Getting the Home You Want

• First time buyers are always eager to find the perfect home. Sometimes buyers manage to discover that ideal home within just a few moments of searching. Others may take a long time of house hunting before finally digging up that diamond in the rough. Even buyers that are experienced and have owned homes before are on the lookout for a great new home to move their family to. Nobody wants to settle—and why should they? A home is a place where you live, where you grow, where you invite over friends and family. It should be a place you love, that you take pride in; that you enjoy during cozy winter months and lounge around during hot summer months. After all, home is where the heart is.

• That’s why getting the right home the first time is so important. However, you cannot simply look at a limited number of aspects. For example, if you prefer a brick house with three bedrooms and two baths, then you are going to find a lot of houses. While this can initially seem like a good thing, soon you will be overwhelmed. There is much more to finding your ideal house than the style and the number of bed and baths.

• First, know the cities and locations you are able to live. If your job is in one city, but you are able to live anywhere within a 40 mile radius of that job, then your options are wide open. Next, consider your finances. Talk to one of our agents so you can get a strong look at how much you can afford, what payments you would be comfortable with, locations you can obtain financing, and how to get pre-approved for a mortgage so you are more enticing to sellers than someone who is not. Getting all your personal finances in order is a huge and important step in the house buying process. It can not only give you a stronger position as a buyer, but also help to give you peace of mind knowing the sort of house you can afford without stretching yourself to the limit.

• Now you can start considering personal preferences when it comes to the house’s location. Do you need to be near any schools? Grade school or high school? Do you love to shop and want to be near shopping centers? Is it important for you to be within a close distance of a hospital, dentist office, or other medical building? Is there a transportation preference you have? Tell your agent all about these things and he or she can help you narrow down your house search. Your agent may also have additional ideas and a few houses in mind that you may not have noticed before. We’re here to help, so don’t be afraid to take the time to see what we can offer you.

• Once you’ve got a few houses in mind, things can get serious. We’re always available for you and can act as your agent or sub-agent while negotiations start. In the end, you should have the house you’ve always wanted!