Not everyone is upset that home sales are dropping sharply in some markets. Sellers, realtors, and mortgage lenders are, but buyers certainly are not part of that group. Years of overheated housing markets have taken their toll as home prices have surged, locking thousands of buyers out of the market. If you are looking to purchase your first home, then a slow moving market can work to your advantage if you follow the tips outlined below.
Know Your Market: Now is not the time to rush in and buy a home. In years past, many buyers did just that and bidding wars broke out that pushed home prices up by the tens of thousands of dollars. Sellers won and buyers were saddled with more debt that they needed. Relax: with less people in the market to buy, you can sit back and truly explore the housing market to find a home at a price you can afford.
Get Approved: Do not rely on a prequalification from a realtor when searching for your home. A realtor prequalification do absolutely nothing. Instead, search for the best mortgage financing deal available and secure your financing at a competitive rate. Lock that rate in for 90 days and then go shopping for a home. Oh, take that approval letter with you when you shop and you’ll have plenty of leverage with the buyers.
Negotiate: The longer a home is on the market, the more likely an owner who must sell will be in the bargaining mood. No, you may not be able to get them to whack the price of their home. However, you could have them throw in window treatments, a refrigerator, or some other important appliance you would have had to shop for once you moved in. If the local market has turned particularly sour, ask for the owner to pay your closing costs too.
Seller Financing: If you have difficulty obtaining a mortgage, consider asking the seller to hold the mortgage for you. If not receptive to this option, ask if they would consider allowing you to rent/lease for one year with an option to buy later on. Determine the selling price one year down the road and ask them to set aside some of the rent money for your down payment.
Yes, buyers are in the driver’s seat the first time in more than a decade in some markets. Place the game right and you could walk away with a deal that simply cannot be beat.
Adam Heist is the owner of the Loans Wwebsite. At their website, you can learn more about
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