First time home buyer here. I’ve been looking for about 3 months now and would like to share some of my observations and experiences. Maybe they could be helpful, if nothing else, it helps me to vent some of my frustrations:)
* Great starter home – This has nothing to do with the price of the home, this means it’s a small home in terms of square footage and/or lot size
* Square footage – This is NEVER accurate to the actual size of the home. Many of the places I look at are 20-30% lower then what is listed. I figure the sq ft by measuring each room, length x width and adding them all together. Seems simple enough but apparently there’s a magical way of calculating this that I haven’t learned.
* Short sales – No incentive to make offers on these properties. I’ve stopped looking at them all together. The prices aren’t any lower than the traditional sale next door but I’m supposed to wait 45-60 days just for the initial feedback of my offer.
* People will buy anything – I’ve looked at some pretty shoddy homes, which in my mind were priced about 60K over what I would pay, yet I check back a week later and the home sold. I’ve reset my expectations many times over the years when it comes to what I can get for my money, but some of these places still makes my heart beat skip.
* Most of the decent homes will come and go withing a week, max. In the time I’ve been looking I’ve found two places I liked. One had sold the day before, listing agent was too lazy to remove the listing. The other place I made offer, lady countered 10% higher than what I offered so I told her to pack sand. My offer was more than fair and within her listing range. Not sure why she puts a listing range when she won’t accept the low end of it. I guess to lure perspective buyers in and hope to start a bidding war.
* It’s a buyers market – If this is true, then I’d hate to see what a sellers market is like, because it sure doesn’t feel like a buyers market to me. This opinion is formed based on what I’ve seen and what’s being asked for these places.
I share your impressions and frustrations, even though I am not looking that very seriously.. Depending on the area you are looking to buy in and the prices range, I have seen recently some pretty decent houses lingering on the market longer than a week or two. Which gives me some hope for the next year, that house prices will drop a little more.
I share your impressions and frustrations, even though I am not looking that very seriously.. Depending on the area you are looking to buy in and the prices range, I have seen recently some pretty decent houses lingering on the market longer than a week or two. Which gives me some hope for the next year, that house prices will drop a little more.
I share your impressions and frustrations, even though I am not looking that very seriously.. Depending on the area you are looking to buy in and the prices range, I have seen recently some pretty decent houses lingering on the market longer than a week or two. Which gives me some hope for the next year, that house prices will drop a little more.
I share your impressions and frustrations, even though I am not looking that very seriously.. Depending on the area you are looking to buy in and the prices range, I have seen recently some pretty decent houses lingering on the market longer than a week or two. Which gives me some hope for the next year, that house prices will drop a little more.
I share your impressions and frustrations, even though I am not looking that very seriously.. Depending on the area you are looking to buy in and the prices range, I have seen recently some pretty decent houses lingering on the market longer than a week or two. Which gives me some hope for the next year, that house prices will drop a little more.
You’ve only been looking for 3 months? Report back after you’ve been looking for a couple of years. I can say that your frustration pales in comparison to mine.
You’ve only been looking for 3 months? Report back after you’ve been looking for a couple of years. I can say that your frustration pales in comparison to mine.
You’ve only been looking for 3 months? Report back after you’ve been looking for a couple of years. I can say that your frustration pales in comparison to mine.
You’ve only been looking for 3 months? Report back after you’ve been looking for a couple of years. I can say that your frustration pales in comparison to mine.
You’ve only been looking for 3 months? Report back after you’ve been looking for a couple of years. I can say that your frustration pales in comparison to mine.
