You’ve made the decision to purchase a home. The excitement of touring properties and finding the home that checks your boxes is thrilling but here are some ugly truths you may not know.
Your perfect home doesn’t exist. Yes, there are homes on the market that will have the right number of bedrooms and bathrooms sitting on the size lot you want, but it won’t be perfect. It may not have a layout you like. Or the bedrooms may not be the size you imagined. The kitchen might be too open – or not open enough – to the living room. The backyard may backup to a ditch. The reasons are endless as to why a home checks all the functional boxes but still isn’t perfect.
If you’re buying the home with someone else, there will be arguments. Put any two people together to make a singular decision and there will always be some level of disagreement. Sometimes it’s playful and other times it will cause tension. Know before you ever tour a property what you and the other person are willing to compromise on and each of your deal-breakers.
The seller of the home you love will accept an offer before you even get to see the property. Homes hit the market every day but your schedule will limit what days and times you can view properties. While you’re marking that property as a favorite or texting your agent to schedule a showing, another buyer’s agent is submitting an offer to the seller.
The home doesn’t look the same in person as it does in the photos. Real estate photographers are experts in capturing the right angles and lighting to make a room look large, spacious, and bright. They also are masters at editing photos to make them eye-catching so buyers want to see the property in person. Just remember – rooms in the photos may be smaller than they appear. If you are unsure, ask your agent. He/she has access to the room dimension information.
Even after your offer is accepted, it’s not official until the transaction closes and you get the keys. Getting an offer accepted is only the beginning of the sale. You still have to get the property inspected. Your lender still has to get the property appraised. The title company still has to verify there are no issues or liens on the title. Your loan has to get final underwriting approval. Any of these critical steps could put the transaction at risk.
You’ve made the decision to purchase a home. The excitement of touring properties and finding the home that checks your boxes is thrilling but here are some ugly truths you may not know.
Thinking about buying a home in the Houston area and want a local expert to guide you through the process?