Is your goal to buy a house in 2017

If your New Years goal is to buy a home in 2017 then you have come to the right place! Buying a Metro Detroit home can be scary or confusing to some first time home buyers, but it does not have to be if you have a really good real estate agent in your corner. Buying a home in Michigan is not tough as you may think. To me it is old hat as I have helped so many buyers get their first homes. Here are some of the first things you need to do when thinking about buying a home this year.

Buy a new home in 2017

1.) Write down any questions you have about the home buying process. Remember the home buying process is just a series of steps that your real estate agent will guide you through. Write down any questions that come to mind. Then ask away when you are with the realtor or email them at any time. A good realtor is not going to be aggravated or annoyed that you are asking these questions. A good Michigan realtor knows that an educated buyer will be less stressed, and less confused throughout the home buying process. So ask away!!!!

2.) Figure out your budget! What do you pay in rent or do you live with mom and dad? If you took your proposed mortgage payment out each month out of your check could you live. Figuring out your future finances is very important. DO NOT LET THE MORTGAGE PERSON DECIDE WHAT YOU CAN AFFORD IN A HOUSE PAYMENT. They are not going to be living paycheck to paycheck when you over buy. Over the years I have seen too many people get buried in debt because they couldn’t afford the house payment. I have seen some clients lose their homes because they couldn't afford the home they bought. I can't tell you what you can afford or not afford. It is up to you. Remember you have to have a little cushion that comes with home ownership. What happens if the water heater goes out? Or you need a new washing machine? You can’t be so broke from the house payment that you cannot afford to go out to dinner, or buy presents on birthdays. A large house with a big beautiful kitchen is nice, but life is too short to be house poor. So take the time to think about what you can really pay each month in a house bill that includes taxes, insurance, and the mortgage payment.

This is your year!

3.) Write down what is important to you in a house? Do you need four bedrooms? Or maybe a 2nd bathroom is a must? Is a big yard important? Or is the kitchen one of the most important rooms for your wife? Do you want to live in a specific city because it is close to work or family? Is a certain school district important because you want your kids to have the best schools? Do you need a basement? Or maybe a big garage for all the toys you own? Now is the time to brainstorm and figure out what you want. It will save you time when you start looking. Don’t worry that you don’t know everything of what you want. Most home owners will change their priorities or what they want after they start looking. It’s normal.

Next let’s talk about who you should pick as your Michigan real estate agent first. I am going to play devil’s advocate on some of these points. Most of them are interrelated.

A.) Do you want a full time agent or a part time agent? Do you want the person that is working everyday and knows how the market is changing? Or do you want the stewardess that does it on the side….after all who is going to take you out when they are in the air traveling and a new house just came on the market? Do you want the guy that has the full time bartending job that is sidelining as a Realtor? Will he be able to answer phone calls and jump into issues at any time of the day? Or will he have to wait to answer the phone, wait until after his happy hour is over, or wait until lunch, or after work to reach out to the other agent about your counter offer?

B.) Sure your friend just got into the real estate and is asking you to use them, and that is really nice that you are thinking of going with them. However, do you think an experienced mechanic or a new mechanic is better qualified to resolve the issue. How can a new person know how to solve a problem if it has never come up before? Do they even know what is normal procedure or real estate practice if they have never closed more than two or three deals? Or do you want the agent that has closed a hundred deals? Is their newness going to cost you money or the house that you really want. The experience and years on the job does matter.

C.) Online testimonials and online reviews. Sure some of them may be paid reviews or made up…..but do you go blindly with somebody that has no reviews or bad review or with the agent that has had his clients do the reviews? It is all about the realtor’s experience

So let somebody else have the newbie or the part time person. Let the newbie learn on some other buyer. It’s all about getting the home you want at a good price. I have seen too many home buyers lose homes because of their real estate agents.

Write it down!

So if your goal this year is to buy a house give me a call at 248-310-6239. I helped 80 clients buy and sell homes last year. I know our localMetro Detroit real estate market well. You will get a full time experienced realtor that will look out for you. You can email me too at yesmyrealtor@gmail.com

PLUS YOU WILL GET AN ADDITIONAL MICHIGAN HOME BUYER BONUS that other realtors do not give. When you buy and close on a home with me as you realtor I will buy you one of these gifts:

Michigan home buyer bonus

So call me today to get started finding your dream home (248)310-6239