Buying your first home can be very exciting, daunting, frustrating, disappointing in addition to every other emotion within the human psyche. One of the most important things you can do to get ready to be a home owner is to understand the basic process so there are no surprises. There is nothing worse than having your dreams of a new home shattered by improper expectations. Buying a home can be easy and enjoyable if you set yourself up for success.

1) Get in touch with a real estate professional. They’re commonly known as REALTORS or real estate agents, but you should specifically be looking for a buyer’s agent. Buyer’s agents specialize in working with you, not the seller. Listing agent’s that represent the seller have an obligation to get the best price for their client, but not the best deal for you the buyer. Find a professional that has your best interest in mind, and who listens to what your needs are, and puts together a good plan so you can get what you want.

2) Speak to a Lender. One big rookie mistake for first time home buyer’s is to start their search without knowing how much they can spend. Get in touch with a reputable loan officer that has access to a direct underwriter. Make sure they understand what you’re comfortable spending and adjust your purchase price accordingly.

3) Assess your wants and needs. There are certain things we want and there are certain things we need. Your wants and needs are very subjective to you and your personal preferences. Make a list of what you want and what you need and rate each of them on a scale of 1-10. Your list will be invaluable throughout the home buying process and will guide you through what you are willing to compromise for your ideal home. Make sure if there are co-signers that they are involved in this process as well. Just be forewarned that you might want use a pencil. You may find that you’re wants and needs may change throughout the process of looking at homes.

4) Understand real estate in the neighborhoods you’re looking. Real estate is like the weather, it is very different throughout the nation, or even throughout a county. Having a good grasp of what type of market you’re in will give you an advantage in negotiating and getting your ideal home. There are certain markets in San Diego County that are experiencing a seller’s market. This means that there are more qualified buyers looking for properties than there are homes for sale within their market segment. When you’re in a seller’s market you will most likely have competition when you make an offer. It’s good to know this beforehand so you don’t miss out on what could be your ideal home.

5) Real Estate is about location. What makes your purchase a stable investment is the location of the property. Many first time home buyers sacrifice location for things that they would like to have. The location can’t be changed, but the things you would like to have can. Research the best locations for your money and use that as a starting point.

6) Make an offer and discuss negotiation strategy with your agent. Talk with your real estate consultant about your motivation to purchase a specific home. There are some properties that are not worth losing for what would be a small savings that is negligible in the long run. Your negotiation strategy should be based on your motivation so you get what you want, in the time you want. Have your agent be proportionately aggressive to how willing you are to lose the home.

7) Caveat Emptor, Buyer Beware. Always do your due diligence to make sure you know what you’re buying. Hire a home inspector to do a physical inspection of your property, and follow his recommendations for any further evaluation of the home. Regardless of how handy you may be or how much money you want to save, get a home inspection.
Close escrow and move. Your dream of becoming a home owner has come to fruition. You now have the benefits of being a homeowner including pride of ownership, tax benefits, potential to accrue equity, and not having to answer to your landlord.

Interested in a Carlsbad home? Get access to all of the homes available on market updated daily, community info including maps, school info, real estate articles and more by logging on to Carlsbad real estate

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