Over the last couple of years, the housing market has been crazy. With low inventory and homes selling quickly after being put on the market, buying a home has not been easy. As things start to cool off, houses are on the market a little longer making it easier for buyers to take a bit more time looking for the right house. You do need to keep in mind that the housing market starting to level out, doesn’t mean lack of competition. If you’re thinking about buying a house, these tips will help you stay on the right track to owning your dream home.

Purchasing a home is no small decision. If you don’t know why you want to buy a house, or what you’re looking for in a home, then buying a house will be difficult, and you could make a decision you aren’t happy with. Some things buyers should think about when deciding if they want to buy a home are:

• Why do you want to buy a house?

• What kind of home do you want in terms of square footage, features, location, number of bedrooms, etc?

• Does it make sense financially to purchase a home?

• Are you ready to do all of the maintenance on your home?

Research, research, research. Buying a home is probably the most expensive purchase you’ll make, so you want to make sure you know what your down payment will be, understanding what interest rates are, the costs involved in moving, what your credit score is, and if there will be any fees associated with the house like HOA fees. All of that can impact where or what house you purchase. While you’re researching, don’t waste your time and gas driving around looking for homes for sale. There are a lot of online options to find the perfect home. If you have a realtor in mind that you want to use, their website will have homes listed that you might not find on other public websites. This also helps when you talk to your real estate agent about what you’re looking for in a home. You can show them examples of what you like and what you don’t like.

It’s also good to buy when it’s a “buyer’s market.” This means there is more than likely a surplus of homes on the market, and homebuyers have more choices so sellers will meet buyers in the middle and negotiate to close the deal. Working with a real estate agent will help you determine what kind of market it is, and your agent will do all of the negotiating for you, as well as advise you of your choiceswhen it comes to buying your home. 

Working with a real estate agent isn’t necessary, but it can save you time, and research, and in the end, help you close the deal faster. Real estate agents will be able to tell you about available programs if you're a first-time home buyer, veteran, or even have less than great credit. Working with a realtor also comes with other benefits such as:

• Access to MLS- Sometimes this will have properties not listed on public websites like Zillow.

• They have contacts and a professional network that can help them find a hidden gem for you.

• They know the lay of the land- If you’re looking for a specific amenity they’ll most likely know where to find it.

• They can get you a better price- They’ll be able to tell you if a home is priced too high, or even too low and help you negotiate the price.

• They are the true experts- They know the best practices to close a deal, have knowledge of building codes, they’ll write contracts, and coordinate a smooth closing.

If you’re beginning to look for your dream home, or even just a starter home that you can fix up and resell as your family grows, our talented team of experts will help you along every step of the way. So reach out to Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices if you are ready to start your home-buying journey.