Buyer Advice

Buying a home is a huge step for anyone, but it does not need to be an impossible, stress-filled situation that many people imagine it to be.

While there is no one correct way to go about buying a home, there are several things to ask yourself during the process:

1. Where do you see yourself 5 years from now?
   It’s a question employers often ask prospective hires. Let’s take the same question and apply it to your real estate goals. For instance: Where do you see yourself financially in a few years’ time? Do you view your home as a sizeable asset you hope to liquidate once you retire? Have you factored in today’s ever-changing property situation?
   
   If you see yourself staying in one place for more than five years, you may want to seriously think about buying a home instead of renting one.
2. What kind of property are you looking for?
   Consider your needs: Are you raising a family? Moving in on your own? An empty nester looking for smaller digs? Once you’ve determined your needs, you can start checking out properties, whether single-family homes, apartments, or condos. With more specific objectives, you simplify your real estate options.
3. What qualities should you look for in a real estate agent?
   Make sure to hire someone you trust and who will act in your best interests. Your realtor must guarantee the best value for your money. Hire one with a proven track record, a reputation of being of service to clients, and years of experience.
4. What kind of neighborhood do you want to live in?
   When buying a house, you can do either one of two things:
   • Home in on a neighborhood before searching for suitable homes, or
   • Pick out your dream house and hope the neighborhood it’s in suits you