House hunting has a lot of moving parts and if you don’t have your head on a swivel, it can get pretty complicated pretty quick. However, if you go into your house search prepared, the whole process doesn’t have to be overly complicated. As a matter of fact, there are some great ways to simplify your house hunt. Here are our tips!
Know What You Want
Start by identifying the things that are important to you in your new home. Things such as square footage, yard space, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and the type of home all have a bearing on your home search. Start by listing the things that are most important to you and your family and prioritize those things based on what is necessary to what is simply want or desire.
Knowing exactly what you’re looking for will make your house hunting journey so much more focused and generally enjoyable for everyone involved.
Establish Your Budget
Some homebuyers neglect the fact that all of the things they need and want out of their new home cost money, and if you don’t have a budget in mind or don’t know what your budget is, then you’ll be spinning your wheels.
It’s a good idea to play around with some online mortgage calculators where you can plug in all of your numbers and arrive at a home price you can work with. From there, establish some hard lines on how much is too much and how much is too little. Yes, it is possible to search for a home too far below your price point which won’t have the amenities you need.
Most importantly, stick to your guns when it comes to your budget. It’s easy to look at prices and think that you can bump up your budget slightly. Don’t fall into this trap!
Consider Working With an Agent
If you’re a first-time homebuyer, it’s definitely a good idea to enlist the help of a local real estate agent especially if you’re new to the area you’re shopping in. Even if you’re an experienced buyer, an agent can make your life infinitely easier and simpler by eliminating a lot of legwork.
Agents are great because they not only represent you but they have the experience in the area you’re buying to offer some expertise about where to live, neighborhoods, and home prices. There’s also the peace of mind you get from being covered by an agent and represented when you need to work with a seller to make a deal go through.
Map Out Your Financing
Last but certainly not least is to map out your financing before you begin your home search. As a matter of fact, you could easily put financing as the number one thing you do before beginning your search as the amount of money you are pre-qualified for will likely establish the budget you have to shop with.
In order to start the pre-qualification process, start by apply online at Tidewater Mortgage Services, Inc. You can get pre-qualified in as little as 24 hours and our expert loan officers can help you find the right mortgage solution for your home and your family.
