It’s one of the great milestones of adulthood: Buying your very first home!
And while this is an exciting time for many, it can also be exceptionally stressful – especially if you have no idea what to expect from the market.
To help all of you who may be thinking about entering the housing market for the first time, I wanted to share with you some valuable tips that may help you feel better prepared for navigating the market in Canton.
Investing in Canton, MI Real Estate
Here are the five key steps you should take when buying a Canton home:
Find the right real estate agent for you. Although the internet has made it a lot easier to search for available homes these days, it is not an adequate replacement for working with an experienced real estate agent. After all, agents can help you narrow down your selection based on your search preferences, negotiate contracts on your behalf and help you navigate the closing process. To find the right agent for you, take the time to interview a few to determine whether they have experience in your price range or the area of town you want to buy in.
Search Available Listings. This can sometimes feel like an overwhelming task, which is why I don’t recommend viewing too many homes in one day. Narrow down the search before you even get in the car by knowing your preferences on price ranges, number of bedrooms, neighborhoods, etc. Then, while showing the homes, make sure you keep track of what you did and did not like about each one. Trust me, after a day of showing homes – all of them will start to blur together until you take adequate notes.
Secure a loan. It’s best to secure a loan preapproval first to help make this process more fluid. And it also makes you appear to be a more serious buyer to the seller. Often times, first-time home buyers tend to favor FHA loans because they have a minimum down payment requirement. But you may also consider checking out conventional loans if you can afford it.
Negotiate an Offer You’re Satisfied With. Again, this is where your real estate agent can prove incredibly helpful to you. To negotiate the right offer, go into the process knowing what comparable homes are selling for in the area and what the current state of the housing market looks like. You’re also more likely to get a great price on a home if the property has been languishing on the market for several months because it will mean that the seller is eager to sell.
Conduct a Home Inspection. The house may look incredible to you with the naked eye and yet, it may have a major termite problem between the walls or another costly (and unseen) issue. Thus, make sure to conduct a home inspection before the final closing. You should also consider adding a contract contingency that says you can cancel the contract if something is found terribly wrong with the home. Although sellers aren’t usually required to make repairs if problems are discovered, an inspection will help make you a more prepared and educated home buyer.
Ready to Start Searching for Your Dream Canton Home?
Well then make sure to contact us, The Bittinger Team, your expert Canton real estate experts!
We will be happy to provide you with expert insight at every step of the home buying process so that when you do attend the final closing on your new home, you can feel confident that you made the right decision!
For now, make sure to check out some of our helpful home-buying resources, such as our love it or leave it guarantee!
Until next time,
Noel
For more information about us, The Bittinger Team, just click here!
Explore our website: www.Bittinger.com
LIKE us on Facebook at Living In Plymouth/Canton/Northville Michigan to stay abreast of the local real estate market and to celebrate these communities with us!
LIKE us on Facebook at Michigan Homes Coming Soon to learn about the hottest new listings … sometimes before they are even on the market!