Buying a Home or Condo Is Rarely a Smooth Process

Whether you are looking for condos for sale, new construction or some other form of residential property, buying a place to live is a complicated process. But if you follow these simple tips, you should be able to find the right real estate to fit your needs.

The first thing to know when looking for a home is that you should work with a real estate agent. It is customary for the seller to pay all commissions, including those for the buyer’s agent, so working with an agent when you are looking for a home won’t cost you anything. On average, buyers search for 10 weeks and look at a minimum of 10 homes or condos for sale before making a decision, which is a lot of work to try to do on your own. And though the internet makes searching for a home easier, a real estate will still have access to information that the public doesn’t.

Another important step when looking for a home to buy is to get preapproved for a mortgage. Sales often fall through because the buyer can’t get approved for a mortgage. While getting pre-approved doesn’t guarantee you will get a mortgage, it does make it a lot more likely. Getting pre-approved will help you know exactly how much you can afford to spend on single family homes or condos for sale and it also can identify any potential complications, such as a low credit score, ahead of time. Getting pre-approval also can help you understand the mortgage process better, something that about 6 in 10 homeowners wished they had a better grasp of. Keep in mind that your monthly mortgage payment will include not only your loan principal and interest, but also your home insurance, real estate taxes and mortgage insurance if you put down less than 20% of the purchase price.

Be prepared for complications in your home-buying experience. Few home sales ever go smoothly. You may have to negotiate the price, and there could be unexpected things that pop up during and inspection or appraisal. Don’t assume that just because a home looks nice it is in great shape. Even luxury condos and homes can have major hidden problems. The key is to be ready for contingencies and have a plan in place to handle them.