Buying Your New Home

Making a Home Buying Offer

Buying a property is a big step involving a substantial long-term financial commitment, so it requires a thorough assessment of what you can afford.  Once you’ve found your ideal house, it’s time to get started with the financial and contractual side of the purchase.  Let your CENTURY 21® Coastal Realtor professional guide you through this process. Purchase contracts vary in length and terms from state to state, and sometimes within a state.

Multiple offers on the same home are not uncommon, so you may only get one chance to make an offer that the seller will consider.  That’s why it’s important to think carefully about your strategy.  In most cases it is better to have your real estate professional present the offer.  If you have any personal interaction with the homeowner, avoid sharing any information about your move, your current housing status, financial status or your feelings about their property – positive or negative.  This could work against you in future negotiations.

TIP: You and the seller have different goals, so it’s important to consult with your CENTURY 21® Agent.  He or she can bring order to the process, and will know what questions to ask to help you reach a desirable outcome.

How Much?

Your CENTURY 21® Coastal Realtors professional can help you find out what other homes have sold for in the area, and how much money you might have to put into repairs or renovations.  These considerations should be a factor along with the amount you’re comfortable spending.

In addition to sale prices of other comparable homes, there are several ways you can come up with a winning bid. For example:

  • The condition of the house. Is the home in move-in condition, in need of paint and other cosmetic improvements, or a fixer-upper that needs real work?
  • The market. If you are in a buyer’s market — where there are more homes for sale than there are people to buy them — prices are probably stable or falling.  If you are in a seller’s market — where there are more buyers looking for homes than there are homes for sale — prices are probably moving upward.
  • Your ceiling.  If you have a credit pre-approval, you know how much you can borrow for your home purchase.  Of course, you may not be comfortable paying as much as you’ve been approved to borrow, so think carefully about your financial situation before making an offer.

Next, decide how much you are willing to pay for a home.  Remember, the advertised price of a house is just a starting point – it may take quite a bit of negotiating to arrive at a final cost.

TIP: The value or disadvantage of certain features can help or hurt resale.  In some areas, a swimming pool actually detracts from a home’s value, and makes it harder to sell.  In neighborhoods with two-car, attached garages, a single-car or detached garage may affect the home sale and future value.