Local Buying Tips

1. Lean on a Real Estate Professional Agents are local market experts. They know what’s worked for other buyers in your area and what sellers may be looking for in an offer. It may seem simple, but catering to what a seller needs can help your offer stand out.

2. Know Your Budget Understanding your budget is especially important right now. As Sandy Higgins, Senior Wealth Advisor at Capstone Financial Advisors, puts it: “Understand your current budget … what are your expenses, how’s your spending, would you need to make changes?” The best way to understand your numbers is to work with a lender so you can get preapproved for a loan. It helps you be more financially confident, and it shows sellers you’re serious. That can give you a competitive edge. 17

3. Think Through Everything Before Making an Offer Today’s market isn’t moving at the record pace it did during the pandemic. That means you may have a bit more time to think before you need to make an offer. While it’s still important to stay on top of the market and be prepared to move quickly, there can be more flexibility today.

4. Work with Your Advisor To Negotiate During the pandemic, some buyers skipped home inspections in order to submit the winning bid on a home. But skipping the home inspection is a risky move. The inspection is an important part of your purchase. Home inspections help give you a picture of the condition of the home and what repairs it may need. The inspection findings can also be a negotiation tool for you. If it does turn up anything big, you should lean on your agent to help you negotiate with the seller on any potential repairs. Resist the urge to waive the inspection to try and make your offer more appealing to sellers.

Bottom Line When you buy a home this summer, let’s work together to make sure you put your best offer forward.