Advice For The Home Buyers: Begin with the End Picture In Mind
March 3rd, 2009 categories: Buying San Diego Real Estate, Investing in San Diego Real Estate, Local San Diego News You Can Use, San Diego Mortgage Banks and Loans Info, San Diego Real Estate, Selling San Diego Real Estate
I think all too often, Buyers and Sellers are most often disappointed when they have no clear end picture in mind. What I mean by this is that unless you know what you want and have considered your options carefully and realistically , how do know that what you are seeking is going to lead to the correct or desired conclusion.
I have had buyers tell me that they would like a 3 bedroom home with 2 car garage, it has to have at least 2 full baths and big yard. And when I ask where in San Diego they would like for me to look for that home, I get a rather large area of numerous communities that they want to consider based on some criteria of which they seem not very clear. What this tells me is that the Buyer has yet to put their desired home in the context of an actual place where such a home might exist. In particular, the budgets that are often relayed as fixed also have not correlation to the locations discussed.
We know for a fact that a home in Mission Hills, Point Loma or La Jolla that fits all the parameters of size and functionality does not have the same price tag as a home of like characteristics in San Diego Metro or in more inland communities. When the Buyers shop Mission Hills and then expect that magically the target home will somehow appear if we look hard enough or make offers low enough, when the budget dictates that we should be looking in other communities where homes typically of that market value exist.
There is a greater than a 50 % chance that this Buyer will not actually be purchasing anytime soon. The challenge of housing costs, limited by a realistic though restrictive budget is very real in any market and the limitations of budget need to be clearly drawn. The best way to be an informed buyer is spend a proper amount of time visiting various communities and understanding better the uniqueness of each area, the types of homes typically found there and the amenities of schools, shopping etc with the framework of that area. The more they see practical examples of homes they would consider in the context of the individual community and realistic budgets, the more likely they will be to actually buy a home there.
Without having the end picture in mind, a complete accurate picture, we are not likely to find the right mix of home, feature , budget and community in one package. I am a Certified Residential Specialist and with a good consultation, I can help you shape that proper end picture and then help you locate it in the right community here in San Diego. It will save you frustration and a lot of time searching. Given a large number of haystacks, in any haystack, though a needle may be there, wouldn’t it seem more useful to find the right haystack first?
My name is William Johnson and I am with RE/MAX Associates. I would love the opportunity to work with you and help you find that just right home in just the right community.
