BE BUYER-READY
Buying a home can be as challenging as it is exciting. It can be overwhelming, and often requires significant planning. See the tips below on how to start!
DETERMINE YOUR PRICE RANGE
Your price range depends on both how much a bank is willing to loan you and your financial comfort zone. The first step is getting preapproved by a lender. This will provide you with an understanding of how much the bank is willing to loan you for the purchase of your new home. In addition to the pre-approval, you’ll want to determine the maximum monthly mortgage payment that you’re comfortable with. Between the pre-approval and your comfort level, you’ll have a good idea of the price range you should be targeting.
MAKE YOUR WISH LIST AND PRIORITIZE
Envision your dream home. Now think about the things that make this home so perfect for you. Think about things like number of bedrooms, proximity to schools and work, neighborhoods, and square footage. Which items do you consider to be high priority items in your dream home, and which details are less important to you? Remember to be realistic, as there are some things that are mandatory and some that are nice-to-have.
START LOOKING, BOTH ONLINE AND IN-PERSON
As your Realtor, Amy will help you search for and preview properties that meet your criteria. She will notify you immediately when properties come on the market, and will show you qualified listings at your earliest convenience. Amy is often able to view properties the day they come on the market and can provide you with guidance on whether or not a new listing might be a good fit for you. After viewing several listings, Amy can help alter your housing requirements as you become more familiar with the market.
GET AN ADVOCATE IN YOUR CORNER
Once you find the home that you wish to purchase, it is imperative that you have an advocate working for you. Amy will prepare a purchase & sale agreement and all other necessary forms and addenda, and will advise you on how to make your offer as strong as possible. Amy will help you determine an appropriate price based on current market data and will present your offer to the listing agent. In today’s competitive environment, terms of the contract are often more important that price. Amy will do research with the listing agent prior to writing your offer, and will negotiate tirelessly on your behalf. Amy has had tremendous success with multiple-offer situations and will ensure you are well-positioned for a successful transaction.