home of your dreams.

If you make an offer and the seller doesn't accept it, there's always room for negotiation. For instance, they may offer to pay the cost of new carpet, or cover some of the closing costs.

Try to think about the long term when you are buying a new home. If you are planning on having kids, make sure that you purchase a home that has a good school nearby.

Keep an open mind about what you want. Finding a home with all of the features on your wish list may not be financially possible, but you probably can afford a few things. You may not be able to find your dream home in your dream neighborhood. However, you may be able to find your dream home elsewhere, or another home in your dream community.

Get a checklist from your realtor. It is not uncommon for a Realtor to bring a checklist containing all facets of a home purchase, including shopping for neighborhoods to obtaining financing. Use this checklist as a guide to make sure you take care of everything you need to do.

Before considering a property, you should perform a search for registered sex offenders in the neighborhood and surrounding areas. The real estate agent and seller do not have any motivation or requirement to provide this information to you voluntarily. Doing your own research is easy and necessary.

If you live somewhere where you do not need it, do not buy a house with a fireplace anywhere but the living room. Maintenance on additional fireplaces can be cumbersome, particularly if you hardly ever use them.

If you want to purchase a new home, you should first find a good real estate agent. You can do some online research, but it's better to find a trustworthy agent through personal referrals. Real estate agents with successful track records in selling homes can help you find just what you are looking for. It is in your best interest to take the time to look for someone you can rely on.

A home's square footage will be listed in a variety of documents. You can ask the homeowner to see documentation verifying square footage or bring a tape measure to measure rooms yourself to verify a home's size. You need to make sure public records for square footage match the listing. The actual square footage and the footage on public record should stay no more than 100 feet of one another. When the two measurements are more drastic than that, you might want to rethink your decision to buy. At the very least, you must figure out why the discrepancy exists.

Buy a warranty for your home. When purchasing a new home, either from the builder, or an older home from the previous owner, ask for a warranty. The builder should stand by his or her work for a minimum amount of time. The last owner should be prepared to obtain a home warranty that is valid for a minimum period of 12 months in case of any necessary repairs.

Clearly delineate your goals when you are considering whether or not to invest in the real estate market. Determine if your goals are short or long term. If the investment is a mismatch to those goals, then give it a pass. For a number of reasons, many real estate investors don't focus on meeting their needs, and end up losing their investment.

When purchasing a home, hire all of your own support people. While the seller is usually happy to provide the name of an appraiser or inspector, make sure you decline the offer. No one likes the thought of spending out of their own pocket for services that are available for free. However, it is very important to have someone working for your personal interest instead of the other party. Spending a little money now can save you a lot of money in the end.

If the home you are purchasing is just for yourself, it is wise to take along someone who has home buying experience. This person can be very helpful in noticing issues in the house that you missed. Encourage your friend to ask questions to the realtor.

When you are trying to work out a deal, you should first make a priority list on your goals. Take the time to assess the challenges and find good solutions. Deal with your priorities first and consider some things as deal-breakers if they cannot be solved. Remember, during the negotiation process you need to be a little bit flexible and you should expect to make some compromises.

After reading this, are you fired up now about buying some property? Hopefully, the tips you have read in the above article has helped to calm your fears. Utilize the tips that fit into your particular circumstances in order to have maximum success. It doesn't have to be hard to buy real estate. It's exciting to own something! Don't waste money just to own something, though. Consider all the costs and benefits before purchasing a piece of property.

Sonja Has Earned 1 Vote

Sonja G.'s review of Renewed Homes earned a Very Helpful vote

Sonja hasn’t received any thanks yous.

Sonja doesn’t have any fans yet.

Sonja isn’t following anybody yet.

Empty.