For most people, buying a home is one of the most exciting events in one’s life and it’s my job as a Realtor to make sure you get what you want and what you need in a way that suits you.
There are several important steps in the process of buying a home, and there are even a few easy steps you should take before you even start shopping for a home.
The first step is choosing a Realtor. In today’s real estate industry, buyers have just as much representation for their real estate needs as sellers, so your first step is to get representation. About 80 per cent of people who begin looking for a realtor turn to the web to find one, viewing sites just like this one to make an informed choice. Your realtor should have a proficient knowledge of the most important tools he or she will be using to help find and buy your next home.
Assess your finances
Buying a home is likely the biggest investment you’ll ever make. Before you begin your house hunting, you should take a good look at your overall financial picture. That includes your income, bank account balances, credit balances, and all of your regular expenses.
Your Realtor or your banker can help you get a handle on what you can afford in a home. Getting pre-approved for a mortgage is a great first step for any buyer. Be sure to ask about the various options for long and short term mortgages at your mortgage lender of choice.
Decide on location and needs
Decide what amenities you’d like close to your new home – whether it’s a school, a theatre or a large park – and remember those desires and needs when searching for your new home.
Since owning a home is a long-term investment, think long-term about your needs. This is one of many areas where the advice of a professional Realtor can really pay off. A good Realtor will get to know your plans almost as well as you know them yourself, and help you find a home that will meet those evolving needs. Before you start, have a clear idea what you absolutely have to have in a home and what would simply be nice to have.
The buying process
As your Realtor, the first thing on the agenda is a face to face meeting, preferably in your current home. To find you the right home, I have to know a whole lot about you and your motives for the upcoming move.
Once I’ve got a clear idea of your situation and how you want it to change, I’ve got enough information to start suggesting possible homes you may be interested in. We can narrow down the field of choices together, then comes the exciting part – actually showing you a few homes in person.
Throughout the house hunting period, I keep track of new homes coming on the market on a daily basis and keep you up to date with any new options. If we don’t see the right listings coming up, then don’t despair. Once I have a sense of what you’re looking for, I’ll even target neighborhoods and approach homeowners to see if they are interested in selling. If you want to be in a certain neighborhood, I will get you a home in that neighborhood.
Then it happens – you’ve found your dream home. I’ll walk you through the process of making an offer and all the variables that go into that process, overseeing every step and ensuring the transaction is as smooth as possible.
And that’s it – if all goes according to plan, you’ve got your new home.
Are you ready for the next step? Call me at 650-0092, or send me an email at jake@jakepalmer.ca. I’ll be in touch within 24 hours, and we’ll set up an appointment for us to meet and discuss how we can find your perfect home.