Buying a home in an unfamiliar area carries risks, and it can be scary. Real estate laws vary from state to state. Local customs can differ from one county to another. You don’t want to make a home-buying mistake or buy in the wrong neighborhood for you. Plus, if you have a home to sell in order to buy a home, you want the timing to be perfect. The last thing you want to have happen is to pull up to your new home with the moving truck and be unable move in because of some silly mistake. So, how can you protect yourself?
Begin Your Search Online
Start an online search by entering keywords into Google, such as the name of the city, along with “information” or “housing.” Here are tips for your search:
Look at the tourism sites for the city.Check with the local chamber of commerce.Go to the website of the major city newspaper to follow metro news and housing classifieds.Look up the nearby university and college websites.If you’ve narrowed your choices to specific neighborhoods, search “name of the neighborhood” plus “neighborhood association.“Go to the local police department’s website to check crime stats.
Talk to Real Estate Agents
Real estate agents can be a wealth of information. Here are the next steps to take:
First, find a real estate agent. You will be better protected if you hire an experienced agent who has worked with relocating buyers. Interview several real estate agents. Some agents might claim to be neighborhood experts, but have no knowledge about the part of town where you want to move. Ask whom the agents represent, and request a copy of a buyer’s broker agreement before you are asked to sign such a document. Find out the agent protocol for working with local agents. Is it OK, for example, to attend an open house without your agent? How often will your agent communicate with you? Determine who pays the real estate agent. (It could be you.) Talk to a title officer at a local title company about title policies and how closings are handled.
Gather Data on Inspections and Disclosures
Because every state is unique, find out how what types of disclosures you can expect to receive and which types of inspections are normally performed. Some states do not require that sellers disclose material facts to potential buyers. Here are questions to ask:
Is it customary for buyers to receive reports on environmental hazards? If so, who pays for them?Are pest inspections generally part of the purchase contract?Who pays for home inspections? And what types of repairs do sellers cover? Your agent should be able to refer several inspectors to you.Do city laws govern the transfer of ownership and inspections?Do buyers in certain neighborhoods ask for chimney, plumbing or sewer/septic inspections?Are surveys typically ordered?How are taxes assessed? You want to make sure no that delinquent taxes remain unpaid, and compute accurate taxes for which you will be liable.
Select Neighborhoods
Whether you choose older or new homes—because agents tend to specialize in neighborhoods—hire an agent who works in the neighborhoods where you want to buy. A neighborhood agent can tell you the differences between homes, as sometimes homes across the street from each other can vary greatly in price. Local specialists have intimate knowledge about their areas that you won’t get anywhere else. Ask for details on:
Recent comparable sales. This is your best benchmark to avoid paying over the market for the home. Average cost per square foot. Break this down by price ranges and square-foot values. The larger the home, the cost per square foot may be lower. Average list-to-sales-price ratios. Days on market, or “DOM.” This is important, because it could change your offer strategy. Are you moving in a seller’s, buyer’s, or neutral market?
While buying a house in a new area can be tricky, using the above tips can help you have the best experience possible when it comes to getting settled in your new home.
