Making a list can alleviate all kinds of stress – particularly around the holidays when it seems that the to-do’s will never get to-done.
The same goes for preparing to buy (or sell) a home. If you’ve written off the home search for the holidays, and you think spring is a better time to buy when more inventory will be available - think twice.
Sellers list their home for all kinds of reasons that are not tied to the seasons – job relocation, need for a bigger house with a growing family, or they don’t want the competition of the ‘busier’ months of spring and fall.
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There’s no reason why your dream home couldn’t come on the market in January or February – so best to be prepared:
- Get preapproved (#1 must-do)
- Know your credit score
- Understand how much you can afford
- Calculate your down payment
- Bump up your savings account
- Ask for referrals (for mortgage brokers, lenders, and real estate professionals)
Start ticking down the list one at a time and all of a sudden it won’t seem like such a daunting task – and you’ll be ready to move quickly when the home you’ve been waiting for becomes available.