Searching for the Perfect Dallas Home
By Grace on May 27, 2008 in Fun Stuff - VIP News, Market News
You’re ready, it’s time to stop renting and buy your own home. You’ve heard success stories and horror stories about taking that step from friends and family. But you are determined; you are going to find the perfect home.
Hold the Horses! You need to do a thing or two before you rush out with the Sunday paper real estate section:
· Set your budget. Determine how much you not only want to spend total, but how much you are comfortable paying per month. Don’t let the lure of a ‘bigger house’ drag you into a payment you really don’t want to have to make.
· Review your credit. Have a look at your credit and talk to a lender. See what your ‘monthly’ payment will actually get you and make certain you are qualified to borrow what you need. Determine in advance how much you will need for a down payment.
· Get an education on the whole process from mortgage application to settlement. You can talk to your lender, a settlement officer, and realtors. A good Dallas real estate agent knows the best way to keep you from worrying is to educate you on the whole deal.
Once you have all the facts and your best price range in hand, now it really is time to start the search. Do some driving around and look at the neighborhoods. Get a feel for the place and the options. Is it close enough to your job, or the schools you want for your children? Would your partner have to change jobs or is it convenient for everyone?
Are you looking in Highland Park? When you narrow down the neighborhoods, talk to a realtor to get the listings of all the homes on the market in your price range for those locations. Your agent will help you to really see what the phrase location, location, location is all about. Price is partly determined by location. Size of home for the price is determined by location. Length of time on the market and the possibility of multiple contracts are determined by location.
Enjoy the Results of your Efforts
Remember, this is still your decision. If the price, size and availability all work for you, then you have found the right home. Congratulations.
1 Comment(s)
By jake kennedy on Jun 8, 2008 | Reply
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