One way to buy a house in Orange County is to go directly to the source. Many people don’t do this, only to find themselves ultimately paying the commission and other costs of working with an agent. You CAN buy a house without a middle-man. In our latest post, we will provide tips to help you save money by buying your next house without an agent!
By purchasing a home directly from a seller, you cut out all of the fees and costs of having a middle-man involved. That said, buying a home can be a complicated process, so knowing what you are doing is a must. Some agents can be very helpful when buying a property, but in other situations, it is much more economical to do it on your own. Here are just a few things to consider to get you started!
Run The Comps
If you were to hire an agent, they would be able to provide you with information about local homes currently on the market as well as ones that have recently sold. This will help you to determine what you should pay for a home in the area. Take your time and do your research. Look at what the market is doing before you agree to buy a house.
Set Boundaries
Before home shopping, make a list of the things you need, the things you want, and the things you absolutely won’t deal with. Set your maximum price and stick with it. People can find themselves buying with emotion, only to be stuck with buyers remorse down the road. Don’t get in a situation where you find yourself overpaying for a home. There will be nobody to stop you from making an offer on a property that is too high, so you need to be able to keep yourself in check! When looking at homes, make sure all of the items on your list are checked off!
Get Pre-Approved
If you are planning to use financing when you make your offer on a Orange County house, make sure you are pre-approved ahead of time. Sellers want to know that you can follow through on what you offer. By having your pre-approval in writing, they can see you have the funds to follow through. If you decide to purchase a home in Orange County without an agent, make sure you have everything organized and together in order to be taken seriously by the seller.
Look At Many Properties
The beauty of working with an agent is that they will have the ability to show you all sorts of properties, sometimes ones you might not have considered on your own. Take the time to look at several houses. Don’t limit yourself to buying one of the first ones you see. However, when you truly believe you have found the right home, don’t hesitate to make your offer either. There could be others looking at the property as well, likely working with an agent who will be able to get their offer seen right away.
Include Contingencies
When you make an offer on a house, it is wise to have a way out should something go wrong. When you make an offer on a property, make sure that it is contingent on the property passing inspection. You don’t want to agree to buy a house, only to find something is majorly wrong after the inspection.
Inspection
Whenever you buy a home, you should always have a thorough inspection done on the property. By paying a few hundred dollars to a professional, you can save yourself thousands in repair costs in the long run. You should never buy a home without having it fully inspected first.
Talk To A Lawyer
Before signing on the dotted line, contact a lawyer to make sure everything is on the up and up with the purchase. Have them review the contract, warranty and title history. Spending a couple hours with a lawyer is going to be less expensive than paying a 6% commission to an agent and can save you from buying a property that isn’t right for you.