Real Estate Buyers Tips,
What to consider when buying a condo or a home
Location:
One of the most important decisions to consider in your home search. Careful research would help you in your decision. Resources to help you: Internet, Chamber of commerce, word of mouth, experienced local realtors, …and others. Find a city/area that offers what you're looking for now and near future. To define what you're looking for, here are pointers.
Your interests:
What you like to do. What's important to you. Beach, boating, golf, shopping, good restaurants, sports, art galleries, ..
Life Style:
Are you a single person that likes to enjoy the night life and would enjoy city living and being in the middle of everything. Are you an older couple that would like privacy, quite and secluded neighborhood away from traffic and city noise. Or, are you a young couple with children that would like to be close to city hot spots but also concerned about schools for children, and the neighborhood where your children will grow up and be influenced.
Peace of mind
There are many things you can find on the internet, but there are some you will not find. An example, I know of a great development of 3 buildings. 2 buildings are excellent value and great place to live. However, 3rd building management are the worst. The 3rd building now like a ghost town where people are moving out. This type of problem, you'd probably will not find out on the internet.
What about moving to a place and finding out that your neighbor is unbearable. You can call the police but as you know that will not solve the problem or the tension.
There are things you can not find unless you have someone that knows the building and the neighborhood. You and your family safety and well-being depends on it.
The importance of local resource to help you is undenied. Since many of the websites you see are written by people that are not local and have never seen your building or sold/rented at that building, they can not help you. Find a good local realtor. Most do not charge any fees to provide their services.
Price
Last but not least, define your budget before you start looking.
Talk to a mortgage broker. Most will provide a qualification letter (at no charge) that tells you how much you can afford. We do this service for free to our clients.
Cheap is not a good thing sometimes. I know many first time home buyers thinking what's the cheapest I can find. Consider this,
*** Cheaper neighborhood is cheap for a reason and they do not appreciate for similar reasons.
A client of mine started the same way, and then I convinced to look at one of higher priced buildings. I knew the building and sold several units there to physicians, executives, self employed business people… In his first month, he made some good business deals from the people he met at the pool where he bought (his neighbors). The money he made, more than enough to cover the price difference. His wife made friends with good people in the building and the kids are happy and safe.
Another client went with the cheapest, his wife was complaining about what she sees in the pool, dirty health club, kids were frightened by other kids in the neighborhood. He was not a happy man.
Best Wishes
