Things to Consider When Purchasing Real Estate

June 4, 2010 by  
Filed under Advice

The real estate market is currently booming nationwide and for this reason more and more individuals are looking into buying a home. As the purchase of a home is a major decision and the largest purchase you may ever make there are a few things that prospective homebuyers should look for in their journey to finding the perfect home.

Area Where the Home Is Located
Perhaps one of the main factors that should be considered when purchasing a home is location, location, location. Where the home is located is an extremely important aspect to the home and whether you want to make an offer. Various factors such as safety, adequacy of schools and location of nearby amenities are all things which relate to the location aspect. For this reason, it is best to start the search for potential real estate by narrowing down a specific area where you would like to buy a home. This will also help to narrow down one’s options with regard to homes for sale.

Price of the Home
As many individuals have a set amount of money they are able to spend for the purchase of a home, it is beneficial to know exactly what price range their potential real estate purchase will fall into. By having a set number in mind, the prospective homebuyer can narrow down their options and only look at those homes which they can afford. Looking at homes out of one’s price range is not only a waste of time but it is a bit of a temptation as well. When buying a home, one wants to be sure that they will be able to afford the mortgage payments once the house is purchased. Because of this potential homebuyers might consider getting a pre-approved mortgage so they know for sure their budget and the price of homes to shop for.

Size of the Home
Another way to narrow down the choices which one faces when it comes to home buying is to have a specific size in mind when it comes to the home. For example, if an individual is looking for a house that has 2 bedrooms and 2 baths, there is no need to waste time looking at 1 bedroom condominiums. Having an approximate size in mind when looking for a home is a wonderful way to specify one’s desired options when it comes to square footage and number of rooms.

How Long the House Has Been On the Market
A great indicator to look at when viewing homes for possible purchase is how long they have been on the real estate market. This will tell the prospective homebuyer a few different things including condition of the home, price of the home and flexibility of the current owners with regard to the sale. This is a great way to get a feel for the overall situation surrounding the house.

Buying a new house is a wonderful and exciting adventure to embark on. Frequently one will get overwhelmed with all of the details that go into this somewhat arduous task. However, by keeping the previously mentioned factors in mind, one may be better able to prepare themselves for the journey which lies ahead in the great world of real estate purchase.

Tips on how to Sell, Buy and List your property

June 3, 2010 by  
Filed under Tips

When it comes to property, first impressions count, so make sure yours is looking its absolute best. Making the most of your home doesn’t have to cost a fortune, and a few inexpensive improvements can make all the difference.

Put yourself in the shoes of a potential buyer and, starting from the pavement outside, take a complete tour of the property. Work out a plan of action, and if necessary, draft in a friend or an objective other for a second opinion – you’ll be amazed at the cracks and crevices, often that have gone unnoticed for years, that suddenly come to light.

Once you’ve made a list of what needs to be done, work out a budget and priorities accordingly. There’s no point throwing money at making unnecessary changes at this stage, so keep things in perspective.

If your landscaping isn’t that great, spend the money on new plants to make it look appealing. The buyer has to see themselves living in the property, so make it a paradise.

Kerb appeal is essential because many prospective buyers may only drive by your home. Getting them back a second time will depend on their first impression, so make sure the outside is looking its absolute best; keep refuse bins out of sight, and, if it needs it, give the front door a fresh coat of paint. Clean up any paint issues on the interior of the property including behind doors, in closets and so on. This may sound odd, but buyers will look in every little cranny. You’re effectively in competition with other homes in the area, so it pays to find out from your local estate agent what will make yours shine – a new worktop in the kitchen might be all that it takes.

Make your home as warm and inviting as possible, because more than most major purchases, people buy homes according to their emotions. That process begins by making your home feel homey without feeling cluttered.

Doing up a house for sale is all about marketing a lifestyle so always keep your buyer in mind when making any changes.

Once the property is clean and looks ready to sell (remember, you are trying to impress potential buyers!), create a listing. Getting a free listing on this site will expose your property to hundreds of thousands of buyers including people considering moving into your area. Most sellers fail to recognize that one of the largest pools of buyers are people relocating from one part of the country to another. This is where realtor MLS listings fail miserably. They simply do not expose your home to the correct market, making the sale of the property a long process.Many homebuyers use the Internet to find a home.Because when listing your home for sale, you’ll be able to provide a bevy of information to potential buyers. Essentially, you’ll get to provide everything you would in a typical MLS listing such as bedrooms, bathrooms, garages, appliances, price, square footage, contact information and so on.