How to successfully buy your first home

If you are in the market to buy your first home, you may have already realized that the process involves many different levels of knowledge and understanding. Chances are many steps of the process are completely foreign to you.

By arming yourself with an arsenal of important questions, as well as with a team of professionals, you are sure to avoid some of the most common first-time homebuyer mistakes.

1. Hire the Right Agent

Personalities and experience levels range greatly, just as with any profession. Consider interviewing several local agents before deciding on which one to hire. Do you want a new agent who is sweet, patient, and ready to answer lots of questions? Or would you prefer a seasoned agent who gets you the best deal, but has less than stellar people skills? The choice is entirely yours, neither one being better than the other, but will make a big difference on how you feel about the process.

2. Ask Your Lender Questions

It’s important to be sure you understand exactly what your mortgage will entail, so feel free to ask the questions that come to mind. Be sure to compare rates with other lenders to be sure you are getting the best rate.

3. Be Ready To Act

In many markets, highly desirable areas come with a large amount of competition. Many buyers may be looking at the same homes as you. If you hesitate, you may very well lose out on your dream home. The best advice? Don’t begin the process of viewing homes unless you are really ready to buy.

4. Think Long Term

You love the house, and you can deal with the small bedrooms and laundry room in the garage, but will the next set of buyers? If you are planning on selling the home in the next few years, you must remember to consider the resale value of a home. Is this neighborhood appreciating quickly, or are homes losing value?

5. Be Competitive

We all want to buy a home for the best bargain price possible, but a careful consideration is respecting the seller. You may view a low ball offer as a starting point, but a seller may view it as an insult and refuse to answer your offer. If you really want a home, be reasonable with your starting bid. Use these simple tips to avoid some of the most common buyer mistakes!