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New Year, New Home: How to Get Yourself Into a New Home
Dated: January 4 2023
Views: 55
“The advantage to starting early is you can get your ducks in row,” says Caroline Simmel, chief marketing officer at Edward Andrews Homes, a home builder in Atlanta.
Those “ducks” might include a lower mortgage rate, faster and easier home-purchase process and home that’s a better match for the location, size, style and floor plan you want.
To get ready to buy a new home in the new year, you may want to consider these steps:
Make a list
Make a list of what you need and want in your home. Examples of popular “wants” include an open floor plan, spacious backyard, gas appliances, quartz or granite kitchen countertops, walk-in closets and a three-car garage. To get more ideas, think about things you don’t like about where you currently live and imagine options that would be better for you.
Do research
The next step is to research mortgage loans, school districts and new homes that are for sale in locations you like and spend as much time there as you can to narrow down your options.
As you do your research, keep in mind that you may have to adjust your “wants” to fit your budget. Home design websites and magazines typically showcase “the best of the best” and those rooms can prove costly to copy.
Set aside savings
You should also set aside savings for moving costs, home repairs and maintenance and other homeowner expenses.
Newly built homes usually come with a builder’s warranty and various manufacturer’s warranties that can cover many repairs for some time. Warranties don’t cover everything, however, so you should prepared for some additional costs.
If you’re a first-time buyer, you’ll also be newly responsible for expenses that might have been paid by your landlord or your parents. Examples include utilities, landscape maintenance, tree trimming and snow removal. Some utility companies require an upfront deposit to open an account, so you should set aside funds for that expense as well.
Talk to a REALTOR
Another good tip is to talk to a Real Estate professional on the phone, online or in a sales office.
Just because you’re meeting with a REALTOR doesn’t mean you have to buy that day.
A REALTOR can answer questions about floor plans, pricing, square footage, lot locations and more. Some can also help you get prequalified for financing, a step that’s important to do early because mortgage rates can change.
You can just show up at the sales office, walk in and have a chat, but some builders prefer that you make an appointment in advance.
If you’re struggling to nail down your needs and wants, a professional can help you do that. And if you and your spouse (or other co-buyers) have seemingly irreconcilable desires and expectations, a REALTOR can suggest compromises and solutions.
Danielle Sharp
Full time REALTOR since 2002, I moved from the Detroit area to SWFL in 2007. Since 2011 I have been the broker/owner of Sharp Homes Realty, a small boutique brokerage based out of Cape Coral. We are f....
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