Buying Advice
Buying a home is a significant and exciting decision. This section provides professional real estate advice and helpful home buying tips.
First Steps
The Internet and real estate professionals are the top two resources most buyers turn to when searching for a home. When it’s not convenient for you to speak directly with a real estate professional, www.shorelandrealty.com can help improve your overall home buying experience and provide the guidance to reduce stress, save time, and make you a savvy, successful consumer.
A Shoreland Realty Group Agent is ready to make a full-time commitment to help you capitalize on current market opportunities and assist you in making an informed decision.
To ensure you make the right choice for the long term, a Shoreland Realty Group Agent offers extensive knowledge in:
- Neighborhoods, schools and market conditions
- Mortgage specialists who can assist you with your financing
- Technology that gives them an edge, along with multiple resources available just for you on shorelandrealty.com
Would you like to receive more information on the home buying process? Contact a Shoreland Realty Group Agent or email us at info@shorelandrealty.com
1 2010 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers
Finding the right real estate agent can make you a savvy consumer and improve your overall experience.
Shopping for a Home
A Shoreland Realty Group Agent can help you shop for a home, compare homes, and compile your unique wishlist to find the perfect home for you.
Buying a home is one of the most important decisions you will make. That's why it's in your best interest to choose an experienced real estate agent who listens to and understands your needs, and has detailed knowledge of the area in which you want to want to live.
When you choose a Shoreland Realty Group Agent, you're dealing with a professional who understands your concerns and will provide you with the personalized service that makes all the difference.
What should you expect in your first meeting with a real estate agent? An agent will typically talk to you about the neighborhood where you want to live, home prices, schools, transportation, and the surrounding commercial and residential areas. They can also address the pros and cons of using a buyer's agent versus a sales or dual agent.
When you're ready to visit houses, ask your Shoreland Realty Agent to help you with:
- Arranging showings
- Tracking the properties you've seen
- Identifying homes that meet your criteria and keep track of your "what's right for you" list
TIP: After touring each home, write down what you liked and didn't like. YourAgent can help you develop a rating system to narrow the field. For example, pick the house you like best on day one and compare all other houses to it. When you find a better one, use the new favorite as your standard.
What's the Right Home For You?
Before deciding which house to buy, consider your lifestyle, current and anticipated housing needs and budget. It’s a good idea to create a prioritized list of features you want in your new home; you'll quickly discover finding the right house involves striking a balance between your "must-haves" and your "nice-to-haves."
If you love to cook, you'll appreciate a well-equipped kitchen. If you're into gardening, you'll want a yard. If a home office is a must, you’ll need a room that will provide you adequate work space. If you have several cars, you may require a larger garage. Use this list as your search guide.
Next, think about what you might need in the future, and how long you are likely to live in this particular home. If you're newly married, you might not be concerned with a school district right now, but you could be in a few years. If you have aging parents, you may want to look at homes that offer living arrangements that could accommodate them as well.
It’s important to think about your new home’s location just as carefully as its features. In addition to considering the distance to work, evaluate what matters to you in terms of services, convenience and accessibility, such as shopping, police and fire protection, medical facilities, school and daycare, traffic and parking, trash and garbage collection, even recreational facilities.
Be sure to talk to your real estate professional about where you want to live and what’s most important to you. While buyers frequently use the Internet to gain access to listings or available properties for sale, an agent brings value to the entire home buying process. He or she is available to analyze data, answer questions, share their professional expertise, and handle all the paperwork and legwork that is involved in any real estate transaction. Agents can help their clients narrow their choices by sharing market trends and local information.
TIP: It’s also important to consider the type of home that suits you best. Is it a condominium or a co-op? A townhouse or detached single-family home? Do you want brick, stone, stucco, wood, vinyl siding, or something else? Do you prefer a new home or an older one?