HGTV’s Buying Tips

 Choosing an Agent

“When choosing an agent to help you find a home, it’s good to ask friends and relatives to refer you to agents they’ve had good experiences with. Make sure the agent works the hours that you’ll be available to look at homes and that they’re as tech savvy as you are. It’s important that you mesh with the agent, like any other relationship, if you see red flags coming up don’t ignore it. If there are problems be honest with the agent and then search for another agent that you may be more compatible with. Remember you’re hiring them, you’ll be spending lots of time together and sharing personal information with this person, so it’s important for you to have an agent you trust and feel comfortable with.”  Kathy Ortman 

Get pre-approved for your home loan
Getting pre-approved means a lender has looked at all of your financial information and they’ve let you know how much you can afford and how much they will lend you. Being pre-approved will save you a lot of time and energy so you are not running around looking at houses you can't afford. It also gives you the opportunity to shop around for the best deal and the best interest rates. Do your research, learn about junk fees, processing fees or points and make sure there aren’t any hidden costs in the loan. 

Keep your money where it is
It’s not wise to make any huge purchases or move your money around three to six months before buying a new home. You don’t want to take any big chances with your credit profile. Lenders need to see that you’re reliable and they want a complete paper trail so that they can get you the best loan possible. If you open new credit cards, amass too much debt or buy a lot of big-ticket items, you’re going to have a hard time getting a loan. “This is also true after you have chosen your home and you’re in escrow. The lenders checks your credit again right before you sign your loan documents” Kathy Ortman 

Avoid sleeper costs
The difference between renting and home ownership is the sleeper costs. Most people just focus on their mortgage payment, but they also need to be aware of the other expenses such as property taxes, utilities and homeowner-association dues. New homeowners also need to be prepared to pay for repairs, maintenance and potential property-tax increases. Make sure you budget for sleeper costs so you’ll be covered and won’t risk losing your house. 

Don’t try to time the market
Don’t obsess with trying to time the market and figure out when is the best time to buy. Trying to anticipate the housing market is impossible. The best time to buy is when you find your perfect house and you can afford it. Real estate is cyclical, it goes up and it goes down and it goes back up again. So, if you try to wait for the perfect time, you’re probably going to miss out. 

You’re buying a house – not dating it
Buying a house based on emotions is just going to break your heart. If you fall in love with something, you might end up making some pretty bad financial decisions. There’s a big difference between your emotions and your instincts. Going with your instincts means that you recognize that you’re getting a great house for a good value. Going with your emotions is being obsessed with the paint color or the backyard. It’s an investment, so stay calm and be wise. “This is touchy and can go either way. We spend a lot of time in our homes and if you don’t love it, it doesn’t matter how great the deal was. Don’t settle because your Agents tired of showing you property or you feel like your being to picky. When you walk into YOUR home, you’ll know it” Kathy Ortman 

Stalk the neighborhood
Before you buy, get the lay of the land, drop by morning noon and night. Many homebuyers have become completely distraught because they thought they found the perfect home, only to find out the neighborhood wasn’t for them. Drive by the house at all hours of the day to see what’s happening in the neighborhood. Do your regular commute from the house to make sure it is something you can deal with on a daily basis. Find out how far it is to the nearest grocery store and other services. Even if you don’t have kids, research the schools because it affects the value of your home in a very big way. If you buy a house in a good school district versus bad school district even in the same town, the value can be affected as much as 20 percent. 

The secret science of bidding
Your opening bid should be based on two things: what you can afford (because you don’t want to outbid yourself), and what you really believe the property is worth. Make your opening bid something that’s fair and reasonable and isn’t going to totally offend the seller. A lot of people think they should go lower the first time they make a bid. It all depends on what the market is doing at the time. You need to look at what other homes have gone for in that neighborhood and you want to get an average price per square foot. Sizing up a house on a price-per-square-foot basis is a great equalizer. Also, see if the neighbors have plans to put up a new addition or a basketball court or tennis court, something that might detract from the property’s value down the road.

Give your house a physical
Would you buy a car without checking under the hood? Of course you wouldn’t. Hire a home inspector. A home inspector’s sole responsibility is to provide you with information so that you can make a decision as to whether or not to buy. It’s really the only way to get an unbiased third-party opinion. If the inspector does find any issues with the home, you can use it as a bargaining tool for lowering the price of the home. It’s better to spend the money up front on an inspector than to find out later you have to spend a fortune.