Purchasing Real Estate
The purchase of real estate is one of the most important transactions a person will ever make. This is especially the case in Westchester County, where the median sale price is three times the national average. Our market is not like other areas of the country. How a home is purchased, the steps before contracts are signed, and so many other crucial details are often radically different from what you might be used to or what you might read about elsewhere.
It is therefore profoundly important to have the best possible representation in the transaction in the form of a great buyer agent. Our team not only assists in the search and selection of your next home; we can advise you of the local market conditions, we assist with all the due diligence in vetting the property, and we excel at negotiation and advocating for the best interests of our client through to closing. Title matters, compliance of improvements & additions, verifying accurate taxes, and dozens of other details go into the proper representation of the buyer client and helping them avoid an expensive mistake. We have spoken to too many consumers who, before hiring us, got stuck with an illegal deck or addition, a higher tax bill than they thought, or a title issue that slipped through the cracks to take this process lightly.
To that end, our clients have access to our entire filing cabinet of resources, from the best financing sources to the finest legal representation to the most thorough and professional home inspectors, we leave no stone unturned in the quest to provide the very best purchase experience for our buyer clients.
The first step is to pick out a specific area to focus your search on. When looking at neighborhoods, check out the quality of schools, the average home prices, the major employers, and the nearby resources (fire station, library, grocery store, etc). After choosing the best area for your family, then it’s time to start taking more proactive steps.
Resources for Buyers
One of our professional real estate agents will be your major resource for help and information. The first step is to pick out specific areas to focus your search on. While many sites allow you to view the MLS, you will need an agent to actually tour the homes. Beyond simply finding you a home, your agent can often help you find a good source of financing.
Finance
Financing is a crucial step in the buying process. It’s important to be pre-approved for a mortgage before looking seriously at homes. Pre-approval means that you have been fully screened by the lender and approved for a loan; this can be a huge help when the time comes to make an offer. Most sellers will go with candidates that are pre-approved, since there’s less risk that the deal will fall through.
Real Estate Agents
Your real estate agent will also be critical when it comes to negotiating and making your offer. It’s usually preferable to avoid agents who are working with the home seller, since this can compromise your interests. The home buying process is long and involved, but with the right resources--namely, a good agent--it can be exciting and fun.
The US Real Estate market has seen a huge housing boom between 1996 and 2006, with all 20 main cities seeing a spectacular rise in house prices, Los Angeles experiencing the biggest rise with an increase of 265.5%.
New homes saw a rise in 2015 by 14.6%, with nearly 501,000 units sold, a new record of sold housing units since 2008, compared to only 132,000 sold homes in Q1 2016.