Uncategorized February 21, 2017

Buying Lynden Real Estate in 2017

If you are buying real estate in Lynden, WA this spring, you will want to get the process started now. Yes, I know it is still winter but as the saying goes “The early bird gets the worm!”. With Lynden, WA real estate being a competitive market, there are steps you will want to take as a potential buyer to ensure your success this spring and summer.

Find a Lynden, WA Realtor

This truly is the most important step when it comes to a successful Lynden, WA real estate transaction. Picking someone who has years of knowledge and local experience is priceless. The extra perk to knowing that you have a loyal professional working on your behalf is that they can keep an eye out for properties and will hear of homes for sale in Lynden, WA that will be available before they hit the market. Which means you have a good chance of previewing a home before other buyers.

Figure out your financing

If you start this process in winter, you have a good chance of being prepared and pre-approved by spring. In fact, before you even start house shopping, you should start lender shopping. Lenders will let you know how much your housing budget really is, which saves you (and your agent) time and possibly some heart ache. Imagine touring a dream home and then finding out you can’t afford it? This happens frequently, so spare yourself the disappointment and “know before you go”. The other reward to this is you can find out what your financial situation is and take the next few months to clean up any errors on your credit report. Better credit means better financing. Not to mention, interest rates are on the rise so you will want to lock in the best rate possible while you can.

Know the difference between “need” and want”

Everyone has some dream Lynden, WA real estate features, but do those things fit in your budget? Figure out beds, baths, location and other “Musts” and write them down on a list. Then write down your desired “wants”. This may be a hot tub, a wine cellar or a craft room. By having it all written down on a list, you stay focused on what is important.

Location, location, location

If you have your heart set on a specific neighborhood, winter is a spectacular time to check out whether it is a good fit for you. You can see how much natural light the neighborhood gets or if flooding is a strong possibility. You can also see if there are any weird noises from local businesses, the actual proximity to amenities such as your work, schools or the park. Online profiles are great, but if you are serious about buying you will want to drive through your desired areas to see how they are in real life. This will also help you note which neighborhoods fall into the “Need” category mentioned above.

Start the Lynden, WA real estate search

After you have picked your agent, been pre-approved and have your neighborhood and home “musts” all dialed in, sit down with your Lynden, WA realtor and have them pull a list of the available inventory. This will give you a good idea of what the market is like and what you can get for your budget. Plus, your criteria may change once you start the home search process. Or you may realize you need to be a bit more flexible with your “must have” list.

Don’t rule out early buying

Speaking of being flexible, you may find Lynden, WA real estate you want to purchase earlier than you had planned. If you are pre-approved, don’t miss out on a great opportunity because it didn’t fit your timeline. Buying in the winter has perks that spring and summer do not…..like less competition which means less bidding wars.

For more information on Lynden, WA real estate, give me a call at 360-410-0848.