It’s a buyer’s market, and the current climate of Wilmington Delaware real estate suggests that if you’ve been thinking about buying a home in the area, now is a hot time to do so. With home prices and interest rates at record lows, now is probably the ideal time to start your Wilmington home search. That way, you can take advantage of the current, low costs and find the home that really suits you best. It’s time to start house-hunting.

With all of that being said, buying a Wilmington, DE home is far from easy. Especially if it’s your first time around the block, you can get slammed with extra feeds, stressful transactions, and sticky negotiations if you don’t have the right professional looking out for your best interests.

As a Wilmington Delaware real estate agent, I make it my responsibility to help first-time homebuyers navigate the local market by both providing quality advice and making their transaction as smooth and seamless as possible.

When you first start your Wilmington home search, it can be easy to get caught up in the excitement of buying a home and make some costly errors. Follow these eight quick tips, however, and you’ll be in your brand new Wilmington, DE home in no time!

1. Research the neighborhood. It’s an old, but true, mantra: Location, Location, Location! If you don’t take the time to research a neighborhood you’re interested in, you could be in for some serious buyer’s remorse after purchase. Remember, you might find the dream home, but if it’s in a neighborhood that doesn’t suit your needs, you’ll never be fully happy. Take the time to do some research, and you’ll be much more satisfied after signing the papers.

2. Look at several houses before you buy. We’ve all heard of love at first sight, but if you use that during your home search, you could be stuck with a home that needs costly repairs or that doesn’t really fit your needs. Take the time to look and you could find a home better than you even dreamed possible. Just keep an objective eye out on every property!

3. Get a professional inspection. Even if a property is pre-inspected, it can be hard to trust that a seller is disclosing everything wrong with the house, or that the repairs they did make were done thoroughly. Investing in a professional inspection can ease your mind and insure that you’ve covered all your bases, which will make move-in day much less stressful.

4. Go after what you need, not what you want. You might love that cozy, two-bedroom home with a lot of fancy upgrades, but if your family is growing, is it really what you need? Keep your future plans in mind when you’re buying a house. If you focus on what you need instead of what you want, chances are you’ll be more satisfied with the house down the line, and you’ll be in the property for a longer time. It will create a more worthwhile investment.

5. Buying a home at auction? Never overbid. Due to the high number of foreclosures sweeping the nation, many of you may be interested in buying a home at auction. This could be a great idea, but you have to be careful not to overbid. Do your research before attending the auction and stick to the price you know is right. Many auctioneers try and push the home way over market price during auction, so don’t get sucked into that game. Know your limit and stick to it.

6. Never buy a home based on décor. Sure, that house you looked at might have nice decorations, but how will it look with your furnishings in it? Take a step back and imagine your belongings in the house. If that changes your opinion of the property, then it’s probably not the best home for you.

7. Be careful when you read real estate ads. Ad copy is meant to make a house sound amazing and grand. Their phraseology is meant to “talk up” the property. “Cozy” is probably code for small. “As-is” means you might have a lot of work to do. Learn how to read between the lines, so you can avoid wasting time by going to see houses that you’ll want nothing to do with.

8. Don’t buy the most expensive home on the block. Sure, it’s great to keep up with the community you live in, but if you surpass them, you’ll never get the same return on investment. If you buy the priciest property, you’ll find that when you put it back on the market, you won’t get what you put into the home. Try and avoid this by finding a home that is within the average price range of your community.

Buying a home is complicated, but if you stick to these eight tips when you begin your Wilmington home search, you’ll find that your satisfaction after purchase will be high. As your Wilmington real estate expert, it’s my job to educate you on the best home buying tactics for amazing results. If you’re thinking about moving to the Wilmington, DE community, or would like to see some of the homes available on the Wilmington real estate market, don’t hesitate to contact me! I’d love to help you find your dream home.

Katina Geralis
Wilmington, DE Real Estate Expert
NextRE Team
Wilmington Real Estate
Wilmington Homes for Sale
Visit My Website
Contact Me