Today we are answering some of our most asked buyer questions. 
 
1. What should I look for during my home search?  To put it simply, the big picture. It's easy to fall in love with a kitchen layout or spacious closet, but it's crucial to keep your most important priorities at the forefront of your mind. Make sure a property checks all of your budgetary and geographic boxes before you start thinking about paint swatches and furniture placement. 

2. How long does it take to buy a home?  Unfortunately, there is no set answer to that question. We used to say that the average process took about four months, from initial search to moving in. However, in our current market it may take much longer. With less inventory and new construction falling behind, I'm telling my clients to expect it to take about a year. In all price points, I'm seeing agents having to write multiple offers before going under contract on one. Most of the builders I talk to are releasing lots for homes to built in 6-12 months. Of course, this is not always the case. Some people are able to find, purchase and move into a house in as little as a month. 

3. When should I start looking into loans?  It's never too early to start shopping for a mortgage. Searching for homes once you've been pre-approved for a loan will make it easier to weed out any properties outside of your budget and confidently pursue the ones that are a good fit. I always tell my clients that speaking with a lender is the first step in purchasing a home. Talking to a lender will bring on one of two things; a pre-approval or a plan on how to get pre-approved. 

4. What can I do to make my offer stand out from the rest?  If you find yourself in a multiple-offer scenario, there are several things you can do to make your bid the the belle of the ball. The most important of these is to work with a licensed real estate agent, like me:) A good agent will work with the seller's agent to determine what their priorities are; i.e. money, speed, or ease. I use this information to make sure my client is putting their best offer forward. This is extremely important in our current market because we will not likely get a second chance. 

I hope you found this information helpful and realize that the home buying process doesn't have to be intimidating. With the right team beside you, it is a seamless process. Stay tuned for next week when I answer seller questions. 
Until then,