If you are thinking about buying a home, contacting a professional real estate agent is almost always the best way to start your search. A trusted realtor not only helps you find suitable homes and sets up appointments for visitation, they also can help you through the maze of negotiations and escrow. Before you meet for that first time, you need to gather some important information to share with your realtor.
It's always wise to meet with a lender and get loan pre-approval prior to beginning a home search. The lender will look over your finances and determine the amount of money that the lending company is willing to provide to you. This amount plus your down payment is typically the highest amount that you can afford comfortably. However, even if you are pre-approved for $300,000 and have an addition $30,000 for the down payment, you might still want to spend less. Be sure to tell your realtor what you are pre-approved for and, more importantly, what you are comfortable spending.
In addition to sharing your budget, your realtor also needs to understand what types of homes you like and what home features you really want. Write down the approximate home size you want, as well as the number of bathrooms and bedrooms. Include information such as wanting an open floor plan, a finished basement and a two- or three-car garage. Other features you might want include a kitchen with an island and granite countertops or a fireplace in the family room. The more you share, the easier it will be for your real estate agent to understand your needs and style.
Keep in mind that it is doubtful that you could ever find a home that fulfills everything on your wish list. You must be willing to compromise here and there. It's always wise to consider the location and the "bones" of any home and look beyond the cosmetic elements. You cannot move the home, so you better like the location and the size and layout of the yard. Sometimes you can alter or enlarge the interior of your home, but these are expensive changes that take a long time. So if the layout seems good and the location is great, try to look past the ugly paint on the bedroom walls and horrible chandelier in the dining room as these can be fixed easily.
Also be sure to tell your realtor what you absolutely do not want. Perhaps you don't wish to have a home on a busy street or in a particular part of town. Maybe you absolutely hate split-level homes or hate contemporary style homes or you do not want to have a home with a downstairs master bedroom. Perhaps you just cannot handle the work of dealing with a fixer-upper or you need a home that is not far from where you work. Whatever you really dislike or don't want, share this with your realtor as well.
If you are ready to begin looking for Fredericksburg homes for sale or Texas Hill Country real estate, give a call to the team at Nixon Real Estate. They can help you find the perfect home for your family and budget, as well as finding vacation homes, land and commercial properties. With nearly 40 years of experience, they can match any client to an ideal property that suits their needs.
It's always wise to meet with a lender and get loan pre-approval prior to beginning a home search. The lender will look over your finances and determine the amount of money that the lending company is willing to provide to you. This amount plus your down payment is typically the highest amount that you can afford comfortably. However, even if you are pre-approved for $300,000 and have an addition $30,000 for the down payment, you might still want to spend less. Be sure to tell your realtor what you are pre-approved for and, more importantly, what you are comfortable spending.
In addition to sharing your budget, your realtor also needs to understand what types of homes you like and what home features you really want. Write down the approximate home size you want, as well as the number of bathrooms and bedrooms. Include information such as wanting an open floor plan, a finished basement and a two- or three-car garage. Other features you might want include a kitchen with an island and granite countertops or a fireplace in the family room. The more you share, the easier it will be for your real estate agent to understand your needs and style.
Keep in mind that it is doubtful that you could ever find a home that fulfills everything on your wish list. You must be willing to compromise here and there. It's always wise to consider the location and the "bones" of any home and look beyond the cosmetic elements. You cannot move the home, so you better like the location and the size and layout of the yard. Sometimes you can alter or enlarge the interior of your home, but these are expensive changes that take a long time. So if the layout seems good and the location is great, try to look past the ugly paint on the bedroom walls and horrible chandelier in the dining room as these can be fixed easily.
Also be sure to tell your realtor what you absolutely do not want. Perhaps you don't wish to have a home on a busy street or in a particular part of town. Maybe you absolutely hate split-level homes or hate contemporary style homes or you do not want to have a home with a downstairs master bedroom. Perhaps you just cannot handle the work of dealing with a fixer-upper or you need a home that is not far from where you work. Whatever you really dislike or don't want, share this with your realtor as well.
If you are ready to begin looking for Fredericksburg homes for sale or Texas Hill Country real estate, give a call to the team at Nixon Real Estate. They can help you find the perfect home for your family and budget, as well as finding vacation homes, land and commercial properties. With nearly 40 years of experience, they can match any client to an ideal property that suits their needs.
About the Author:
Pammy McGrath loves reading real estate blogs. If you are searching for certified Fredericksburg Texas real estate agents, or to discover a Fredericksburg Texas homes for sale, please check out the NixonRealEstate.com website now.
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