When buying a home in todays market here a 3 tips to help you be prepared.
1. Work with your agent to get pre-qualified prior to looking at homes. This seems like a no brainer, but many people put the cart before the horse, and are not prepared to put together a solid offer should they find a home which meets their needs. Working with a lender ahead of time will be beneficial in understanding the available loan programs to help you finance your new home, amount of down payment you need or not.
2. Select a knowledgeable agent to help you locate homes. Many people think they don't need an agent to assist them with the home buying process, when in fact hiring an agent can make all the difference in the world, in helping you make the right decisions. Virginia is a "Caveat Emptor" state, meaning "buyer beware". In the State of Virginia, buyers must do all the discovery work themselves since sellers aren’t required to disclose specific facts about the home, unless they are aware of them. Working with a professional can save you money, time and stress.
3. Location, location, location...we've all heard this before. The truth is location translates into price appreciation or price deprecation. Have your agent discuss the market stats with you for neighborhoods, communities or cities you're interested in purchasing your home. This education will help prepare you in making decisions on your budget, how much negotiating room you have or not, or maybe have you re-evaluate where you want to live.
As a full time, full service Realtor® living and working in the Northern Virginia and Metropolitan Washington Area, Terrilynn Kelley's real estate background is inclusive of selling residential property from luxury homes to condos, land and unconventional transactions. When she's not out working hard for clients, she spends time with her husband, a Fairfax County teacher, and three young sons.
As a full time, full service Realtor® living and working in the Northern Virginia and Metropolitan Washington Area, Terrilynn Kelley's real estate background is inclusive of selling residential property from luxury homes to condos, land and unconventional transactions. When she's not out working hard for clients, she spends time with her husband, a Fairfax County teacher, and three young sons.
