Articles Tagged "House Comps"

Purchasing a second home can be a big step. Whether seeking a cabin in the woods, a getaway beach home or modern condo in the city, buying another property is a big decision. Here's how to know if now is the time to buy.

Affordability

Assessment of personal finances is critical in determining whether to purchase a second home. Beyond the cost of a second mortgage are other financial issues such as what interest is charged on a second mortgage. It may also depend if the home will be rented out as lenders consider rental properties a higher risk than those listed as primary residences. Other factors may include:

• Insurance

• Property taxes

• Ongoing costs such as utilities (water, electric, gas, trash removal, etc)

• Unexpected maintenance charges such as landscaping

• Cost to hire a property manage to check on the property while away

Location

Having a property by the beach may sound great but it may not be a great investment. Some things to consider include:

• Ability to visit the second home as often as desired

• If not used as a rental, will home get used enough to make it worth the investment

• Decide where is the ideal location before buying and whether it is affordable versus the time that will be spent using the property before purchase

Investigate

Chat with the insurance company to see what is next after finding the general area in which to buy a second home. Begin by speaking with the current insurer with whom a relationship is already established. A better rate may be available for multiple lines (existing home, cars, etc). Better rates may not necessarily be more inexpensive. If potential new property is prone to flooding, insurance rates may be higher. Homes with swimming pools also have higher rates as do pools with no fence or gate which may not have coverage available at all.

Find the Home

After all possible expenses are accounted for and a neighborhood is identified, contact a real estate agent to get started. Once settled, soak in the benefits of the new home. A vacation in the comfort of one's own home is a true luxury. When time is spent with family and friends in the new home, the cost savings will become apparent compared to vacation rentals. Privacy and no crowds (like in hotels) are another added bonus of having one's own property. Financial benefits may exist in the long term even if the property is not rented out. Tax benefits may help lessen the financial burden. A vacation home is a space to unwind, relax and enjoy time with loved ones. Soak it in and enjoy the new home.

Get more advice on the steps that you need to take to owning a second home.

Contact one of our agents today.

Maybe you stumbled on 'the one' with the first property you looked at, but it's more likely you've been at it for months, critiquing every detail until at long last, you found it. Your dream home. Landscaping to die for surrounding a home just right for you and yours. It has all the neighborhood amenities you wanted. The location is perfect. This is it!

Now what?

Here are some tips to remember when making your first offer to buy. 

First, there is no absolute wrong or right way to do this. Be realistic with your offer, however. Working with a good real estate agent can go a long way toward helping you do this. You don't want to offend anyone by offering fifty grand for a home valued at half a million. On the flipside, you don't want to pay more for a property than it's worth either. Knowledge is power.

Compare and evaluate any notes you've taken while attending open houses or private viewings. Narrow down what you liked about the schools and neighborhoods, the amenities to each home, et cetera. Your agent can then pull up comparable listings based on the features that appealed to you. With these numbers, you can establish a ballpark offer price.

Now would be a good time to give your lender a head's up. If it's been more than thirty days since you've touched base, or if your financial status has changed in any way, they may need updated information. Having a pre-approved mortgage loan ready to go allows you to act fast and lets sellers know that you're serious.

If you or your agent take a little extra time to research the listing history on the property in which you're interested, you may discover information to give you some negotiating room. Have there been price reductions? How quickly does the seller want to close? Are there any active bids on the house?

Depending on the answers to these questions and any others regarding closing terms, and the ballpark price you determined based on the current market, you'll be able to make an offer which is advantageous to both you and the seller, hopefully making it a win-win situation for all parties.

For more information on making an offer on your dream home, contact Choice Properties Real Estate to speak with one of our award-winning agents today!

Whether you are looking to buy or sell a home in Central Ohio, you'll need to know your market, i.e. your 'comps'. Comps are the homes in the area where you are transacting business that are comparable, meaning they are in the same neighborhood, are similar in size, layout, and condition, and have similar features or extras (like pools, fireplaces, or even neighborhood playgrounds).

These comps are used when determining pricing. From the buyer's standpoint, knowing the market gives them a place to start with a fair offer, while from the seller's viewpoint, comps help them to figure the best price point for the property. A good real estate agent stays on top of their local market, making sure to understand the ins and outs of what makes a property comparable.

Location, location, location . . .

When pricing or valuing a home, the first thing you want to do is look at what's nearby. Stay within the neighborhood to ensure things like the age of the homes and the community features are similar. School zones make good measures of parameters.

No time like the present . . .

Keep your eye on the pending sales. The initial bargaining has taken place between the buyer and seller, so these are, in effect, a plethora of current data for the market—including the latest 'dollar per square foot' average. A good rule of thumb is to look at sales within the last three months, but not more than six months old, as trends could've changed drastically in that time.

Show me the extras . . .

With the where and when pinned down, now you can look at the fun stuff, the property features. The main thing to compare here are the number of bedrooms/bathrooms and the lot size. Narrow those down, and then you can get into the smaller extras. Views, updated appliances, flooring materials, pools, garages, fireplaces . . . the list can get rather long, but these are the creature comforts that are going to help you turn your purchase into an Indian Lake Home (or sell your property to the highest bidder).

Don't overanalyze or stress . . .

While it is a good idea to have some knowledge of how the market works, there are professionals available to help you navigate the world of home buying and selling. Choice Properties has trustworthy agents to assist with the petty details of each comparable Logan County home. We make it our job to know the market so that you can make Indian Lake, Bellefontaine, or the surrounding areas your home.