A Realtors Quick Lesson in Home-Buying
Hi! I’m Abby Ruggiero, and I’m a local Birmingham Realtor. 2021 was a big year for me! I got engaged AND my fiancé and I bought our first home together. I work with many would-be homebuyers making their maiden home purchase, and they frequently ask me for my uncut advice about buying and owning a home.
Here are my TOP FOUR survival tips for buying and owning a home taken straight from the pages of my own experience:
1. Prioritize Your Needs and Wants
Coming out of the cramped quarters of apartment living, I instinctively felt the tug for a spacious home with a huge backyard for my dogs to roam.
But owning a home has additional costs outside of just paying the monthly mortgage. Additional fees such as taxes and insurance can increase over the years, while repairs and routine maintenance are necessary to keep your investment in tip-top shape. Consider how much space you really need – and want to take care of – in your home, including the yard and exterior buildings. Put that top of mind while you shop!
2. Don’t Fall in Love to Quickly
Take it from me. In today’s fast-paced home-buying market, you might just get your heart broken a few times before you find YOUR perfect place. My fiancé and I made an offer on a cute little bungalow with shining hardwood floors and the backyard of our dreams, only to end up losing out when the house received over ten other offers. I was devasted, to say the least. Flash forward to a month later, and we unexpectedly stumbled on just the right fit, and we couldn’t be happier with how it all worked out.
Keep in mind that not all offers get accepted, or if you do get the home under contract, the inspection might not live up to your expectations, and you’ll have to part ways. But keep the faith. Your perfect place is out there.
3. Get a Home Inspection
In a competitive real estate market, it’s tempting to waive the home inspection to make your offer more lucrative to sellers. But that’d be like getting married before getting to know your mate. When buying a home, it’s essential to understand what you’re getting yourself into.
In our case, we scheduled a home inspection during our initial showing session to learn as much as we could about the home before we made that all-important offer.
4. Partner with an Experienced Realtor You Trust
Nothing gives me more joy than helping my buyers find the right house to fit their life goals and then paving a path to close on that dream home. I don’t just want to sell you a space to put your stuff. I’d like to guide you in finding a solid investment that will also bring you years of peace and comfort.
Looking to buy or sell a home today?
Abbyruggiero.solbyarthouse.com
Call: 205.253.7663
