BUY A HOUSE THIS SUMMER LIKE A DAMN SUPERHERO

By Mark Kosin

Summer can be a perilous time if you’re hunting for a new home. It is among the most popular times to go house hunting because of the nice weather, but inventories and schedules can be thrown into disarray by summer’s sometime unwieldy schedule of vacations, BBQs, and holiday weekends. Follow these tips to ensure your home buying adventure becomes a summer blockbuster.  

1. BE PATIENT, BUT ALSO READY TO STRIKE

Summer is going to see higher prices overall than in slower times like fall and winter, but that doesn’t mean you need to pay more than you’ve planned for. While others whip themselves into a feeding frenzy, keep your cool in spite of the summer heat. Don’t fall victim to feeling pressure from sellers and be willing to take your search into the dog days of August when people will be more eager to sell. But be prepared! If the right house comes along at right price you should know it and make your move. The limited inventory compared to spring and the seasonal popularity make summer very competitive. You don’t want to miss the perfect opportunity because you weren’t able to recognize it or weren’t pre-approved for the right loan.

2. GET THE ATTENTION YOU DESERVE 

Spring is usually the busiest time to buy (and 2017 was no exception) and it is likely agents will have less inventory to move than they did in the spring. Take advantage of your realtor’s less hectic schedule by seeing more homes and getting better informed. If you’re working with someone who had a great spring and wants to kick back this summer you can go ahead and let them stay by the pool without your commission. Find yourself an agent who is excited to spend their summer days with you.

3. DO THE RESEARCH AND YOU’LL HAVE PERFECT TIMING

A good bit of summer housing inventory are homes that did not sell when listed in the spring. That doesn’t mean these houses aren’t worth your time: in fact it's quite the opposite. Homes that have been on the market for for than 60 days are ripe for the picking. Overlook any cosmetic issues that may have scared away spring buyers and see what kind of a deal you can squeeze out of these overripe offerings. Someone who listed their home in the spring likely has no desire to let it sit until August, let alone the fall. Seeking out older listings will help you end up with a tall, cool glass of savings.

4.  REMEMBER: YOU’RE GETTING PEAK NEIGHBORHOOD

Part of what makes summer such a popular time is that it’s when neighborhoods and homes look most inviting: green leafy trees, flowers in bloom, and the smell of charcoal wafting in the air. This is great because it lets you envision you spending your own perfect summers there. But don’t let the majesty of a warm summer’s evening cloud your judgement— unless you’re in California or the Southwest that perfect weather won’t last forever and you’ll need to worry about rain, cold and snow. Keep a critical eye out for potential drafty rooms, troublesome flood areas, and prices jacked up as high as those July temperatures. 

5. MOVE WITH AN EASY BREEZY SCHEDULE AND SAVE MONEY

Summer is a hugely popular moving time for renters as well and, as a result, moving rates are higher than usual. But if your schedule allows for some flexibility—like, say, a Wednesday moving day—you can net even more savings as you make that road trip to a new home (even if it’s just around the block).