Roofing Insurance Considerations
With a tight housing market, it’s not always possible to sell and buy a new house every few years. But with so many tools at our fingertips, why do most people still use a real estate agent? Do you need a real estate agent to buy a home? Absolutely not. Anybody with an Internet connection can search and view homes on the market. You can customize your search by price range, number of bedrooms, style, and location, and even contact the sellers to arrange a showing.
What you tell a buyer’s agent, like the maximum you can afford to pay, remains confidential. Using a buyer’s agent also means that you will be shown homes that are For Sale By Owner (FSBO). Not usually. In most cases, the buyer’s agent splits the sales commission with the seller’s agent and you don’t pay anything. Look for someone who really understands you and your particular needs. Will you pay more for a buyer’s agent? How do you find a buyer’s agent? A good place to start is by asking friends and neighbors for recommendations. Shop around. Meet with different real estate agents and have them show you a few houses.
How long does it take from start to finish to buy a house? After a decade and a half of renting crummy apartments (bangkok.thaibounty.com) and moving every two years, my wife and I decided to buy our first house in the summer of 2011. Thanks to the real estate collapse, prices had bottomed out and interest rates were at historic lows. It usually takes 30 to 60 days to go from an acceptance of your offer to closing.
A savvy buyer’s agent might also be able to gather clues about the seller’s motivation. Are they desperate to unload or are they holding out for the asking price? This is something you should discuss in detail with your real estate agent, who can best serve your interests in a potentially expensive bidding war. In rare situations, such as an incredibly hot real estate market in a city like San Francisco or New York, it’s necessary to offer more than the asking price.
If you need to be able to walk or bike to work, search within a tight radius of your office. Keep in mind that your location preferences may change over time. If you’re looking for peace and quiet, avoid homes along major roads. Would you still want to live in that neighborhood? By combining these requirements, you will waste less time looking in the wrong places. And what if you lose or leave that walkable job? For example, having kids raises the importance of a good school district. Make sure to balance your near-term needs with your long-term goals.
This is normal. However, if the seller accepts your offer and you decide to back out of the deal, you will forfeit that hand money. Items included in the purchase: This list can include things like major appliances (often the refrigerator goes with the seller), lighting fixtures, shrubbery, basically anything that isn’t nailed down and some things that are! Home inspection contingencies: Since the inspection may take place after the offer is accepted, you need to state that the entire deal is contingent upon an acceptable inspection report. Since the offer letter often doubles as a contract, it will include a long list of clauses and contingencies required of both the buyer and seller.
