About House-hunting Before Buying The First Time

When my spouse and I decided it was time to make efforts to purchase our own home after less than two years of marriage, we had quite an adventure

. The experience of touring one shabby old home about a mile from our apartment was so interesting that I wrote a creative nonfiction piece about it.

Even though it was fun for us and we chose the right home in the long run, I wish that we had had a little more guidance to help us through the process. If you are a first time home buyer or simply wish to have a little extra advice as you prepare to close a deal on your next residence, let me share what I have learned with you.

You will want a skilled real estate agent on your side. This agent should not be representing the seller(s) for a property you are interested in, as that provides a conflict of interest, but finding another person to help you tour properties and draw up offers and agreements should not be a problem.

Ask friends and neighbors or even search the internet. Often when you do a property search and express interest in a particular listing, a realtor will contact you by phone or via e-mail, allowing you to connect with someone almost immediately. Don't be afraid to select someone new if your agent does not seem to be the right fit, however.

Recognize your budget for a mortgage and do not go over it! Remember that interest rates fluctuate, so you must factor in the possibility of them rising before you close. Plus, there are property taxes and utilities to take into account. Utility costs for a single family home are generally much higher than those for an apartment.

Don't automatically fall for the "deals" you might find on a foreclosure or short sale. Many of these properties need extensive renovation, and if you can't afford to pay for a home that is already in decent condition, then you probably can't afford the tremendous costs of restoring a house that has been damaged by years of neglect or intentional abuse.

With that being said, don't immediately pass them up, either. If you have a realtor who will be honest with you about the condition of a particular property, they will be able to tell you whether or not you ought to consider it based upon your needs and desires.

Don't trust virtual tours implicitly. A skilled photographer can manipulate the look of a space, so stick to hard facts--square footage, amenities, number of bedrooms, basement, attic, etc. Try to stay realistic, but have fun, too! You might be desperate to get out of your apartment and into a real home, but you'll only have the "first time" experience once, so try to enjoy it.

by: Art Gib

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