The process of buying your Boston home starts long before you start
searching the internet for the perfect home. In today’s real
estate market, with low inventory dominating the conversation in many areas of
the country, it can often be frustrating to be a first-time homebuyer if you
aren’t prepared. Here are some steps that first-time homebuyers
can take to help carry their excitement of buying a home throughout the whole
process.
1. Get Pre-Approved
for a Mortgage Before You Start Your Search
One way to show you are serious about
buying your dream home is to get pre-qualified or pre-approved before starting
your search. The Boston
real estate market is quite competitive and understanding your budget will
give you the confidence of knowing whether your dream home is within your
reach.
2. Know the Difference Between Your
‘Must-Haves’ and ‘Would-Like-To-Haves’
Before you start your search, list all
the features of a home you would like and then qualify them as ‘must-haves’,
‘should-haves’, or ‘absolute-wish list’ items. This will help keep you focused on
what’s most important.
3. Research and
Choose a Neighborhood You Want to Live In
Every Boston
neighborhood has its own charm. Before you commit to a home based solely on
the house itself, test-drive the area. Make sure that the area meets your needs.
4. Pick a House Style
You Love and Stick to It
Evaluate your family’s needs and settle
on a style of home that would best serve those needs. Just because you’ve
narrowed your search to a zip code, doesn’t mean that you need to tour every
listing in that zip code.
5. Document Your Home
Visits
Once you start touring homes, the
features of each individual home will start to blur together. The article
suggests keeping your camera handy and documenting what you love and don’t love
about each property you visit. They even go as far as to suggest snapping a
photo of the ‘for sale’ sign on the way into the property to help keep the
listings divided in your photo gallery.
Making notes on the listing sheet as
you tour the property will also help you remember what the photos mean, or what
you were feeling while touring the home.
Being a homeowner is a big decision with plenty of pay off in the long
run. If you are starting your search for that perfect Boston, MA condo,
let a local expert help you out. Buying a home is an exciting and complex
adventure. I take pride in being a local expert and would love to help you get
acquainted with our city. Contact a Boston, MA real estate agent
when you are ready!
Lucas Garofalo
Keller Williams Realty
(617) 861-3631
Lucas@LucasBostonHomes.com
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