Every week I am faced with buyers who are dealing with such overwhelming stress when buying a home that they simple can’t handle it. The fact is most of this stress can be avoided by following a few simple steps. Here’s how to prepare so the process goes smoothly and the stress doesn’t get the best of you.
- Know your numbers – Do yourself a favor and meet with a mortgage broker before you do anything. You need to find out how much money the bank will lend you and then factor in your total monthly payment including the mortgage, taxes, insurance, and utilities. Get really comfortable with that number and then it’s easy to work backwards from that and hone in on homes in that price range!
- Know what you want – Before you get in a car and drive all over town, know where you’re going. It’s OK to view homes, but don’t just look at them to look at them. This will quickly lead to frustration. Stick with the basics: how many bedrooms, how many square feet, what type of view, and what type of amenities do you want?
- Location – Focus on the location you want or in which community you’d want to live. Amenities differ in every community and it’s important to know in what area of SWFL you’d like to live. Figure that out and then it’s easy to zero in on certain areas and bring up all the available homes in your price to view.
- House or condo – Single family homes are easier to get financed and are completely detached from other homes, which is appealing. However, they often have more expenses and upkeep than a condo. Some people elect for condos, but remember that is more of a shared living experience with neighbors above, below, or to the side of you. Condos are great options and generally require little maintenance; therefore, the monthly fees tend to run higher than on single family homes.
- Leave it to fate – If it’s meant to be, then it’s meant to be. Make your offer and let it be. I often see buyers get so worked up and disappointed if they don’t get THAT house, causing a lot of stress and adding unnecessary drama to their lives. The funny thing is that almost every time that happens, it ends up for the best because a month later we find them an even better home and it ends up working out perfectly.
Prepare and go with the flow of the home buying process; don’t resist it – just let it happen and I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised!
Need help Selling, Buying, or with Property Management? Gulf Pointe Properties would be glad to help! Please contact Gabe at: 239.825.2234, Gabe@GulfPointeProperties.com or www.GulfPointeProperties.com Gabe Mellein is the broker of Gulf Pointe Properties, He has 8 years experience in the SW Florida Real Estate Market. He is a member of The Naples Area Board of Realtors, Bonita Springs – Estero Association of Realtors, Realtor Association of Greater Fort Myers and the Beach, The Florida Association of Realtors, The National Association of Realtors, and is nationally certified in Feng Shui for Real Estate.
