Be Prepared When Buying a Home

Congratulations!  Whether you're a first time homebuyer or someone who's been around the block a few times, purchasing a Western North Carolina home is a big investment in both time and money.  It's important to be prepared when buying a home.  Here are a few things you can do to make the home buying process smoother:

Make a List - Write down everything you absolutely cannot live without.  How many bedrooms does your Hendersonville home need?  Will a two-car garage work or do you need three spaces?  Does your home need to be close to work?  What size dwelling (in square feet) do you want to own?  By putting these needs down in writing, you will be able to better focus on the homes you really want without being distracted.

Hire a Professional - Finding the right Western North Carolina REALTOR to help you with all your home buying needs is key.  You need someone who is experienced and can make you feel comfortable.  They also have access to listings that you can't find anywhere else, including online real estate websites like Trulia or Zillow.  Since they are in the field everyday, they can use their extensive network to help you find the perfect Henderson County home.

Do Your Research - Once you've decided on which neighborhood you're truly interested in settling down in, do research on the area.  Drive around the community on different days and at different times to get a feel for the place.  Find out what the local economy is like.  Research prices of homes in the area so you know what is reasonable and what isn't.  Check out the school district.  Even if you don't currently have children, the school system can be a big selling point when it comes time to sell your Henderson County home.

Get Pre-Approved - Unlike pre-qualifying, which only tells you how much you should be able to afford based on a quick analysis of your debt-to-income ratio and credit rating, being pre-approved for a Hendersonville home means that you have already gone through the loan qualifying process and a mortgage company has given you a letter of credit stating that you are approved for X amount of dollars.  When you find that perfect home you absolutely must have, this letter of credit will show the seller that you are both serious and ready to act now.  They won't have to wait through the lengthy loan qualifying process to see if you even get approved.  You've done the work already.  You may even be able to negotiate a better price because of this (talk to your REALTOR about this).

Whatever you can do to be prepared when buying a home will ultimately help your Western North Carolina real estate transaction happen as smoothly and successfully as possible.  Feel free to contact me with any questions.  I'm always happy to help.