5 Practical
and Proven Tips for Successful First Time Home Buyers
By Izabella Lipetski
- Know your worth. Let’s start off with the financials. If you must get a loan to buy your dream home, it is important that you get a preapproved loan amount that fits your budget. This will show any seller that you are a serious buyer and that you come prepared. Nothing scares off a seller more than a buyer whose financials are not in order. Besides, you will only have your heart broken if you look at houses and fall in love with one, only to find out that you can’t afford it.
- Location, Location, Location. First time home buyers can sometimes get so fixated on the things they want in a house that they totally forget to consider the neighborhood where the house is located. Sure, the house has great curb appeal, has modern kitchen appliances, a crown molding you’ve only seen on TV, and a pool to boot. But is the neighborhood safe? How far are you from your place of work? How far are the kids from school? Or are there even good schools near the area? And here’s a deal-breaker, traffic. Selecting the right town is as important as having everything on your house wishlist. This is important not only for you but for the development of your family as well. After all, you can always make a renovation to your house if you want to improve on something but you cannot easily move house once you have committed to a neighborhood you hate. So it’s critical that the town where your dream house shares the same culture and values that you have. Find the perfect location for you here.
- Bigger is NOT always better. It’s easy to fall in love with the biggest house that you can afford. After all, the more space you have, the better it is for your family right? Wrong. It is also important to consider how big your family is right now or how big (or small) you want it to be. You don’t want a house that’s too big you hardly see each other anymore. And don’t forget to consider the effort (or the cost!) of cleaning a large house. Owning a house takes a lot of responsibility and making sure that they are kept clean and well-maintained is foremost among them. Find the house that’s best for you here.
- Nobody’s Perfect (And So Are Houses). You cannot find the “perfect” property. Not with a lot of variables like budget, location, and other must-haves. Looking for that perfect property will give you a wrong perception of how solid a property is and might cause you to pass up in the hope that something better comes along. What you need is to keep an open mind and see the potential of each house you visit. More often than not, a few tradeoffs will happen like not having a pool for that extra bedroom.
- Use
Your Head (Not Your Heart). It is easy to get too attached and make a decision
to buy a house based on what you feel. You “fell in love” with the place right?
But what most first time home buyers forget is that buying a house is a major
lifetime decision. Sure, your house is a place where you will build lifetime
memories with your family. Sure, your house is a place where you put down your
roots and prosper. There’s no harm in thinking that but do note that buying a
house is also an investment. It involves your hard earned money AND money that
you commit in the future for house repair, mortgage payment, taxes, insurance
and association dues. The key here is to find a Real Estate Agent that you
trust and who can provide you with the soundest advice and find you the most
value for your money. Speaking of which…
- Realtor Love. Your realtor can literally make or break your dream of owning your dream home. Start off by asking friends and family for referrals. You need a realtor you can trust. A good realtor is someone who has real knowledge of the area and has contacts with loan officers and real estate attorneys. But the most important trait your realtor must have is the ability to listen to your needs and fulfil what you are looking for. A good realtor will also help you until closing, a service above and beyond the sale.
About the Author
Izabella Lipetski is a premiere California licensed real estate agent with over 20 years experience. She has served over 200 clients with discretion, integrity, diligence and passion. You may reach her at the ff:
Email: ilipetski@gmail.com
Phone: (510) 506 2072
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