Most first time buyers in San Diego are on the hunt for a great deal. And some of the best deals are found when buying your house directly from a seller. Here are some thoughts to help you understand the many benefits of buying directly.
You might think you need to hire a real estate agent and go through the traditional process in order to buy your first home, however, this simply may not be the case. What you may not know, is that you don’t need to work with an agent at all. By doing some of the due diligence yourself, you will be able to work directly with a seller to buy your first house at an excellent price. Of course, it will take some work, and you will need to educate yourself on the local market and on real estate as a whole, but when executed correctly, you will be able to save thousands on the purchase of your San Diego house.
Getting Prepared
In order to buy a house directly, you will need to know what you are getting into. Take the time to learn about how the process works and become familiar with our local real estate market. Learn the real estate lingo and terminology used by the agents and investors you will likely be dealing with. Define what you are looking for and what you are willing to pay. Make notes of where you are willing to compromise and where you are not. Go into the process informed and knowing what you want to achieve and you will have no problem buying your San Diego house directly.
How To Do It
To buy a San Diego house directly, the process isn’t that much different than it would be if you hired an agent. You can start to look for sellers on your own. When looking for homes on your own, the first step is to drive the neighborhoods you like. Make notes on any properties for sale in the area. Even if you aren’t interested in buying yourself, you can learn a lot about the market by researching available properties. In rare cases, you might even find someone who hadn’t even considered selling, who is willing to take your offer. A house that looks a bit unkempt is a sign of a potentially motivated seller, just make sure the inside of the property has been taken care of. If you come across a home you really love, write down the address and use either the property appraiser’s website or the tax assessment records website to contact the owner. This should be done very thoughtfully and delicately, as some people might be put off, or be hesitant about your real intent.
If you are sourcing the properties yourself, you might consider joining local real estate groups and putting the word out that you are looking to buy a house. Finding off-market properties of value can be a bit of a challenge on your own, especially for first time home buyers.
To Finance Or Not?
If you are financing the purchase, make sure to get pre-approved before making your offer. This will save you a lot of headaches down the road. Interview a few lenders to determine the best fit for you. Of course, if you have the means of doing so, be prepared to pay in cash to improve your offer terms. If the seller is also working without an agent, they are likely trying to sell quickly and keep costs down. In today’s market, cash offers from your competition could be the difference in whether or not your offer is accepted.
What It Will Mean For You
By purchasing your house directly from a seller, you will be able to eliminate an agents commission and costs. Many sellers prefer to work this way, which will benefit all parties involved. We often buy homes directly from sellers, so don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you need help strategizing!