5 First Time Home Buyer Tips

Are you in the process of buying a house for the first time? Or do you remember the anxiety you felt while trying to purchase your first home? It really isn't a terrible process if you keep these things in mind and make sure to remember the timeline for buying a house that we talked about last week.

My listing on 3266 Treasure Island Road; N. Sacramento... would be perfect for a first time home buyer!

1. Be accessible and flexible. You must return calls, texts, emails from your Realtor, lender and attorney in a timely manner-even if that is contrary to your normal routine. Make it a priority. You may miss out on a great deal if you delay.  You will quickly realize that you and your Realtor will develop an intense relationship where you are both communicating regularly... hopefully for the sake of getting you into a home, it'll be for a short amount of time.

2. Nothing is certain until the closing happens. It's a great sign when your offer is accepted and even better when the Purchase & Sale is signed but deals can, and have fallen apart, at or even after, the financing deadline. Try to have an unemotional approach as possible to the house as you can (this is, of course, very difficult!).

3. Be definitive and decisive. Your best bet for making sure your deal is completed successfully is to have all your financial paperwork ready to go. Be honest with yourself when you see the home inspection report, for example, if termites or dry rot come up on the wood destroying pest report and the repairs completely overwhelm you, don't try to convince yourself that this house may be a good fit for you.

4. Set your priorities. Know what you can and can't handle and set your priorities for your first home accordingly. For example, don't bother looking at a fixer-upper if you aren't the slightest bit handy or don't want the hassle of someone doing work on your home. It doesn't matter if it in a good section of town or that it's affordable if it's not what you're looking for.

5. Realize that there is NO PERFECT HOUSE. You will most likely not find your dream home that fits every single criteria and has zero problems. Especially not in a starter house. You are setting your search up for failure if you aren't willing to be flexible.