10 Things to Take the Trauma Out of Homebuying:
1. Find a Real Estate professional who is simpatico. Homebuying is not only a big financial committment, but also an emotional one. It's critical that the practitioner you choose is both skilled and a good fit with your personality.
2. Rember, there is no "right" time to buy, any more than there is a "right" time to sell. If you find a home now, don't try to second-guess the interest rates or the housing market by waiting. Changes don't usually occur fast enough to make that much difference in price, and a good home won't stay on the market long.
3. Don't ask for too many opinions. It's natural to want reassurance for such a big decision, bu too many ideas will make it much harder to make a decision.
4. Accept that no house is perfect. Focus in on the things that are most important to you and let the minor ones go.
5. Don't try to be a killer negotiator. Negotiation is definitely a part of the real estate process, but trying to "win" by getting an extra-low price may lose you the home you love.
6. Rember your home does not exist in a vacuum. Do not get caught up in the physical aspects of the house itself - room size, kitchen, - that you forget such issues as amenities, noise level, etc. that have a big impact on what it's like to live in your new home.
7. Do not wait until you've found a home and made an offer to get approved for a mortgage, investigage insurance availability, and consider a schedule for moving. Presenting an offer contingent on a lot of unresolved issues will make your bid much less attractive to sellers.
8. Factor in maintenance and repair costs in your post-homebuying budget. Even if you buy a new home, there will be some costs. Do not leave yourself short and let your home deteriorate.
9. Accept that a little buyer's remorse is inevitable and will probably pass. Buying a home, especially for the first time, is a big committment, but it also yields big benefits.
10. Choose a home first because you love it; then think about appreciation. While U.S. homes have appreciated on average 5.4 percent annually from 1998 to 2002, a home's most important role is a comfortable, safe place to live.
Reprinted from REALTOR(r) Magazine Online - National Association of Realtors
