Spring in Home Buying: Get a Head Start Before the Spring Rush

Spring is just around the corner, and along with it the possibility of a frenzied real estate market. What steps do you need to take in order to ensure that you are prepared?

The competition to get into some of Des Moines' best neighborhoods is fierce, it may be in your best interest to have someone on your side who knows the ins and outs of the housing market and can really help you out. Imagine for a moment that in no time at all you could be planting a garden in the home of your dreams. If you are considering purchasing a new home this spring, here are some helpful hints that will assist you in navigating the competitive housing market.

Call your Team!

Buying a home is likely to be the biggest financial investment that the majority of people will ever make in their lives. It is essential to have a team that will assist you in achieving your goals; therefore, before you begin your search for a new residence, you should look for and hire real estate agent as well as lenders.

Finding someone who is a well-connected agent and has knowledge of the local market can assist you in locating neighborhoods and homes that you might miss if you were to look for them on your own. A good real estate agent will also be able to assist you in determining whether a property is overpriced or offers good value. This will give you a step up on the competition.

Get Preapproved

A brief discussion with a lender can provide you with an estimate of the range of prices you can expect to pay; however, if you want to be certain that you'll have the money when you need it, you should get preapproval.  To get the loan process started, you can collaborate with the lender of your choice and present complete documentation of your income and assets, in addition to any other paperwork that may be required.

A preapproval from your mortgage lender is a great way to demonstrate to sellers that you are a serious buyer, and it will also assist you in getting started on gathering your financial documentation. In addition to assisting you in better comprehending what you are able to pay for, a preapproval provides you with a budget that you can use while house hunting. An offer from a buyer with a pre-approval letter is much more likely to be accepted than one without.

Find the Best Place to Live in Des Moines

Before you go out and look at houses, you should figure out where you want to live (e.g., Waukee, Perry, Johnston, or West Des Moines) and do some research. Your real estate agent can help you find out how hot the market is in a certain area by looking at average home prices and how long homes stay on the market. If you're looking in a busy area, be ready to move quickly if you find a house you like.

The dsmSOLD Team has the extensive local and market knowledge, and we'll use it to lay out all you'll need to know.

Don’t Let Weather Stop You

Do not let the haziness of springtime prevent you from checking out potential new homes. When it rains or snows, less people tend to attend open houses and other showings, which could present you with a fantastic opportunity to see a spectacular house before the rest of the crowd.

Conclusion

Whether you're a first-time homebuyer or someone who is moving to an entirely new location, you deserve a team of real estate professionals who will listen to your needs and cater to your requests.

Get in touch with us for more information about buying a property, or any other real estate related questions you might have! We're happy to help!