6 Myths of Buying a Home

There are tremendous values to owning a home!  But as you venture out to into the unknown world of real estate, I would like to caution you about a few things so you can put your emotions aside and empower yourself to think clearly and make educated decision regarding the biggest financial decision you'll make in your lifetime.

Below are a few "myths" to keep in mind (especially you first-timers or property virgins)"

• "The Perfect Home"
  I don't want to burst your bubble...but, it doesn't exist! I show approximately 600 homes to prospective buyers each year and I can tell you first-hand that 90% are so fixated on finding the "perfect home" that they end up missing out on wonderful properties that would have otherwise met most of their needs. Your most likely not going to live in the property for the rest of your life, so I suggest that you focus on finding the best house, at the best price in the best neighborhood you can afford.
   

• "The Value of a Home Will Increase"
  There was a time over the past few decades where the average value of a home doubled every 10 years!  If you have been fortunate to time the real estate market to make this a reality - kudos to you!  After the mortgage and real estate meltdown in 2008, I did not see how we'd ever repeat this in the future, but then came COVID and people lost their ever-livin minds! A severe lack of inventory coupled with historically low mortgage interest rates in the 2%, 3% and 4% created a perfect storm for home prices to skyrocket. It was certainly a crazy time, but post-Covid, hopefully we can get back to common-sense and fundamental practices. Homes will continue to appreciate at a reasonable rate over time, but double-digit appreciation just doesn't seem possible (at least in our marketplace). Of course all real estate is LOCAL and the circumstances surrounding each parcel of property can vary greatly from city to city and state to state.
   

• "Low-ball Offers"
  Nobody appreciates a smokin' deal more than me! However, it is very rare to get a below-market price on a property. Negotiating a low-ball offer on an over-priced listing is not a "steal" - you're simply agreeing to pay fair market value. Some buyers think if they pay fair market value that somehow they didn't get a good deal and that's simply not true. Many factors go into successfully negotiating the price & terms. I am a Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE) and will help you get the best price and terms.
   

• "Buying As Much House As You Can Afford"
  In the mid-to-late 90's it seemed as if buyers unilaterally decided to buy as much house as they could afford. In many cases, buyers were opting for "Mc-Mansions" (homes that were too big for their needs). After the mortgage and real estate meltdown in 2008, buyers began to realize they could be perfectly happy with a home that allows them to live comfortably and not excessively. It was also much friendlier on the pocketbook. Once again, Covid-19 changed everything. Suddenly everyone, except essential workers (aka Local/Heroes) was thrust into working from home or working remotely and consequently wanted or needed a bigger home!
   

• "MLS Listing Information is Always Right "
  Have you ever heard the term call "GIGO"?  It stands for garbage in - garbage out. It means the data is only as good or accurate as the person who input it and the MLS is no different. Agents or their assistants are sometimes rushed and input the wrong # of bedrooms, bathrooms, square footage, leave out features and forget to properly map the house on the right street or neighborhood. I encourage my buyers not to discard a property simply because what is shown on the internet MLS listing page. You could be passing up a great home!

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