{"id":73581,"date":"2018-04-27T15:04:04","date_gmt":"2018-04-27T19:04:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stage.bhgrelife.com\/bhgrelife\/?p=73581"},"modified":"2018-07-03T14:52:13","modified_gmt":"2018-07-03T18:52:13","slug":"10-tips-for-finding-great-real-estate-for-sale","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stage.bhgrelife.com\/bhgrelife\/10-tips-for-finding-great-real-estate-for-sale\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Tips for Finding Great Real Estate for Sale"},"content":{"rendered":"

Finding your dream home can feel stressful, but there\u2019s plenty of great real estate for sale to suit nearly every buyer. Breaking down the process of buying a new home into steps isn\u2019t only helpful, but it will help it feel manageable. Below are 10 great tips to help you go from dreaming of owning a new home to actually holding the keys.<\/p>\n

Make a wish list and prioritize your needs<\/h3>\n

Now is the time to think about what your perfect home looks like. Unless you have a bottomless bank account, you probably won\u2019t be able to get everything you want. Perhaps you\u2019ve always dreamed of having a fireplace, but when it comes down to it, what you really need is a home located near good schools.Taking time to make a wish list will help you prioritize needs over wants.<\/p>\n

Set a realistic budget<\/h3>\n

Perhaps the most stressful part of buying a home is setting a budget, yet this doesn\u2019t need to be a daunting task. Figure out how much house you can afford<\/a> by examining your current salary and debts. A mortgage payment should never be more than a third of your income, while your debt should be less than 40 percent of your income.<\/p>\n

Hire a great real estate agent<\/h3>\n

Unless you\u2019re an orthodontist, you probably wouldn\u2019t attempt to fit someone with a pair of braces, right? The same theory holds true for buying real estate. Great REALTORS\u00ae will demystify the process of finding your dream home, from working within your budget to putting in a bid. In addition, it\u2019s their job to know the market and they can help you find your perfect home, even when there\u2019s competition from other buyers in your area.<\/p>\n

Make a checklist<\/h3>\n

You\u2019ve prioritized your wish list, set a realistic budget, and hired a real estate agent. Time to sit back and relax, right? Wrong! Now\u2019s the time to make a checklist of all the things you need to consider when finding your dream house. Your list should include the priorities from your wish list. For example, how close is the house to schools and grocery stores? Does the home have a fireplace? How much does the current owner pay annually in taxes? Preparing a list of questions before you purchase your new home will make sure you don\u2019t have questions later.<\/p>\n

Location, location, location!<\/h3>\n

Although it might seem obvious to carefully choose where you buy a home, you\u2019d be surprised how many people cut corners. Is it a priority for you to find real estate close to schools? Or perhaps it\u2019s a priority to be located off a busy street to avoid noise pollution. In short, a dream home isn\u2019t ideal at all if it\u2019s not located in the perfect place.<\/p>\n

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Think about how you use space<\/h3>\n

A parlor is lovely, but if it\u2019s only used a couple times a year during holidays, perhaps you\u2019d get more bang for your buck by focusing on a home with well-used rooms. For example, if you spend a lot of time cooking, then it makes sense to buy a house with a large, well-equipped kitchen. Likewise, if you\u2019re a freelancer, then it might behoove you look into a home that has an extra bedroom that could be converted into an office.<\/p>\n

Would you like to renovate?<\/h3>\n

Do you take pleasure in making home repairs or would you prefer to move into a home that requires very little work to move in? Renovating a home can be a tremendous amount of fun, but it can also get expensive. Be realistic about what repairs will cost and whether you have the time and energy to get the work accomplished.<\/p>\n

Make an offer<\/h3>\n

Making an offer on your dream house is one of the most exciting days of your life. It\u2019s also one of the most nerve-wracking. Although the current owners could say “yes,” there is a possibility that they might decline your offer. To make your offer attractive, avoid pushing out the current owners too quickly by asking for a fast closing date. Also, don’t lowball them by offering far less than the listing price. Your real estate agent should be able to give you advice about what will make an attractive offer.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t neglect the home inspection<\/h3>\n

Once your reoffer has been accepted, it\u2019s time for a home inspection before you finalize the contract. This is the time to look deep and have a professional home inspector look at the foundation, roof, electrical wiring, heating systems, insulation and other items that are generally hidden from view. While it might be tempting to seal the deal as quickly as possible, having a home inspection can save you from expensive problems<\/a> down the line.<\/p>\n

Celebrate!<\/h3>\n

The entire process, from browsing the real estate for sale in your area to moving into your dream home can be daunting. Once you have the keys to your new home in hand, make sure to celebrate with your loved ones for a job well done!<\/p>\n

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