Whether you are buying a home for the first time or are a seasoned pro, an experienced and professional real estate agent has a valuable contribution to you as a home buyer. Finding a house is much easier with the help of an agent, but this is just the beginning. Most peple don’t think about how detailed and demanding a home purchase can be depending on what issues you run into.
First of all, there are financing considerations. It is important to know what loan product will be best for you depending on your own unique circumstances. Do you know what kind of financing is available for foreclosed homes? Do you know what the condition requirements are for a home if you are using an FHA loan? What repairs are required? If there are required repairs, when is it best to consider a FHA(203k) loan? What are the financing requirements for condo purchases these days?
Once you secure financing, are you comfortable negotiating? Do you have acces to detailed market information to back up your position? What about home warranties — should the seller pay for this or should you? When do you need to secure a home insurance binder (is it hurricane season or not)? What home inspectors will you use? Do you need a WDO (wood destroying organism) inspection? What is there is a dispute between you and the seller after you are under contract?
The point is, there are many, many considerations and details to manage when you attempt to purchase a home. Choose an accomplished, experienced, highly trained sales agent to guide you. Remember, the cost of working with a realtor as a buyer is nothing out of pocket! This fee is already built into the asking price of the home, and will be there whether you use an agent or not. In other words, you will not save any money by not using a real estate agent to represent you in your purchase. Why wouldn’t you?
