Like a Home at the Top of Your Budget? How to Make it More Affordable
If you have been talking with a real estate agent about homes for sale that you have interest in but you think the property is a little overpriced, or that it's at the top of your price range, tell the real estate agent you want to see if the property is really worth the list price.
People may list their home for sale at a high price because they assume people will put in low offers, or because they think the house is more valuable than it is in the current market. Here are some things you can do to find the true property value.
Have Taxes Assessed
If land values have changed greatly in the last few years in the area, it's important that you have the taxes assessed. You want to know if you can pay less in taxes each year, which will lower your mortgage payment if you are making tax payments in your monthly mortgage. Your real estate agent should be able to tell you if the value has dropped since the taxes were last assessed.
Compare Recent Sales Not Listings
You need to compare the recent sales in the last few months that are comparable to your home, not the local comparable listings. Everyone in the area may have their home overpriced. Houses that actually sold will have been inspected and appraised, so they are a more realistic example of what the house you are interested in is worth. This helps you to see past what is on the market now, and what the property's real value is.
Consider Sale Options
If the seller is willing to pay the closings costs on the sale of the house, this is more money that you can use to put down on the principle of the loan at the closing. This means fewer taxes to pay, and more equity in the property. This can lower your risk of having a loan to high for the house, and it helps you reach the payoff quickly. Find out if this could be a possibility with the listing you like.
There are a lot of different things that may be wrong with the house, so you also need to get the property inspected and appraised. Once you have this completed your real estate agent can negotiate the price of the house with the seller. These are all things that can make the home more practical for your needs.