Step 3a. Determine Your Home Buying Preferences

Searching for the right property is more than just riding around looking at properties. The last thing you want to do is waste time looking in areas or at properties that don't fit your requirements.

You also, need to be prepared for the highs and lows of home hunting.  Homes don't always measure up to their press.  Remember that property listing information (including the pictures) come from the Seller's Agent or the Seller themselves.  That's another reason to have your own Buyer Agent.

We help you:

Determine your preferences for:

  • geographic area,
  • neighborhood and community,
  • commuting options,
  • schools,
  • shopping, etc.

Determine what:

  • age, residential style, construction and size,
  • number of floors/levels, general floor plan, and flow,
  • parking needs, if any (availability of on-street parking, garage space, etc.),
  • number of rooms, bedrooms, bathrooms (full & half),
  • amenities - patio/deck, terrace, balcony, pool , private yard, fireplace, etc.
  • special needs (elevator, 1 floor layout, etc.),
  • systems - heating/air conditioning - electric, gas, oil. 

Determine how much:

  • what you can afford.
  • your financing options (30 year, 20 year, ARM, interest only, etc.).
  • down payment (% or $ down).
  • what price range and level of monthly expenses you are comfortable with (versus what you can afford).
    • mortgage (principal and interest) payment.
    • property taxes.
    • possible condo maintenance fees.
    • property insurance.
    • utilities, etc.

Determine when:

  • time-frame (about how long will you live in the property).
  • buying constraints:
    • When is the end of your current lease?  Or, when does your corporate housing end? Or, when are you moving here?
    • Can you extend your rental month-to-month while looking for your new home? Live with relatives, if needed?
    • Do you have to sell your current home to buy your new home?
    • Do you need to be in the new school system for the beginning of the next semester.

 

Step 3b. Searching/Screening/Viewing the Right Property

  • Search the real estate market, including:
    • Multiple Listing Service properties (via our membership in all the computerized MLS systems covering Middle and Northern New Jersey),  and, where appropriate:
      •  "For Sale By Owner" properties,
      •  or, new construction.
  • Screen and filter properties to determine how they meet your requirements and preferences.
    • Often Home Buyers consider drive-by's (or the use of Bing or Google Maps) of properties to eliminate wasting time to schedule and view properties that are in poor locations or neighborhoods.
  • Schedule properties for viewing.
    • As your Buyer Agent, we handle all the scheduling for you.
  • View properties and determine which measure up to what you want.

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