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The Biggest Mistakes Buyers Are Making Today

Buyers Herbert Riggs June 3, 2024

Navigating the real estate market can be a daunting task for buyers, especially with the current landscape of higher mortgage rates, escalating prices, and a scarcity of available homes. However, there's a secret weapon to sidestep these challenges – enlisting the expertise of a real estate agent. By tapping into an agent's knowledge, you can steer clear of the common pitfalls that many homebuyers are encountering in today's dynamic market.

Putting Off Pre-approval

Getting pre-approved for a mortgage is a crucial step in the homebuying journey. It involves a thorough assessment of your finances by a lender to determine the loan amount you qualify for. This insight gives you a clear understanding of your borrowing capacity, allowing you to gain a comprehensive grasp of your financial readiness before embarking on the exciting process of house hunting. While searching for your dream home is undoubtedly more enjoyable than discussing finances, it's essential to prioritize pre-approval to avoid any last-minute rush. Delaying this important step could result in missed opportunities to make competitive offers on desirable properties, as highlighted by CNET: 

"If you wait to get pre-approved until the last minute, you might be scrambling to contact a lender and miss the opportunity to put a bid on a home."

Holding Out for Perfection

When searching for your dream home, it's important to be realistic and adaptable. While it's natural to have a long list of must-haves and nice-to-haves, it's essential to acknowledge that finding a home that ticks every box may be challenging, especially in a low-inventory market. Investopedia emphasizes that fixating on the perfect home can prolong the homebuying process or result in overpaying. Instead, consider a home that meets most of your essential criteria and has the potential for future improvements, offering you the opportunity to personalize it according to your preferences. As Investopedia puts it:

When you expect to find the perfect home, you could prolong the homebuying process by holding out for something better. Or you could end up paying more for a home just because it meets all your needs.”

Buying More House Than You Can Afford

In the current real estate climate, the combination of elevated mortgage rates and home prices undoubtedly makes purchasing a home a substantial investment. While the temptation to push your financial boundaries for the perfect home may arise, it's crucial to resist overextending your budget. Engaging in a conversation with your real estate agent about the potential impact of fluctuating mortgage rates on your monthly payments can provide valuable insights and help you make informed decisions. Bankrate offers this advice:

“Focus on what monthly payment you can afford rather than fixating on the maximum loan amount you qualify for. Just because you can qualify for a $300,000 loan doesn’t mean you can comfortably handle the monthly payments that come with it along with your other financial obligations. Every borrower’s case is different, so factor in your whole financial profile when determining how much house you can afford.”

Not Working with a Local Real Estate Agent

The final point is perhaps the most crucial of all. Purchasing a home entails numerous steps, paperwork, negotiations, and more. Instead of shouldering these responsibilities alone, enlisting the expertise of a professional is highly advisable. A skilled agent not only alleviates your stress but also ensures a seamless and efficient homebuying process, guiding you every step of the way. As CNET explains:

Attempting to buy a home without a real estate agent makes the process more arduous than it needs to be. A real estate agent can give you professional legal guidance, market expertise and support, which will save you time, money and stress. They can also increase your chances of finding the right home so you don’t have to spend hours scouring the internet for listings.”  

Bottom Line

Mistakes can cost you time, frustration, and money. If you want to buy a home in today’s market, let’s connect so you have a pro on your side who can help you avoid these missteps.


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