Dawna is a real pro! I am so glad she was on our team. For nearly four years she guided us through the volatility of the San Luis Obispo housing market, answering our questions from a far (we live in Montana) and flagging appropriate properties or developments along the way. When the timing was right and we found just what we were looking for, Dawna expertly guided us through the negotiations and inspections. This wasn't our first home buying experience, but we really appreciated how easy Dawna and her assistant made the whole process. We successfully closed in less than 30 days.
- Determine when and if it will be best for you to buy real estate. Talk with your CPA about potential tax benefits for you with owning real estate. In our experience, only about 40% or less of potential property buyers do this before buying property.
- Determine when the timing is best for your personal circumstances. Consider factors like your health and upcoming plans for the year.
- Shop for your loan in advance. You will be more credible as a buyer if you have in place the means to buy before shopping.
- Watch “sold” real estate activity in the community. This is important for buyers to do because it can give an indication of how the sellers (and their agent) will view your offer, and the expectations that sellers have about the market.
- Resist the temptation to grieve yesterday’s lost deal. You can only buy the property that is available today, not yesterday's and not tomorrow’s. If it seems like a good deal, it probably will look like an opportunity to many other buyers. Trust yourself and your agent, and act on it! Better to be the buyer in first position with back-up offers behind you, than competing in a pool of desperate multiple offers (yes, multiple offers happen in all market conditions).