Ten Tips to Take the Trauma Out of Home Buying

Make Home Buying Easy

  1. Find a real estate agent that is simpatico.  Home buying is not only a big financial commitment, but also an emotional one.  It is critical that the agent you chose is both skilled and a good fit with your personality.
  2. Remember, there is no "right" time to buy, any more than there is a "right" time to sell.  If you find a home now, do not try to second-guess the interest rates or the housing market by waiting. Changes do not usually occur fast enough in the Lynchburg MLS area to make that much of a difference in price, and a good home will not stay on the market for very long.
  3. Do not ask for too many opinions.  It is nature to want reassurance for such a big decision, but too many ideas will make it much harder to make a decision.
  4. Accept that no house is perfect. Focus in on the things that are most important to you and let the minor ones go.
  5. Do not try to be a killer negotiator.  Negotiation is definitely a part of the real estate process, but trying to "win" by getting an extra-low price may lose you the home you love.
  6. Remember you home does not exist in a vacuum.  Do not get caught up in the physical aspects of the house itself - room size, kitchen - that you forget such issues as amenities, noise level, etc., that have a big impact on what it is like to live in your new home.
  7. Do not wait until you have found a home and made an offer to be approved for a mortgage, investigate insurance availability and consider a schedule for moving.  Presenting an offer contingent on many unresolved issues will make your bid much less attractive to sellers.
  8. Accept that a little buyer's remorse is inevitable and will probably pass.  Buying a home, especially for the first time, is a big commitment, but also yields big benefits.
  9. Choose a home first because you love it, then think about appreciation.  While Lynchburg Virginia homes have historically appreciated an average of 3.4% annually a home's most important role is as a comfortable, safe place to live.