Here is the real advice you will want to hear when you are moving to a new home, and it should be your first question. – Where to move to? – and I will always say Choose Wisely!
What I mean by that is do your research on the area you want to live first and foremost. And start with the city you like or are moving to. Then narrow down the search from there. I find to many people search by homes that catch their eye and then research where the home is located. And eventually they buy the home and not the location. Remember location is everything! I repeat Location will and alway be everything! Sure the home maybe amazing, just that perfect style you have been looking for and truly connect with. But if the location not good with regards to stores/amenities, school district is not up to standards for your kids, or even HOA/CCR’s and even bad neighbors. Nothing is worse then buying the home you have always envisioned, and then wanting to move because one or all issues arise as you start to live and adjust to your new home.
Here is how I start.
First 1. I research the city I am moving to – Easy or Not depending on what is making you more. If you are from the city already, easy you now know more of the city and location on where you would like to live. (move to step 2). If you are moving from another state for work or service, then picking your city will require more focus on what that city has to offer for you and your family. If you are single, there is definitely cities I would stay away from if you could help it, as they maybe more sleepy family cities that do not offer the lifestyle required or would be appreciated by a single person. If you are a family moving to the city, please look into the school district, parents are finally starting to pay more attention. But here is some more information, you need to really find someone who has their eye to the ground on the schools/boards and what is going on behind the scenes. Even through a lot of websites you google say one thing. Go find either a local real estate agent, school teacher, even go talk to the school first and find out what is really going on behind the scenes. I can not stress this enough if you are worried about your kids future at a certain school.
Step 2. – Drive the City if possible – If not possible please use Google Maps. And I mean to both items either driving or google maps spend time in this area. One of the most crucial areas for a solid foundation for starting to actually pick a neighborhood/location in the city you would like to live. And if you really want to do it right, do both driving and google maps. So with driving I like to do at least 2 – 3 drives and sometimes even spend at least 1 night in the city to see different locations in the morning, noon, evening. Trust me a day showing could be quite different from an morning or evening showing. For Example – (When you go look at a house at 2pm during the weekend, and it is quite, nice, even charmingly romantic. Now you go back to that same house on a Monday morning 8am and you see the school buses pile up, parents and traffic running around to school and work, and the road your home is on now turns into a major highway. And Friday at 5:30pm and you notice traffic jams, as everyone uses the road your home is on as a short cut though town, and now it takes your an extra 20mins to get home and forget about even turning in and out of your home). Now this example is true, not all are this bad, and Yes I have even seen worse. — As a Real Estate Broker Ron Rougeaux– I know what roads to avoid and when to avoid, I know what is going or try to know as much is possible within the city with new construction, developments, and upcoming projects that could affect the home you like. I have saved a lot of buyers from purchasing in an area that would be harmful for the lifestyle they are looking for, or even worse re-sale where they lose money and can not afford to move out of a bad situation. Trust me please drive and take you time looking at certain areas you are considering buying, have lunch near the location, walk the streets and stores. Then when you get home google map where you drove and see what you missed, maybe you might see a cool store to check out next time or that the huge mushroom farm may not smell so good when the wind blows a certain direction. If you don’t have time or can’t drive the area you are looking at. Second best is use google maps and drive the locations that way, not as good, but still will definitely help out.
Step 3. – Pick your Neighborhood/Location – Once you pick a location of neighborhood let your real estate agent set you up on home search so you can receive email alerts right away once a home pops up in that area. Likely hood is there will be a lot of people interested in the same area you are, and the key is to be at the home and view it as soon as possible. (Also you want to time to again – revert back to step 2 now, on more focused area just around that home). – What I mean is even if you like the home and it is in your key location/neighborhood. Now you need to research what is on the sides and in front/behind the home. Is it a corner lot, or in front of a street where headlights go through your windows. Does one or all the homes around it look run down or multiple cars in the driveway. Basically look for Red Flags, that will be a problem once you are actually living in the home. Now just remember nothing is ever going to be perfect, but also you don’t want to buy a home where you just can’t stand living there, no matter how nice the home is.
Step 3X. – Extra Bonus Step – Go knock on the neighbors door in the evening of the home you are looking at purchasing. Yes I know this could be a little nerve racking, but wouldn’t you like to know who you could be possible living next door to if you buy the home. And I guarantee you they will tell you all the information you would ever want to know about the current owners trying to sell the home and all the drama. This could be huge and very insightful.
Step 4. – Win the home – If the home matches and fits all your criteria then make the offer and win that home. Use an agent that knows the area. Has the sales to back them up. And please make sure that agent has at least a minimum of a few years under their belt. Trust me I have been doing this for a while, and I can guarantee you need someone that does 40+ sales a year and runs into all kinds of situations, because this is the backing and advice you need to succeed. And Bonus if that real estate agent has rental properties, and has flipped homes. Trust me boundary lines, to permit uses, to everything you can’t imagine I have ran into, and yet their is still more out there even for myself to learn.
Next Blog – Learn how to actually win a Home with Multiple offers. Trust me if you find the perfect home and location. Chances are you are going to have a battle to win it. And you always want a seasoned fighter on your side – I love to Fight – And even More I love to Win! — I can Win for you!– Ron Rougeaux
Ron Rougeaux 