Though home ownership percentage rates are not as high as the have been historically due to changing social standards of the millennial generation and the recovery of the Great Recession in the 2000’s, the market is still rising as people are choosing to become homeowners. Being a first time home buyer is a huge life event that should not be taken lightly. There are a lot of small steps that have to be taken in order to prepare and make the right choice. With so many different things to consider in this process, a seasoned real estate agent is just the ticket to ensure you are making the right choices along the way.
Finances
If you are wanting to start the process of buying your first home and do not even know how to start climbing that mountain, selecting your real estate agent is a great place to begin. A good real estate agent will be able to ask you the right questions in order to connect you with a lender that is best suited for your situation. A real estate agent’s job is to have an abundance of resources and contacts ready to shape your ideal buying situation.
Financially speaking, there are a lot of hoops to jump through, and your agent will be able to help you navigate it the whole way through. They can help you estimate your general budget for your future home so that they can begin sifting through their database of on the market options while you and your lender are finalizing your loan. In general, your overall budget for your mortgage should fall under 30 percent of your monthly gross income. Your agent will also be able to help you identify factors that will affect this as well, such as your current debt to income ratio. Real estate agents are there to help set you up for success, and getting you in the right financial bracket is the best way to start.
Understanding Your Needs
After understanding your financial requirements, your agent will ask you strategic questions so that they can best understand what you are wanting and needing in a home. Because of their experience, you will probably find that your agent will bring up questions that you had not even thought about, and you will be glad you have a trained professional on your side. Your agent is going to know a lot of obscure details about various neighborhoods and parts of town that you might not have considered without them. They will also be able to look at market trends and can help predict the probability of a property’s future value. Your agent will be able to look at your list of “must haves” and give you a clear picture of the most practical and obtainable options for you and your needs.
Shopping
While it might seem like googling houses on the market and scrolling through apps like Zillow and Trulia is the simplest approach to house hunting, you are going to find that your real estate agent has access to an abundance of resources far more accurate and helpful than what you see online. In addition to their own databases, your realtor will know other local professionals currently in the housing industry. Often times, your agent will be able to show you options that haven’t even hit the market yet because of this networking. These are opportunities that you would have missed if you had tried to house hunt on your own.
Your agent is going to be able to help you with your first time home buying process from the very beginning to the very end and then some. Their job is to fight for your needs every step of the way, and you will be glad that you decided to depend on someone who is dedicated to your satisfaction with your home purchase.
Looking for real estate agents in Lockhart TX? Contact us or see our available properties to learn more.
