If it is time for your family to start looking for a new home to buy, you definitely will want to look for an experienced, competent real estate agent. Your agent not only helps find suitable houses, this professional can help you deal with all the steps included in purchasing a home. This includes recommending experienced inspectors and helping you understand local laws and regulations, as well as explaining different parts of the escrow process. While that first meeting with your realtor is important, it is also important that you complete a few tasks prior to this first appointment.
Setting a budget is a huge part of the home buying process, and the smartest move is to sit down with a lender and go through the process of loan pre-approval. This means the lender will look at your income and expenses and determine how much the financial institution will loan you based on your ability to comfortably make monthly payments. This pre-approval amount plus any money you have for the down payment is the maximum amount that you can spend on a house, although you certainly can spend less than this amount.
Once you have set a budget and shared that with your realtor, you need to provide the agent with a list of features that you want in your home. Be sure to include everything you want such as the number of bedrooms, the number of bathrooms, the size of the yard and the size of the garage. Perhaps you also want walk-in closets and a finished basement or a kitchen updated with granite and stainless steel. Maybe you would prefer a single-story home or maybe you love the look of a home with a brick faade. The more information you can provide, the easier it will be for your realtor to truly understand your needs.
Keep in mind that it is doubtful that you could ever find a home that fulfills everything on your wish list. You must be willing to compromise here and there. It's always wise to consider the location and the "bones" of any home and look beyond the cosmetic elements. You cannot move the home, so you better like the location and the size and layout of the yard. Sometimes you can alter or enlarge the interior of your home, but these are expensive changes that take a long time. So if the layout seems good and the location is great, try to look past the ugly paint on the bedroom walls and horrible chandelier in the dining room as these can be fixed easily.
Also be sure to tell your realtor what you absolutely do not want. Perhaps you don't wish to have a home on a busy street or in a particular part of town. Maybe you absolutely hate split-level homes or hate contemporary style homes or you do not want to have a home with a downstairs master bedroom. Perhaps you just cannot handle the work of dealing with a fixer-upper or you need a home that is not far from where you work. Whatever you really dislike or don't want, share this with your realtor as well.
For more than 35 years, the experts at Nixon Real Estate have been helping their clients find ideal Texas Hill Country real estate. If you are hoping to find Fredericksburg real estate, Kerrville real estate, San Antonio real estate or any type of Hill Country real estate, call on the team at Nixon Real Estate. They specialize in finding homes, commercial properties and land throughout Texas Hill County.
Setting a budget is a huge part of the home buying process, and the smartest move is to sit down with a lender and go through the process of loan pre-approval. This means the lender will look at your income and expenses and determine how much the financial institution will loan you based on your ability to comfortably make monthly payments. This pre-approval amount plus any money you have for the down payment is the maximum amount that you can spend on a house, although you certainly can spend less than this amount.
Once you have set a budget and shared that with your realtor, you need to provide the agent with a list of features that you want in your home. Be sure to include everything you want such as the number of bedrooms, the number of bathrooms, the size of the yard and the size of the garage. Perhaps you also want walk-in closets and a finished basement or a kitchen updated with granite and stainless steel. Maybe you would prefer a single-story home or maybe you love the look of a home with a brick faade. The more information you can provide, the easier it will be for your realtor to truly understand your needs.
Keep in mind that it is doubtful that you could ever find a home that fulfills everything on your wish list. You must be willing to compromise here and there. It's always wise to consider the location and the "bones" of any home and look beyond the cosmetic elements. You cannot move the home, so you better like the location and the size and layout of the yard. Sometimes you can alter or enlarge the interior of your home, but these are expensive changes that take a long time. So if the layout seems good and the location is great, try to look past the ugly paint on the bedroom walls and horrible chandelier in the dining room as these can be fixed easily.
Also be sure to tell your realtor what you absolutely do not want. Perhaps you don't wish to have a home on a busy street or in a particular part of town. Maybe you absolutely hate split-level homes or hate contemporary style homes or you do not want to have a home with a downstairs master bedroom. Perhaps you just cannot handle the work of dealing with a fixer-upper or you need a home that is not far from where you work. Whatever you really dislike or don't want, share this with your realtor as well.
For more than 35 years, the experts at Nixon Real Estate have been helping their clients find ideal Texas Hill Country real estate. If you are hoping to find Fredericksburg real estate, Kerrville real estate, San Antonio real estate or any type of Hill Country real estate, call on the team at Nixon Real Estate. They specialize in finding homes, commercial properties and land throughout Texas Hill County.
About the Author:
Pammy McGrath enjoys reading real estate blogs. If you are searching for licensed Fredericksburg Texas real estate agents, or to find a Fredericksburg Texas homes for sale, please go to the NixonRealEstate.com website today.