If you are in the market to buy a home, you may be concerned that social distancing recommendations will slow or even halt your home buying journey. Is it even possible to tour homes during a stay at home order? The answer is yes, so read on to learn some great tips on how to continue your home search and even find your dream home—while still maintaining the new social distancing norms.
Do Your Prep Work
If staying at home has given you more free time than you’re used to, now is a great time to get your finances in order for your eventual dream home purchase. Get starts by taking a hard look at your finances, working out a new budget and determining how much mortgage you can really afford.
Get Connected with Home Buying Partners
Buying a home is much easier when you have the right partners on your side and you can assemble your home buying team without leaving your home You can get in touch with a real estate agent near you who can help you understand the ins and outs of your local real estate market. You can start a conversation with a lender near you who can help you find the right mortgage for you. Don’t forget, there are also housing counselors statewide who can help educate you about buying a home, so you can go from home ownership hopeful to long-term homeowner.
Think About Your Checklist
You may have thought you knew what you want in a home, but chances are, you’ve never spent as much time in your current home as you do now. Your wants and needs may have changed based on your experience. Are squealing kids driving you crazy while you work from home? Maybe that open layout isn’t as glamorous as you once thought or perhaps you need more space than you originally planned on. Being cooped up may be sparking a new interest in a single-family home with a yard instead of a condo without any green space. Take stock of what is important to you in a home so you can be ready when the time comes to begin exploring your options.
Leverage the Internet
While most home buyers start their home search online before branching out into the real world for in-person showings, the internet is now more important than ever when it comes to finding the right home. To adhere to social distancing rules, more home sellers are offering expanded photos of homes, and more are doing virtual tours than in the past! If you are able to go to some in-person showings, be sure to look up the homes online beforehand so you can determine if they might be the right fit before you go. The fewer homes you walk through, the better!
Searching for a home in the middle of a global pandemic can be challenging, but when you’re ready to buy a home, the North Carolina Housing Finance Agency is here for you. With down payment assistance, preferred real estate agents and participating lenders statewide, we can help make home happen for you.
Visit www.HousingBuildsNC.com for more information.
