Purchasing a home is a significant milestone that can be exciting and challenging. The process involves complicated steps and crucial decisions that call for expert guidance. It is vital to arm yourself with all the right information before looking at homes. With the right agent on your side, you will ace your home purchase while avoiding common mistakes and setbacks.
From choosing a neighborhood to understanding the financing process, this homebuying guide provides a comprehensive overview of all the steps to purchase your dream home confidently.
Work with a trusted lender for pre-approval
Working with a trusted lender is an excellent step to take early in your homebuying process. Having pre-approval means that lenders have checked your credit, reviewed your financial documents, and determined an amount you qualify to borrow. Your borrowing limit is the maximum you can spend on a home and helps you create a home-buying budget. With pre-approval, you will appear more committed to sellers, and it will be easier to put in a firm offer with financing.
Consider critical criteria before looking at homes
With pre-approval in hand, you can shift your focus externally to your home search. Consider what you need in a home. Start with basic elements like the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, yard size, and kitchen amenities. As you further define your criteria, you can bring in architectural features like tall ceilings, lovely views, and stone flooring. Work with an expert local agent to hone in on properties that satisfy your priorities.
Type of home
While some may seek a single-family home, others opt for a condominium or townhouse. Depending on your lifestyle, each type of residence has benefits and drawbacks. Knowing which type of home is best for you will help narrow your search and make it easier to find the perfect fit.
Location
Evaluate different neighborhoods in terms of privacy, convenience, and amenities. Consider access to public transportation, shopping centers, parks, and schools. In addition, always research neighborhood statistics and check with local authorities to understand the current zoning plans for the area.
Lifestyle needs
As you search for your dream home, it is essential to consider your lifestyle needs as well. Think about the space you need for entertaining, daily activities, and hobbies. If you have a boat or enjoy water activities, you may want a property close to Lake Waxahachie, or if you like to walk to shops, you may prefer a downtown condominium.
Amenities
Many luxury homes have unique amenities like pools, saunas, extended living spaces, or backyard paradise landscaping. Identifying critical features and amenities you want in a home can narrow your search and eliminate candidates. And while having a list of needs and wants is beneficial, it is also essential to be open-minded during the home search. You may find that as you look at available homes, your criteria change, or the order of importance gets rearranged, and you have an even better idea of the home you want to purchase.
View homes in-person to make decisions
Many online listing services post new homes for sale, keeping you up-to-date on properties in your target location. Looking at online listings consistently can keep you ahead of the competition, but scheduling showings and attending open houses is also valuable. Once you have narrowed your home search to a few properties that meet your criteria, it is time to visit them in person.
Viewing a property is the best way to determine if it matches your lifestyle needs and expectations. Not every home photographs well, and frequently pictures cannot capture the grandeur of a home’s character. Take your time when visiting homes; don’t be afraid to ask questions and inspect the house thoroughly. Look for high-end details like appliances, fixtures, natural light, layout, and paint.
Make a solid offer
Once you have found the perfect home, it is time to make an offer. Before doing so, research comparable properties in the area and speak to your real estate agent for expert assistance.
Your proposal can also contain contingencies to meet your unique buying needs. Contingencies are clauses in an offer that can protect you from losses and give you an out if certain conditions are unmet. These may include an inspection contingency, appraisal contingency, or financing contingency. For instance, with an inspection contingency, you can ask the seller to repair the roof or reduce the list price if the inspection reveals that the roof needs to be replaced.
When you make an offer, it is vital to communicate your needs and expectations. Some sellers include a personalized offer letter to express genuine interest in the home and increase the chances of their offer acceptance.
Have a professional home inspection
Once you have made an offer on a home and the seller has accepted your offer, it is time to inspect the property. Home inspections are a wise investment before purchasing a home and can reveal potential issues with a property that can help you make an informed decision.
An inspector will look at major aspects of the home, such as the roof, foundation, plumbing, electrical, HVAC systems, and structural issues. They will provide you with a detailed report on the home’s condition that can help you make an informed decision about how to move forward.
Make your process seamless
Working with a real estate agent can make the homebuying process seamless. A real estate agent can supply expert advice and guide you through every step of the process. Not only do they have access to listings, but they can also negotiate on your behalf and help you through the closing process.
Eric Gerard Realty is a team of expert Waxahachie real estate agents led by Eric Gerard Enge. Eric is an experienced real estate agent with a background in customer service, finance, and entrepreneurship. He strives to meet every need and deliver an exceptional homebuying experience. Please contact Eric to learn everything there is to know about buying real estate near Waxahachie.
*Header photo courtesy of Shutterstock
