Florida Homebuilder Centerline Homes | Real Estate Blog

Tips for Buying a Home Fast in Todays Real Estate Market

1. Start your home search online - If you're serious about finding a new home taking leisurely drives to find For Sale signs and open houses isn't the best approach to house hunting. Shopping for a home online will streamline your entire house hunting process. Searrching for a home online lets you browse thousands of homes for sale and narrow down your search by price, number of bedrooms, bathrooms, square footage and many other criteria. You can even find information about the area such as local restaurants, hospitals, schools and other points of interest near that home. When you use the Web to narrow down your options, you can create an efficient plan for touring homes in person.
2. Get pre-approved - Have your pre-approval letter in hand when you start house hunting. This allows you to make an offer as soon as you see a home you're interested in.  A pre-approval letter states your maximum purchase price, so you won't waste time looking at homes you can't afford.  Be sure to stay in constant contact with your lender throughout the homebuying process so nothing gets overlooked and the loan can close on time. We have several lenders available for questions or interest in obtaining approval.
3. Prioritize your housing requirements. - If you really want to find a home fast, flexibility is key. The shorter your list of requirements in a home, the more choices you'll have, and the more choices you have, the faster you'll find something that meets your needs. So, if you can't live without a garage but you can make do with one less bathroom, making that sacrifice can help you find a home faster. Before you start house hunting, make a list of the must have features you want and need in a home and rank them from most important to least important. Be willing to compromise on the less crucial items on your list.
4. Find a buyer's agent. - If looking for a new home quickly a experienced buyer's agent is extremely helpful. Unlike listing agents, who are obligated to home sellers, a buyer's agent looks out for your best interests and will stay on top of the details to facilitate a quicker, smoother transaction. He or she can help you find properties that meet your needs and will represent you during the crucial negotiation and closing process. A great buyer's agent will also be well-connected and will refer you to reliable mortgage brokers, appraisers, home inspectors, homebuilders and insurance agents, who will also move the process along quickly.
5. Stay away from short sales. Short sales are not the best option for buyers who need to find a home fast. A short sale occurs when a lender allows a homeowner to sell his home for less than what he owes on the mortgage. Since the homeowner's lender has to approve the sale, short sales are more complicated than typical transactions and can take months to close -- if they close at all.
6. Negotiate repairs if applicable. - If an inspection reveals that the home you want to buy requires repairs, taking the responsibility off the seller can help you close the deal quicker. After obtaining estimates, ask the seller for a credit rather than asking them to complete the repairs themselves. Most will gladly leave the repairs up to you, and you won't have to wait until they're completed to move in.  If you have the cash to make repairs yourself, you can also consider making an as-is offer. If you do make an as-is offer, just be sure to have your inspections as early as possible and get repair cost estimates prior to removing your contingencies. This way you don't get yourself in over your head, and you will know whether or not you need to back out or renegotiate with the seller.

7. Purchase a new home - New construction eliminates the need for costly repairs and the many unforeseen issues an older home may have. We have several new homes available to move into right now saving you time and still capturing the tax incentives offered by the government.

8. Have cash ready for closing. - You don't want to be scrambling for funds at the last minute, so be prepared. A few days before closing, you'll get the final settlement statement, detailing the terms of your loan and all the closing costs. Review it and get a certified or cashier's check made out for the total amount you owe at closing, including the down payment. You can't write a personal check for this amount, so don't forget!

Take a look at our new homes for sale that are available right now.