House hunting long distance is complex and stressful, but it is also something that can be done. In fact, thousands of people do it every day. If you want to be one of those people, be sure that you will have to invest a lot of your time and energy in this process. You will need to arm yourself with the best real estate agent out there, with realistic expectations about your future home, and of course, with a lot of knowledge about the market. This may seem impossible, especially if you have never done this kind of a thing before – but hey, everything seems impossible until it is done! And, we are also here to help you out. We will share with you some tips to make your long-distance house hunt a success. Thus, if this is something that may interest you, keep on reading.
Find a Real Estate Agent You Can Trust
When buying a house, especially when buying it from a long distance, hiring a real estate agent is an absolute must. However, you can not hire the first realtor you find. You must hire somebody who is reliable, experienced, and of course, knowledgeable. Moreover, you must hire somebody who is local to the area where you plan on buying your new home as he/she knows that market well. When you find the best real estate agent, your long-distance house hunt will become a lot easier. Your only job would be to decide on what kind of a house you want, and your realtor will do everything to find a house that suits your needs, preferences, and budget in no time.
Know Your Must-Haves
Of course, you cannot rely solely on your real estate agent. If you want to find your dream house somewhere far away, you must do some work too. Start by deciding what kind of a house you want. Think about the square footage, the number of rooms and bathrooms, the amenities, etc. In short, make a list of all the must-haves! Moreover, it is also a good idea to make a list of can’t- haves too! That way, your real estate agent will know exactly what to look for and what to stay away from.
Do a Lot of Researching on Your Own
Buying a house somewhere far away also means moving far away. You will be far away from everything that is familiar to you, and because of that, you may find yourself facing a lot of problems. Avoiding problems is impossible when it comes to buying a house long-distance and moving somewhere far away, but what you can do to ease the stress that comes with those problems is to be prepared. And, the way to be prepared is to research and gain as much information as possible – about your new city, laws, regulations, processes of buying a house there, processes of moving there, etc.
Of course, as previously mentioned, your real estate agent can help you find a house, and your movers can offer you help and safety during the transfer to your new place, but none of them can prepare you for everything that is coming your way. Only you can do that! So, as soon as you decide that it is time for making these two big steps, start preparing yourself. Research everything – that is the way to gain knowledge, and maybe even experience.
Set Your Budget
Before you hire a real estate agent to help you juggle all the different types of properties and all their pros and cons, be sure to set your budget. Know exactly how much are you able to pay for your new house! If you do not have any savings, start researching your mortgage and loan options. Doing this usually requires some time, so start doing it early. If you are not sure how much your new house is going to cost you, you can always check the listings online. Research the market where you plan on living soon, and you will be able to get a good idea of all the important price points there. Once you get an idea of how it costs to live there, setting a realistic budget should not be hard.
Do as Much as You Can Online
Luckily, we live in the age of technology. Because of that doing almost anything long-distance is a lot easier than before. Whether you need to research the market, check the listings, attend an open-house event, gather paperwork, sign the paperwork, etc. you can do it online. So, take advantage of that. Save the money you would spend on your plane tickets and gas for the car, and do as much as you can online. If you pair up with an amazing real estate agent, you will have to visit your home only once before buying.
Moreover, do not forget that you can finish many other things online too. For instance, if you need to find a moving company to help you relocate, look for it on the sites like Best Long Distance Movers. Or, if you need a contractor, appraiser, or a home inspector, look for them on the online yellow pages.
Visit the Home (at least once) Before Buying it
As mentioned above, with the right real estate agent, you will be able to finish everything online. But, that does not mean that you should sign the papers without even seeing the home you intend on buying. Once you find a house you really like, be sure to come and check it out yourself. It would also be a good idea to hire a home inspector this time – he/she will be able to see the ‘invisible’ things in the house. And, if everything seems in order, it will also be much easier for you to negotiate the price of a new property with the seller in person. Thus, be prepared to go on this trip – better to be safe than sorry!
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Provided by How To Buy a House Remotely (With Zero Regrets)
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