North Texas rang in the new year after seeing the home sales for 2012 reach its highest point since 2008, causing prices to go up and the inventory of existing houses on the market to go down. Because of this, getting premium residential representation when looking for a new home is extremely important. Learn the biggest tips necessary to prepare yourselves for the home-buying process before giving us a call to help you the rest of the way!

1. Finances in order

The very first thing prospective home buyers should consider before starting the search for their first home is what their budget will be, and realistically what mortgage they can afford to pay each month. By doing this, obtaining their credit score, and making arrangements with a mortgage lender, first-time home buyers can better prepare themselves financially before taking the big step of buying their first home.

2. What type of house do you want? (Build or Buy)

The DFW area has all types of homes for the prospective buyer, whether you’re looking for a small, one-story home with a few bedrooms, or a house big enough for the whole family and then some. But, have you considered building your home in order to meet your special requests? The best part of buying your own home is being able to customize your “dream home” and make it exactly what you want from the ground up. View our past blog post for more information on buying a construction home here in North Texas.

 

3. Location, Location, Location

Never compromise the safety of a good neighborhood for a “good bargain” on a home. The best part is that here in the DFW Metroplex, you don’t have to! With several different neighborhoods catering to different age groups and interests, there’s an area perfect for every home buyer in Dallas-Fort Worth. Not only is it better to pick a great neighborhood for your own safety, but it will also only increase the value of your home in the future years, where as a bad neighborhood can potentially decrease the value of your home later on.

4. Who will help you find what you’re looking for?

This is where we come in. By choosing to work with an exclusive home buyers’ agency, you know you’re getting all of the information you need to make the correct choice in buying your first home. At times, real estate agents who focus on both buying and selling may have a conflict of interest when showing you a home. At Bill Shields Home Buyers Agency, we make sure to point out all potential hazards of a home you’re interested, and give you alternate suggestions than homes on your list in order to make sure you pick the best home possible in Dallas-Fort Worth with well-rounded, unbiased information.

5. Home Inspection

While homeowners are required to have a home inspection and disclose any potential problems with their home and property, often times there are hazards that go unnoticed and undisclosed, despite the legal requirement. Because of this, it’s important to have your own home inspection completed on your new home. With Bill Shields’ Buyers Agency, we offer a FREE home inspection when using us as your home buying consultant. This way, we can help you find the home of your dreams, and assure you that the property is safe and sound, all at once! While working with us, when it comes time to close in on a purchase of your soon-to-be new home, we will perform a home inspection to discuss potential hazards and damage that should be calculated into the final price.

Want to learn more about the home-buying process? Need help finding the right home for you in North Texas? Visit our website and get started today!