4 Tips for Long-Distance House Hunting
Searching for a house locally can be fairly challenging, but it can become way more complicated when you’re separated by hundreds of miles. If you are doing some long-distance house-hunting, here are a few tips to keep in mind!
Do Your Homework
When looking to relocate to an unfamiliar area, on top of finding the perfect house, so many other factors must be considered. 3 great questions to ask are what are your average local commute times, what are the crime rates in your area, and, most importantly, how do the schools rank? Websites such as AreaVibes and U.S. News & World Report can give you plenty of information about a city including its housing market, livability scores, job market, schools, crime rate and cost of living. Having as much knowledge as possible about a new area will make your long-distance house hunting experience so much smoother!
Find a Knowledgeable Realtor
While the internet offers plenty of options and solutions to people searching for the right home, nothing can substitute having a realtor who is very familiar with the region, neighborhood, and local real estate market. In addition to knowing specifics about the area, a good realtor will be able to show you the ins and outs of various neighborhoods, so you can make an informed and wise decision. I have access and work closely with several of the top realtors in St Louis.
Know What You Want
When you’re in the market for buying a home, you should take your time in putting together a specific list of features you want. This is especially crucial when you’re buying from a distance. This helps your Realtor search for listings in the right areas that fit your needs and wants. Start by writing down what you need and want from a home. A few questions to ask yourself include: How many bedrooms and bathrooms do I need? What style of house do I want, ranch or two-story? Do I want a house with an open floor plan?
Plan Your Visit
Once you’ve narrowed down your choices with your realtor, plan out your travel budget, and schedule some time to check out these homes in person. Ideally, you should try to plan more than one visit. During these visits, make plans to meet up with your Realtor and have them show you around various neighborhoods. In addition to house hunting, spend some time getting to know the region by dining out at local restaurants, exploring your transportation options, and shopping at local retail stores to get familiar with the area.
Get pre-qualified
Get pre-qualified as soon as you know where you want to move to. Knowing how much home you can afford helps narrowing down your search from day one. Get in touch today and we will give you an idea of the dream home you can buy.
Start chatting with Lucy, your 24/7 assistant and we will get working on letting you know your requirements for approval.
Being pre-approved in advance & in the ‘drivers seat’ to make the decisions needed is always the best place to be for a buyer. Especially when relocating. Do you have a home to sell in your current area? How is your current selling market? What is the buying market like where you will be relocating to? Having the power to make important decisions like buying without selling 1st & the kowledge to do that is imperitive. Talk to your loan officer & be in the ‘drivers seat’!