Love Buying a Home

My step-by-step series will take you through the entire home-buying process — from finding a buyer’s agent to settlement day, and even to maintaining your home after you’re all moved in. Every first-time buyer will find this information-packed series easy to follow and understand. Make sure to tune in for the next few weeks!

Before you start looking for a home you must first define and choose the type of life you want to live. Your answers to the questions below will help make sure that your real estate decisions and the home you buy will match this life you want.  The tips below will help you decide if a home in Tooele County is the right choice for you.

You’re the one who will be living in this home every single day, living in this neighborhood, and living this lifestyle day in and day out.

Is it the right fit for you and your family?

I want you to be happy with all of it, and that starts with what YOU want.

Some Self-Analysis That Digs Deeper

Your self-analysis at the very start should hopefully lead you to the right home purchase for you and your lifestyle (and yes, budget!).  Most real estate agents don’t approach home buying this way.

It’s important to ask yourself questions that dig deeper than the traditional “How many bedrooms would you like in a home?” questions.

These more revealing questions that delve into detailed aspects of your needs and desires give you the opportunity to think carefully about what you want this next step in your life to be like. Your honest answers to these questions are what should drive your home search.

This is NOT silly fluff!!  Your answers to these questions below will help you avoid a personal and financial disaster when it comes to real estate.

Questions You Need to Ask Yourself

Sit yourself down and take the time to carefully think over your answers to the questions and topics below. Do this first step before you go any further in your search for a home:

Time — If you first decide how long you plan on living in this next home, then you can understand what purpose your home will serve, and everything else falls into place.  Questions like how many bedrooms and if schools are important become very easy to answer if you base them on how long you plan on living in this next home. 

• How long do you plan on living in this home?
• What plans do you have during that time period and how will these affect your home needs, such as space for children or a growing family? Location for a job or school?
• What is the ideal time frame for purchasing this home? Do you have a specific deadline? Why is this timing important? Are you willing to wait longer if the market’s timing for your home is not the same as your ideal timing?

Daily Life — You may not realize it, but it’s the little habits that make a big difference.

• What about your current daily life do you love and are not willing to give up? For example, do you love being able to walk or bike to work? Do you love going to your local coffee house every day? Do you like to go for runs outside? Do you like to garden? What is your actual reality?
• Are you a homebody? Do you love having people over and would love to have the space for entertaining at home?
• Are you out every night? Do you love to be near restaurants, theaters, or close to more vibrant areas? Do you hate crowds, busy streets and traffic? Do you see that changing at any point during your timeframe for living in your next home?
• Do you work late and need to be close to the office or have a quick, easy commute?
• How important is a car and/or parking space to you? Do you want a car-free life where you can walk or bike everywhere; or at least get an Uber or Lift? Or you can’t imagine your life without owning a car.
• When and where do you feel most happy and engaged during your day? What frustrates you most each day?

Personal Goals – You don’t want to sacrifice your goals or outside pursuits once you’re homeowner, so make sure you include them in your decision making.

• What are your personal goals and how will these impact your home needs or budget? For example, do you plan to change jobs at some point and your finances may change – a possible increase or decrease in salary?
• Do you want to work from home eventually or start your own business and may need space for an office and supplies?
• Would you prefer to live in a less expensive, possibly smaller, home so you have the funds to travel the world or for a favorite hobby?

Location – Where you live will affect everything about your lifestyle – from whether it has urban conveniences, lots of quiet green space, or even the types of homes available to buy – condo apartment, row house, townhome, or single-family home.

• Do you consider yourself a “location person” or a “house person”? Do you get more excited about the local amenities or the features inside your house? Usually people tend to be more one than the other. Which are you?
• What is your ideal location and why?
• Where do you commute to and what is your preferred method of getting there? Would you prefer to have a longer commute to get more space? Or, do you want to live in the middle of a more urban community and possibly have less living space?
• Are schools in the neighborhood a factor for this home purchase?
• Do you feel the need for green space, lots of trees, more open space, less buildings and streets, and not having neighbors’ homes too close to yours? Do you love to garden or want a large backyard for children or dogs? Or is a playground or dog park nearby sufficient?

Yes, Please and Never Again! –   Some things you’re excited to actually have as a homeowner, but maybe there are some amenities in the past that you thought you’d love but never did or never used.

• What about your current home would you like to change or be different in your next home? (Or what absolutely bothers you every day in your current home or rental?) Do you want: Bigger closets? Less noise? More amenities nearby? Office space? More convenient shopping options? More modern and sleek features? More historic or vintage home?
• What is the absolute most important, can’t-live-without it, deal breaker thing you MUST have? (We all have one.) Do you really, really want that master bedroom suite or that large eat-in kitchen? What can you compromise in a home?
• Describe your ideal scenario when it comes to your home purchase and why.

Pat yourself on the back for taking the time to carefully go through these questions. Your answers will provide some important insights on where you want to go with your life and your expectations for your new home.

If you are having a hard time answering these questions, let’s meet up and talk through them.  I can help give you some homework to help you gain clarity or give you my perspective on the options you have to choose from.  Simply .  Email Me – Call Me – Text Me and we can find a time to get together.

Look out for the next article in this weekly series, Love Buying a Home series. The next step is all about knowing your budget and how to correctly figure it out so you’re not house poor or cutting yourself short. You don’t want to miss this one — Do the Math – A Mortgage You Can Afford.

Love Buying a Home Series

This step-by-step series will take you through the entire home-buying process — from finding a buyer’s agent to settlement day, and even to maintaining your home after you’re all moved in. Every first-time buyer will find this information-packed series easy to follow and understand. Make sure to tune in for the next few weeks!

The first item on the agenda when you’re looking to buy a home in Tooele County is to choose a real estate agent that is the best person to represent you, and also someone that can help you through every single one of the many steps in buying a home.

You will be spending a lot of time with this person, so make sure it’s someone that’s right for you and your specific home buying needs and goals.

Keep these 10 factors in mind when you start considering agents:

1. Recommended by friends, family, and co-workers. They’ll give you honest, unfiltered feedback on what they went through and if they’d go with the same agent again (a key sign!). After you get your tribe’s feedback, first check out an agent’s website to see if they are still active and also passionate about working with buyers like you.

Some agents focus on a particular price range (such as a high-end market) or neighborhoods, so even a great agent for your friend may not work for you because of your different needs and budget.

Remember, you don’t have to go with the first agent you meet.  Just like when you choose a doctor or other important advisors in your life, you want to check around first and see if this is the best choice for you and your goals.

2. Specializes in the type of home, area and/or the type of buyer that corresponds to your goals. It’s better to narrow down your search to real estate agents whose expertise matches your criteria. If you’re a first-time buyer, then those agents who deal with first-timers all the time know how to provide more guidance (lots more hand-holding!) and keep up-to-date on assistance programs just for that market.

If you’re a condo buyer, then an agent specializing in condos knows the intricacies of dealing with this type of purchase and condo associations.  Whatever it is you are looking to buy, just make sure your agent is experienced in that particular segment of the market.

3. Makes you comfortable. Your gut will tell you if this is someone you can work with for a period of time, and if you will feel at ease when asking any questions or expressing your concerns. You’re going to have a working relationship with this person and it will be stressful and exhausting at times.

Go with someone who can reduce such tension, has a sense of humor at times, and doesn’t scare you even if buying a home is a scary endeavor for you. Think of your real estate agent as your buying coach (and sometimes therapist and sometimes cheerleader and all the other things you might need along the way!).

4. Takes the time to listen to you in order to help you realize your needs and wants. You should never be forced or feel like you’re forced into anything at any time! A good agent has the skills to help you realize what you need and want by asking you questions and listening to your answers. Questions ranging from, “Do you want to walk or bike to work?” to “Do you want a large yard or green space nearby?” will help you uncover your wants and needs.

This process can take time but it’s an important step before you even start visiting homes. An agent who has your best interests at heart will know that you’re not looking for just a house or a condo but a place you will call home.  And most importantly, focuses on finding the right home for YOU and no one else.

5. Respects your time AND your timetable. Your agent knows you’re busy so it’s important they are organized and efficient when it comes to house hunting. They’ll ask you what days and times work best with your schedule.

Even more importantly, your agent shouldn’t rush you if you’re not ready to buy (especially if you think you want more time to explore a neighborhood, etc.) or just get cold feet (that’s okay!). But a good agent also knows when you’re ready for that nudge forward if the market dictates quicker decision making.

6. Communicates clearly and regularly. Make sure your agent is easily reached via cell phone, text, or email; and gets back to you in a timely manner. And, on the flip side, that the agent keeps in touch with you on a regular basis with updates on listings and other information on your home search.

A good agent will communicate and guide you step-by-step along the way when buying a home, from getting a mortgage to the final closing. Having explanations upfront on what’s expected next will help decrease any anxiety and stress since you’ll be informed and prepared. Find out an agent’s communication style from start to finish in the home buying process.

7. Negotiates well and has your back at all times. Buying a home is a business transaction and your friendly agent also needs to have negotiation skills that will benefit you and your offer. The entire transaction should ultimately be a win-win for both the buyers and sellers (you never want to play dirty!) but a good agent knows when to be assertive in order to get the deal done.

Find out more about your agent’s past experiences and tactics at the negotiating table, especially when dealing with multiple offers.

8. Knows the local market inside and out. Go with an agent who really knows the local market in terms of inventory and pricing, the vibe of different neighborhoods, and just stays on top of listings so you can jump in before the crowd. Some agents are more attuned to what’s going on and this can be a big plus when homes are selling fast.  I recommend an agent who lives and works in Tooele County (like me).  Our market differs in many ways from Salt Lake, Davis and Utah Counties and you want someone who understands these differences.

Also your agent should have a network of other reliable professionals, such as mortgage lender, home inspector, title company, etc., that you may need along the way. Your agent should be suggesting them to you, and not you to them.

9. Looks at real estate as a financial tool that can empower your life. This will be one of the biggest purchases of your life and you don’t want to have any regrets. Your agent should respect how real estate can change your life for the better and see the possibility it has for your economic stability and security.

A good agent knows that buying this home can be a stepping stone for your next home and so on. Your agent should want you to dream big, but still help you find ways to stay on budget.

10. Never say good-bye. Your agent shouldn’t view this one purchase as the end of your relationship but just the beginning — expect them to be there for you over the long-term and ready to work with you when it’s time to sell and move on. They should be someone you trust to turn to with any of your homeownership concerns – a real estate resource for life!

Keep coming back here each and every week to learn more about the home buying process and reach out to me anytime with questions about how what you are learning applies to YOUR specific situation.  Just like every real estate agent is unique, so is every buyer and I’d love to help you apply what you are learning in this series to YOUR home buying plans.  Email Me – Call Me – Text Me and let’s schedule a time to talk. 

Love Buying a Home Series — A First-Timer’s Guide

If you’ve been thinking about buying a home in Tooele County and are just not sure of the steps involved or even where to start, then this series is a MUST read for you.

Each week, you’ll get great tips and easy-to-understand how-tos that will help you be successful in purchasing a home in today’s market. And, it’s all delivered to you in sequential order so you know what to do when … one bite-sized chunk at a time!

I understand that this is all new for you and this series will help you avoid feeling overwhelmed and calm any fears you may have about “not knowing what you don’t know.” 

Week 1: A First-Timer’s Guide – An introduction to this Love Buying a Home series (what you’re reading right now!). It gives a breakdown of all the topics week-by-week. Keep on reading below for more information about this great series for first-time buyers.

Week 2: How to Find the Very Best Buyer’s Agent — You want to choose a real estate agent who is the right person to represent YOU through the many steps in buying a home. Think about what’s important to you and what you are looking for in a home and then make sure your agent has experience that meets these specific needs and goals.

Week 3: How Your Needs and Desires Lead to “Home Sweet Home” — You’ll get a breakdown of the honest questions no one else is asking you about your home search, and the exact questions you need to ask yourself BEFORE you start house hunting.  This list goes way beyond how many bedrooms and baths you want.  You’ll learn that this often overlooked step will determine everything that happens during your entire home-buying experience.

Week 4: Do the Math — A Mortgage You Can Afford – Figure out how much home you REALLY can afford! You’ll get a formula for determining how to arrive at the exact price range that works for your budget to get a home you love that doesn’t change your current lifestyle.  No buyer wants to be stretched too thin (or be shortchanged!). Learn how to do the math so you know the monthly payment for every home you see out there.

Week 5: Where to Find Money for Your Down Payment – Learn all the secret ways to get more bang for your down-payment buck.  If you’re a first-time homebuyer, I want to make sure you aren’t putting every dollar you have into being a homeowner. You’ll figure out what the “right” down payment amount is for your goals and budget, and learn how to find cash if you don’t have enough funds in your personal savings.

Week 6: Five Steps to Obtaining a Mortgage — Have you ever tried to make sense of all the mortgage options available out there?  It’s definitely not “one-size-fits-all” these days.  You’ll get a rundown of the various mortgage options out there and also the low down on private mortgage insurance (PMI) and why you may need it (and why it’s not all that bad!). Once you’re pre-approved for a loan, you’re ready to seriously start looking at homes.

Week 7: It’s the Fun “House Hunting” Guide — House hunting can be fun, but it also can be overwhelming and stressful at times. Find out the ways you can shop productively (and strategically!) with tactics that will streamline your search.  You’ll know what to look for and what to stay away from, the pros and cons of condos and townhomes, and the real deal with “as is” homes.

Week 8: Make a Winning Offer Without Going Overboard – You’ve found a home you love and want to buy, but what’s next? No worries since we’ve got all the steps covered: figuring out your offer price, determining your earnest money deposit, some clever negotiation tactics, and even how to compete with multiple offers.

Week 9: Under Contract: Locking in Your Mortgage and Getting a Home Appraisal — Did you know that you have to wait until after you are under contract until you can lock in your interest rate?  (See, you are already learning something!) Here’s how to work with your lender so you avoid any possible fluctuations and more money out of your pocket. Plus, the bank loaning your money requires you to get the home appraised at this time, and here’s the scoop on that.

Week 10: How to Navigate a Home Inspection — You don’t want any surprises after you move in, right?! Both old and new homes should be inspected. Here’s the breakdown of what to expect during your home inspection, the most important parts of an examination, and also what to do if any red flags arise.

Week 11: Review those Condo Docs! — This step happens AFTER you are under contract. Seems backwards, but that’s how the process works. You’ll only have a few days to read sometimes hundreds of pages of documents so this handy guide will help prepare you. Purchasing a condo unit is like buying into a business, so you need to know how financially sound the entire condo community is before you finalized your contract.

Week 12: Almost There … Pre-Closing Details for Buyers –You have a few more details to handle before the big day and here’s a breakdown of what’s next on your list, such as obtaining hazard insurance and a home warranty (and why), and when/how to connect utilities for your new home. You want to be prepared and ready to ensure a smooth transition to becoming the owner of this home.

Week 13:  How to Make Your Settlement a Success — You’ve finally made it! But, there are still lots of items to cross off your to-do list, including your walk-through, getting title insurance, and your closing costs.  This handy list will make sure you’re prepared and ready for this eventful day, so that it ends with your new home’s keys in your hand.

Week 14 BONUS: Maintaining Your New Home – Here’s all you need to know as a new homeowner. When you walk through that front door, your life changes and you’re now responsible for everything (not a landlord!) Paying the electric bill, keeping home and repair documents organized, understanding how your home works (furnace, water heater) and making sure you schedule in regular maintenance and upkeep (HVAC and more) throughout the year.

I hope you enjoy this weekly series and learn a lot.  Know that each buyer has unique circumstances and I’d love to talk to you about yours.  Together, we can put together a plan for how to make your first home a reality.  Be sure to email me, call me or text me before you’d want to start looking for a home so we can get all your ducks in a row well before we start seeing homes!