Summer can be a great time to take a big step in your real estate plans, whether you’re looking to sell your house or buy a new one.
Here are some summer real estate tips for you:
If you’re selling your house, start sooner than later. If you wait until the end of summer, many potential home buyers will have already either made a decision on their new home or they’ll be out of the ‘summer house buying’ mode and will be focusing again another school season. Try to get in escrow with a buyer before the end of July, if possible.
If you’re looking to buy a new home, then know that you won’t be the only one. You’ll likely have more options to choose from in the early part of summer as more sellers put their homes on the market. However, you may find better deals toward the end of the season on homes that haven’t yet been snatched up. Some sellers may be more apt to strike a bargain than watch their homes sit on the market into the fall season.
Here’s a big tip: be sure to have your financing in order and ready to go. When competing with other buyers for a home you have your eye on, being able to close in 30 days instead of 45 could be the difference between the seller choosing your offer over another’s. Got cash? Offer to close in 21 days and put down a big earnest money deposit.
Special Summer Tip: Want to really catch the eye of home sellers in Hawaii? How about putting up a sign like “Want to buy a house” next to your beach towels? The beaches will be crowded and you just might find someone walking by who’s interested in selling. It may seem a bit corny, but it can be very effective. If anything, it tells people you’re serious – and serious sellers appreciate serious buyers.