There’s few things more frustrating than knowing exactly what neighbourhood you want to live in, being ready to make a move, and there being no homes for sale in the area. It may seem as if homes in your dream neighbourhood get gobbled up by buyers the moment they get listed.
It is a real estate reality that homes in desirable, in-demand neighbourhoods tend to sell quickly. Savvy, confident buyers can swoop in and make an offer before others have a chance to even view the property. But, that doesn’t mean you’re destined to miss out on living in the area you love, or to hope for a lucky break. There are some things you can do now to improve your chances of getting into a home in that perfect-for-you neighbourhood.
Step 1 – Find Out What You Can Afford
The first thing you’ll want to do is be very clear about what kind of home you can afford. You’ll need to sit down with your mortgage broker or lender and get an assessment of your current situation. This will help you know what is realistic in terms of price range for your dream home. That way, when a home comes up in the perfect area, you’ll be able to act quickly if you’re interested.
Step 2 – Get Your Current Property Ready to Sell
Next, you can take some steps to get your current property ready for sale. That doesn’t mean you need to list it right away, but if you need to do so quickly, you’ll be in a better position to do so. Some things you can start on include cleaning up and decluttering, getting repairs done, and sprucing up your home in other ways that will make it attractive to buyers.
Step 3 – Chat With Your Real Estate Agent Now
Last, but not least, you’ll want to sit down with your real estate agent to discuss what you’re looking for and what neighbourhoods are your preferred areas. If you’re looking for something in an area where properties move quickly, you may not even get a chance to find out about them before they’re already sold. If I know what you’re looking for, I can monitor new listings in that area and let you know about them as soon as they come on the market. This strategy will greatly increase your chances of getting a property in your dream neighbourhood before someone else does. So, if there is a dream neighbourhood you’d love to get into, give me a call.
As always, if you have any real estate-related questions, I welcome you to give me a call or send me an email. I’m always happy to chat and offer advice any time.