Buying a home is an exciting event. It can also be stressful. The Price Group can help make your transition into your new home seamless. Here are some tips for buying a home in St. Petersburg.
Get your finances in order.
Consider the costs of buying a home. Ideally, you want to have money saved for closing costs, down payments, inspections and moving and repair costs. Also consider costs after move in. Some of the missed costs of a home are insurance, property taxes and HOA dues. Let buyers know you’re serious and get pre-approved for your home loan. Not only will this save you time because you’ll be looking at houses you can afford, it will also give you an edge against a buyer who may not have lending set up. Also, don’t move money around or open up any credit lines at least six months prior as this may affect your loan.
Use your instincts, not your heart.
Remember that there is no such thing as a flawless house. Buyers should not expect the seller to address every cosmetic issue in the home. The main thing to remember is to keep your expectations realistic. There may be some issues the buyer may need to compromise on in order to find their dream home. (For example, walls can always be painted.) The same can be said for the neighborhood you choose. Researching the neighborhoods and surrounding areas can help you focus in on available houses and make the search less overwhelming.
Some neighborhood questions you may want to consider:
- Are there schools nearby?
- Do the amenities in the neighborhood fit my lifestyle?
- What is the commute to work like?
- Are there public utilities such as recycling, garbage, water, etc?
(Psst – You can visit our Links & Resources page for local government, school, and neighborhood information.)
Stay on top of deadlines.
This is something your realtor should help you with, especially if you’re a first time home buyer. Depending on the closing dates and type of property the schedule can vary. Some of the most important events that you want to keep track of are escrow deadlines, final walk-thru, and closing. Other things to consider are making sure your utilities are canceled, opened, or transferred and packing up your home to move.
(Use our handy moving schedule so that you know what needs to be done when during the closing process.)
Moving in.
You made it! Home ownership is finally yours and you deserve to celebrate. But before you do, you have to move in. In the weeks before the move-in day, you should inventory your home and decide what to keep and what can be donated in order to de-clutter and make your move easier (the fewer boxes to carry the better). If you’re done with the days of bribing friends with pizza and beer to help, professional movers may be a great option for you. It may also be a good idea to have your furniture cleaned before you have it moved into the new home. Lastly, check out local restaurants and food delivery service such as Uber Eats. After a long day (or two) of moving, the last thing you’ll want to do is make dinner. Order in or go out and enjoy what your new neighborhood has to offer.