Lisa Curlett February 4, 2019
Do you need to sell before you buy? This addresses the financing component and is probably the most important question that you need to ask yourself - and your lender - and figure out prior to your home-buying search. If the answer is “yes,” call your real estate agent pronto to list your house before passing go. And then once your house is solidly under agreement or sold, you can begin seriously looking at potential dream homes.
Are you willing to do work on a house? In other words, is your new home’s condition important to you? Are you looking for a home that is move right in, a fixer-uper or somewhere in between? If it’s the former, be prepared for your potential dream house to sell quickly perhaps in a bidding war and possibly over the asking price (which is the perfect segue into question 3 below). If you are willing to do updating, you often don’t have to act as quickly, and you may even get a better deal.
Will you pay more for the house you love? To paraphrase, how much price flexibility do you have? As mentioned above, a bidding war often happens with properties that are in beautiful condition among other things, i.e. priced to sell, in a great location, etc. If you find yourself in a bidding war for your dream house, will you do whatever you need to do to get it, which usually means paying more than you might like to? If the answer is no, you’ll likely have to shift your focus to properties that will be less appealing to the masses and less likely to result in a competitive buying situation.
Can you accept a compromised street or location? For example, would you buy a house on a busy road or close to a noisy thoroughfare? Or do you only want to live on a quiet street in an A+ neighborhood? The answer to this question will also impact your home search. If you only want a quiet, highly desirable location, then you could be competing with many other buyers for your dream house, which then can force up the price of the property. If a busy street, noise issues, or a compromised location are ok, you may be able to find a bit of a better deal.
What is your ideal timeline and closing date? Do you need to buy quickly or can you wait to buy? If you need to buy quickly, you might have to make more compromises - or even rent - if the inventory at the time isn’t appealing to you. But if you have time on your side, you can wait for that just right house for you - keeping in mind that no house is ever 100% perfect.
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I wanted to share with you a few of my favorite, summer outdoor ‘burb and city dining picks.
Tips and thoughts for those of you who are about to embark on the process of buying a home.
So during this magical, sunny, spontaneous and joyful time, what is it that says summer to you?
Advice and suggestions to help when you find yourself on the journey of selling your home.
There’s almost nothing better than getting fully-immersed into my much-anticipated summer read.
Should this important decision include the opinions of your kids, parents, and/or in-laws?
What are your thoughts on bidding wars? Have you ever found yourself in a multiple-bid situation?
I’ve created this quiz, which covers a variety of aspects that go hand-in-hand with the process.
Contact us today to discover how the power of three can elevate your home buying and selling experience in the towns and communities of Greater Boston.