Home Buying and Selling Guide 2022

Buying a House in 2024


Are you considering buying a home? Buying a home is exciting, but it’s also a big step and one that will affect your finances and the rest of your life for years to come. You need to be sure you are ready to buy a home and have everything in order. Below, we’ll look at some tips you will want to keep in mind during your buying journey.


Check the Current Lender Requirements

Before you start looking for a home, you will need to be sure you can qualify for a home loan. It can be challenging to borrow if you do not have a great credit history. You will need to be sure that you can meet at least the minimum qualifications of the loan you want to receive, whether it’s a conventional loan, a VA loan, FHA, or a USDA loan.


You will want to see what the minimum down payment requirements will be, the income requirements, and the max debt-to-income ratio that will be accepted. Additionally, you will want to check your credit score. Most of the time, you will need to have at least a 620. However, the higher your score, the better your chances and the better the deal you can find.

If you don’t meet the requirements, you will want to take steps to make sure you do in a year or so. This might include improving your credit score, saving more for a down payment, increasing your income, and paying down debt.


Figure Out Your Budget

You want to know how much you can afford when you are buying a home. This will make it easier for you to determine which homes are suitable for you, and it will ensure that you don’t get attached to a home you will not be able to afford. You need to consider the cost of the mortgage and other potential home and personal expenses. This could include things like new paint, a new water heater, landscaping, etc.


Check Offers from Multiple Lenders and Get Pre-approved

Take the time to check out offers from several lenders. There may be differences between them that could seem small, but that could add up to large savings. For example, even a 1% difference in the interest rate could allow you to save a lot of money over the years.

Additionally, make sure that you get preapproved when you start shopping for a home. Being preapproved shows the buyers you are serious, and they may take your offer over another.


Tour Properties

You can start your home tours online by looking at photos and videos of the property. Once you find those that you like, you can set up a physical tour of the home. Learn their guidelines for touring, such as any COVID restrictions they have in place, and abide by them.


These are some simple tips that you will want to keep in mind when buying a house in 2022. It could be the perfect time for you to get the home of your dreams.

Tips for Selling Your Home in 2024


Now could be an excellent time to sell your home. There are plenty of buyers who are looking for properties, thanks to the good mortgage rates. It’s a seller’s market, and there is a chance that there could even be bidding wars for specific properties. This could be good news for sellers. However, you still need to be sure that you are pricing the home correctly and attracting the right buyers.


Know the Buyer

One of the essential tips is making sure that you know your ideal buyers and what they want and expect from a property. In some cases, this might mean updating your property to make it more appealing to those buyers. Updates will often improve the value of your home, as well. This could make it easier for you to find even more potential buyers. Some new paint, new cabinets or hardware, or an updated kitchen or bathroom could be some good options to consider. Even little changes can go a long way in making a home more appealing.


Photos and Good Staging Remain Important

It’s often a good idea to hire a professional photographer/videographer to take photos of your property. They can help to make your home look its best in pictures and videos. Keep in mind that these are likely the first things that a potential buyer will see. It’s what gets them to fall in love with your home and want to put in an offer. Good staged images and videos are well worth the price of hiring a professional.


Consider Your Pricing

When you are pricing the property, it’s essential to listen to the real estate agent regarding the value of your home. You have many memories in your property, and you might inadvertently inflate the price based on your emotional attachment. You need to be sure you are pricing right for your neighborhood. Additionally, you might want to consider pricing just below certain thresholds. For example, rather than pricing the home at $304,000, consider pricing it at $299,000. This can help you to get more people interested in the property.


Work with a Good Real Estate Agent

Selling a home is made much easier when working with an excellent real estate agent like the RE/MAX Preferred Associates team. However, you should take the time to vet the agent to ensure that they are suitable for the job. The agent should know your area and the price points that work well. They should have plenty of experience selling properties like yours, as well. Make sure you understand their strategies for your property.


Qualify Buyers

You might also want to qualify buyers before you sell. Make sure that the buyers are vetted before they come to your home to look around. You only want to deal with serious buyers looking for a property, not just people who explore homes for sale on the weekend for something to do.


These are a few tips that will help you when you are getting ready to sell your property. 2021 could be the right time for you to sell and start looking for a new home.

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