When you’re buying a home, you want to be sure you are making the right decisions for yourself and your family. You want the process to go smoothly, to get what you want in a home, and to make sure you get the most for your money. But how? There is plenty of reading material offering tips for buying a house, and while it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with available information and do your research, chances are, a professional is going to be more knowledgeable and be able to help you accomplish your goals with greater ease. All real estate agents are not cut from the same cloth, however. There are different agents for different types of real estate, and finding the right one is a crucial aspect of the home buying process.
Getting What You Want
For the majority of people who are looking to purchase private, residential real estate, you can go ahead and eliminate the agents specializing in corporate or commercial properties. But there is a lot more to the process than that. Are you looking for a detached house? Townhome? Condo? Land with agricultural potential? Do you want to live in an urban setting? Suburban? What about rural properties?
These are all important factors to consider when selecting an appropriate agent to help ensure you get what you want and are satisfied with your purchase. For example, someone aspiring to run a horse ranch on rural acreage might want to choose an agent who specializes in such properties as opposed to urban development realtors. California residents, living in a state where there are deserts, beaches, forests, cities, farms and just about any other environment imaginable, know that mountain living means contacting a mountain realtor just as beachfront living might mean contacting a real estate agent in Long Beach CA or one of the state’s many other coastal cities.
Condos vs. Houses
Many people tend to be unsure of how to buy a condo. But, the process can be easy if you pick the right real estate agent. The choice between condos and houses can be an important one. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages. Make a list of what you want in a home and organize your list in order of most important/things you can not or will not compromise on to least important/things that would be nice but aren’t necessary. Depending upon where you are looking to buy, there can be a considerable price difference between detached homes and condos. However, these days buying a condo instead of a house doesn’t mean settling for less or that you will find yourself boxed into a glorified apartment. There is a process involved with purchasing a house and you may find that although your original intention was to purchase a detached home, a condo might be a better fit or vice versa.
Lenders Come First
Before you start your search for the right agent, sit down with your lender or financial organization, and make sure you know what you can realistically afford. There is no point in contacting an agent and having them waste time and effort in locating homes that turn out to be beyond your price range. Getting your finances in order is your first priority.
Get to Know Them
Regardless of who you were hiring and in what professional capacity, you would want to make sure they are good at what they do, and the best way to do that is to ask for references. The same is true of real estate agents. A qualified real estate agent should have professional a home, and it differs between houses and condos. A real estate agent can help you navigate the process step by step, helping you understand how to go about buying referrals or references available upon request, and you should make certain to acquaint yourself with what others have to say about the agent prior to hiring them yourself. You should also make a point of carefully reading their contract and familiarizing yourself with the fine print to avoid future confusion or disputes between you and your real estate representatives. Do not sign anything you aren’t comfortable with and take the time to discuss any portions of the contract document that you do not fully understand or feel require clarification.
Shop Around
Even if a real estate agent meets all your criteria, they may not be a good fit for you. As a general rule, it is a good idea to meet with at least three different agents before making your decision.
When you are in need of a top real estate agent in Long Beach CA, you can always rely on Michael Thue Realtor for top-class service. I have years of experience in the local area, and I can work with you on a tailored business to find your ideal home. Contact me on 562.299.3583 or send an email to Michael(at)socaltophomes(dotted)com.