Spring is a great time to buy a home. With the spring home buying season about to fully get underway there are a few strategies to keep in mind to ensure you find the home of your dreams within your budget.
Professionals within the housing market industry are anticipating a busy home buying season for 2016. The inventory is here, the market itself is stable and there are concerns that the interest rates on home loans have seen their lowest days are on the rise.
If you hope to be successful in the present market it is important to have a strategic plan in place to approach finding the home of your dreams. Be prepared and incorporate the tips below when buying a home this spring.
- Ditch The Computer
With over ninety percent of homeowner looking online for the home of their dreams it may benefit home buyers to look elsewhere. Get outside; start canvassing areas in neighborhoods that meet your needs. Work with a realtor to help narrow the window of area homes that meet all of your wants and needs within your budget. Having a real estate agent that completely understands what you are looking for at the start of the busy spring season is a must. They often have ties to homes going on the market, which you can preview before anyone else. New homes hit the market quickly. Get in, preview the space and make an offer before the seller is even prepared to list the home to ensure you the pick of the litter when it comes to homes hitting the market this spring.
- Understand the Current Housing Market
Each housing market is a bit unique. This is true of different neighborhoods, school districts, towns and more. The area in which you are looking is distinct and the housing market within will be exclusive to that space. It is important that buyers understand the current housing markets of the areas that interest them and hire a real estate agent that fully embraces the concept. The entire process can hinder on the uniqueness of the market in which you are looking. Research and educate yourself before it’s too late.
- Get Pre-Approved and Lock In Low Mortgage Rates
Mortgage rates have begun to fluctuate. The economy of 2016 is different than that of years past. We are seeing economic recovery, new construction and home remodeling increases and with that eventually come higher interest rates. Mortgage specialists have indicated that they don’t expect these low mortgage rates to last into the summer buying season.
Mortgage brokers have indicated that all signs pointing from the Federal Reserve are that interest rates will begin the spring buying season low and will increase slowly throughout the season and into the summer buying season. The concerns about heightened home prices and increases in rent will continue to exceed the increase of earned wages; before it is too late lock in a low pre-approved mortgage rate.
- Construct a Dream Team
The spring home buying season can be competitive and fast paced. With this in mind it is important that buyers have a team in place that allows them to make an offer on the perfect home at a moment’s notice. Your dream team should consist of a professional real estate agent, a mortgage specialist with several lenders and loan options in place, a lawyer and home inspector. With your pre-approval in hand you are ready to complete the mortgage process quickly once a property is found. Eager sellers will often benefit from a quick sale and can compensate accordingly.
Lady of the Lakes Real Estate is Livingston County’s premiere realtor; out of Pinckney, Michigan helping buyers buy and sellers sell homes that provide a recreational lifestyle including golf courses, lakes and the Huron river chain of lakes, throughout Brighton, Howell, Pinckney and the surrounding area. Find out more at http://www.ladyofthelakes.com.