So, you might be ready to start looking for a home, but are you really ready?
New Milford, CT Real Estate Talk.
Dear Andrea, We are ready to start looking for a house!!!
This is the comment I hear that causes me to ask a few very pointed questions. Of course I will be happy to help you search for a home. But before we do anything...
Do you have a house to sell? Believe me, if you do, I would love to list it. But that is not why I am asking this question. If you have a house to sell YOU ARE PROBABLY NOT READY TO PURCHASE A HOME, therefore you are not ready for me, or any Realtor® to take you out house hunting. Unless you are paying cash, or know for a fact that you do not have to sell your current home to purchase another you are in no position to find the house of your dreams. Before we do ANYTHING you need to find out the current value of your home from a qualified real estate professional. If you still want to sell your home after finding out how much it is worth in the current real estate market, which will bring you to my second question....
Have you spoken with a reputable lender? Are you actually pre-approved? Unless you are pre-approved for a mortgage we are probably wasting your time and mine. You need to know 2 very important things which a mortgage professional will tell you.
- Are you able to obtain a mortgage?
- How much of a mortgage do you qualify for?
When you are pre-approved and know how much you can spend on your new home, we will set those appointments and go out and start looking! If you don't know how much of a mortgage you actually qualify for, how will we know what price range to look at? And can you imagine the frustration and upset you would go through if you found out AFTER you found the home of your dreams that you are not able to get a mortgage at this time?
So, you might be ready to start looking for a home, but are you really ready?
Tune in for more New Milford, CT Real Estate Talk.
Andrea Swiedler, Realtor® & Liddy Adams, GRI, Broker Associate
Cell: 203.460.1775 Email: andrea@andreaswiedler.com
Swiedler & Adams, we know real estate!
Prudential Connecticut Realty, New Milford & Litchfield, CT
Swiedler & Adams
Call us at 203.460.1775
© Andrea Swiedler, 2009 - 2012
Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest. - Mark Twain
Andrea - every time I write about a buyer getting pre-approved before viewing homes I usually get a lot of push-back from other agents. I'm with you 100%, a potential buyer MUST meet with a lender first to avoid a world of disappointment and frustration.
Cynthia, it only makes sense. When they fall in love, and find out after the fact they can't go to the dance, it can be a disaster, and always ends up being.... our fault.
It's those sellers that have already purchased a home elsewhere and are NOW calling you to sell their home fast that have me perturbed. I am surprised the buyers agent in the other town didn't tell them this before agreeing to help them sign on a new house.
Don, you got that one right too. How fast can you sell my home.... I have an answer for that, LOL, but I will refrain.
Andrea, a major part of my work week is Pre-Qualifying Buyers who are in the situation that you described above, and reinforcing what the Realtor has told them already.
I can't imaging any Realtor being silly enough to put people in their car and drive them all over creation, without making sure they are not wasting their time and money. I am sure that there are some that do, but those are most likely the ones that are desperate for business and very low producers.
Top producers do exactly what you have suggested, at least all of those that I know.
Andrea...
It's really important to get all of your ducks in a row before "shopping" for a house. Everything moves a lot slower these days.
Hi Andrea, I see you're using and advertising the QR Code. Can you share how it benefits and helps your business? Any insite would be greatly appreciated. Lisa
George, when I meet with resistance I am always a bit shocked. It really is not a wise decision, not for the buyer, not for me, and not for the seller who thinks the person coming to their house is a real buyer!
Richard, it is critical! Those ducks in a row are all important these days.
Lisa, I don't know if it is working or not. I just decided one day to make one. I am actually going to try and use them in other instances, for listings. I want to put them on the signs and have them lead to my listing flyers. We shall see.
Great post for those looking to start buying a home Andrea! Sounds like anyone looking to buy a home in New Milford needs to call YOU first!
Andrea your words are wise ones - and need to be said over and over - home buyers would be wise wise wise to listen to their professional agent. And I never could understand why an agent would NOT qualify a buyer before taking them out on tour......
Lee & Pamela, thank you. :D
Hi Anna Banana, I don't know why people do that. There can be disastrous consequences if people are not pre approved, that's for sure.
Andrea, this post defines the basics that any buyer needs to know. It's up to us professionals to lead anyone who wants to engage our services to proceed in the correct order in the process.