It’s your first home, or maybe you made some mistakes when purchasing a property once before, so you’re not feeling so confident. You’re excited about the prospect of getting a good buy in today’s market, but you want to feel you’re making the right choice. You may feel ready to ask your REALTOR for a tour of homes, but first, here are a few tips to remember before setting out:
Know your Credit Score.
Get Pre-approved with an experienced, reliable lender, so you’ll know what you can afford. This will also help your REALTOR to be able to show you homes within your price range.
Create a Long-Term Budget. Don’t get caught short of cash, somewhere down the road. Make sure you have enough reserves.
Don’t forget about taxes, insurance, utilities, and other possible fees.
Work with a REALTOR who has experience and “know-how”, who will help you every step of the way, including negotiating, answering vital questions, and being there for you when you need advice. A good real estate agent will return your calls within 24 hours, but a great agent will get back to you as soon as possible.
Prioritize your “Gotta-Haves” and “It-Would-Be Nice-to-Haves”, and understand that each home will most likely have a bit of each, but will seldom fulfill all your desires.
Get a Home Inspection, and choose your own Home Inspector, so you are confident there will be no conflict of interest. Your REALTOR will surely be able to give you a list of professional inspectors, but in the end, it’s your choice.
Know what you’re getting into. If the Home Inspection Report lists too many expensive repairs, don’t be afraid to cancel the contract, and continue your home search for a home in better condition.
Know your neighborhood. Show up at various times of day and night to check it out, before you make the move. Be aware of noise, or any other factors that may make the area undesirable to you.
Resale Value. Consider what you pay for your home, and whether it will hold its value over the years. Life has many surprises for us. You may want, or need to sell sooner than you think. Be prepared.
This is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in your life. Don’t hesitate to call as I will be there for you throughout the entire home buying process.
Your HomeReach Certified Agent,
Bonnie Maffei
760-730-2191
With a fresh and hopeful New Year spread out before us, let’s take one last brief look back over our shoulders. Here’s a peek at the December 2009 coastal homes market in Encinitas, Solana Beach and Carlsbad:
Carlsbad remains, not only one of the top tourist destinations in North County, but one of the most desirable places to live. Ideally situated between Los Angeles and San Diego, it’s sometimes called “The Village by the Sea.” Carlsbad offers sidewalk cafes, boutiques, antiques, world-class shopping, fine schools and a mild climate. There’s something for everyone at such special places as the Flower Fields, Legoland, or the Carlsbad Outlets.
I’m not bluffing! You really can live in a top of the line, spacious new 3 bedroom condo with bonus room and fabulous views of the Carlsbad Lagoon. If you like kayaking, paddle boarding, waterskiing and other fun water sports, or just a quiet walk on the beach, they’re all right there at your doorstep. If you’re a commuter, it’s not far from the Hwy 5 exit at Tamarack Blvd.
It was early spring, when I first arrived in North San Diego County. I was taking in the ocean views and sea breezes, driving south along the Coast Highway from Oceanside through to Carlsbad. I decided to look for a coffee shop and turned left on Palomar Airport Road, which took me up over the I-5 Freeway. An incredible sight left me breathless! Across the way, stretched over the the hillside, lay a vibrant palette of colors where green fields should have been. The Flower Fields were decked out in their latest couture of yellows, pink, magenta, orange, red and purple. I had never seen anything like it. I wanted to get a closer look.
If you’re ever in Carlsbad in March and April, The Flower Fields are an experience you will not forget. My advice to anyone visiting this place? Don’t forget your camera!