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First-Time HomebuyingGuest Post by Baruch Mann (Silvermann)
When you've fallen in love with a prospective home that checks off your "must haves" — the extras from your wishlist, the neighborhood you really love, the garage space you've dreamed about — it is time to move on to the next steps.
While you’ll get more important details about the property, it must pass the inspection process. Additionally, since you’ve fallen in love with the property, others may feel the same way, so you’ll want to move on with the process as quickly as possible. If the property is attractive, there may be a lot of competition from other buyers.
So, is it possible to deal with both tasks — passing a home inspection and beating out competing buyers — simultaneously? Can you learn if it’s the right location for your specific needs? Can you win a bidding war? How do you deal with the inspection process? And what about your finances?
Now that you’ve found the home that you’re interested in, use these strategies to figure out a bit more about the home and your new location:
How do you win a bidding war on the house you want? It’s a very important question to consider, and here are some steps you can take to help ensure that the home will be yours:
Your best strategy is to position yourself as a strong buyer who’s serious about getting to the closing table. However, don't skip negotiations and be ready to walk if necessary. One of the worst things you can do is get over emotional and overextend yourself.
Many people make the mistake of starting each negotiation like going into battle. This will not only annoy the listing agent you're likely to work with again in the future, but it could hurt you in the long run. Instead, focus on solutions. This will help you to avoid turning every point into an adversarial crisis. Understand what is important for the seller and aim to allow them to feel that they also won.
For example, if there is a roof issue, but the seller wants to sell and move now, you could ask for a discount and do the repair yourself. If the seller is unwilling to compromise on the price, you could request extras that were not included in the home inspection report.
If your offer is rejected and there is no counter offer, you need to ask the seller’s agent for a reason why. There are limitless reasons why sellers choose not to move forward with an agreement. For example, the seller may have received several offers, and yours may not be the most attractive. Alternatively, the seller may decide to wait for an even better offer.
If you discover your offer was rejected due to a better offer from someone else, find out if the other offer has been accepted. If the offer has already been accepted, you’ll need to start shopping for a new home. However, if the offer is still in the negotiation stage, there may be time to present a new offer. This will mean working with your agent in a bidding war.
If you’re a first-time home buyer, reach out to your agent for tips on making an attractive offer. An agent familiar with the local market, who has negotiation experience will provide an invaluable resource for you during the home-buying process.
When dealing with inspection, it’s recommended to have someone who understands the process with you. Understanding the inspection process is mainly based on experience, but if you know someone who deals with inspections this can be even better. When I bought my first home, I had no real idea of how it worked, so I called my father. He had a lot of experience and knowledge, so he paid attention to the details, asked the right questions, and helped me to understand potential problems. Although you'll get a report, it will be easier to understand a problem that's been explained to you, so you can see what the issue is.
To negotiate for credits or repairs, you should start by obtaining a local contractor or construction professional estimate for how much the repairs should cost. If you're working with a real estate agent, they can handle the negotiations on your behalf. Supply your agent with a copy of the inspection report, so they can use it as leverage when working with the listing agent and the sellers.
You need to ensure you weigh things out appropriately, and you work on which mortgage lender will be best for you and your family in the long term. This may be paying equally from the beginning or paying a little now and more later. This is based on three different things:
Buyers should have their funds for closing costs readily available. You'll need to be ready to wire the funds or present a cashier's check on the day prior to closing. Lenders require proof of sufficient funds for a down payment and closing costs before closing. You should also bring copies of the paperwork you received or signed during the home-buying process, plus two forms of ID and the payments you need to make.
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CompareBaruch Mann (Silvermann) is a personal finance expert and founder of The Smart Investor, a financial online academy for millennials that helps thousands invest smartly and make better financial decisions.
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