Now’s the time to question your own assumptions and re-adjust your approach

Now’s the time to question your own assumptions and re-adjust your approach

This is for all you circling birds. First-time flyers, empty nesters and standard garden-variety homing pigeons seeking a place to land. Well-intentioned, well-prepared, wanna-be homebuyers looking for a roost in what has to be one of the most lopsided Seller’s Market anyone can remember.

Late last year you decided to take a break. Out of sheer frustration or extreme buyer-fatigue. Or both.  But it’s just the beginning of a New Year.  You’re battle-tested and rested. Ready to stretch your wings and get back in the game with all the other circling birds out there competing for the same miniscule supply of fresh listings.

It’s a daunting task. Everyone has their eyes and ears peeled.  Property parameters primed. Search engines set. Loan approvals dialed in.  Watching. Waiting. Ready to swoop in on the next best thing that comes on the MLS.  Something about the early bird and the worm…

While you are out there circling… what can do in the meantime?  How can you avoid burning out again?   Here  are a few things to keep in mind:

Patience. Perseverance. Preparation. There’s no simple fix or shortcut.  Buying a home is hard work.  Set your expectations accordingly.

Be Vigilant/Don’t Hurry.  Every new listing will go through one set of Open Houses. It’s not a race. If something sells before you see it,  then it sold at a price you weren’t willing to pay anyway.

Forget Foreclosures. Zillow will keep sending emails about upcoming foreclosures.  Unless you’re prepared to make all-cash bids against savvy flippers at the Courthouse, let it go.  Foreclosures are a distraction people indulge in to take their focus away from the task at hand.

Local Lender/Local Agent. If you don’t understand why this is important, get educated before you go further down the road and realize you made a wrong turn.

Dual Agent Double-Down Don’t drop your agent in midstream because you think a listing agent is going to give up their commission to get you the house. You’ll self-destruct without real representation.

Online/In Person Don’t just look at properties online. Visit them in the flesh. That’s the only way you’ll be comfortable with the compromises you’ll have to make.

As they say folks, the definition of inanity (silliness) is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results.  Now’s the time to question your own assumptions and re-adjust your approach.  Call for more details.