Buying a home in your current city or state can be stressful enough even though you’re in familiar territory. Can you imagine looking for a house out of state?
Let’s just say I don’t think that anyone’s dream scenario.
A cross-country move can leave you feeling anxious. You don’t know your way around, aren’t familiar with the neighborhoods and schools. You may not have family or friends can lead you in the right direction. You’re pretty much on your own.
Understandably, you might have a little doubt in your mind and eliminate buying a home out of state from your options. You may consider renting instead until you get the lay of the land.
However, by doing a little research about the area, your home search can go smoothly.
Here are a few tips for buying a home in Northern Virginia.
Do Your Research
When buying a home in Northern Virginia, the first thing you should do is research. Go online and read about the different areas and neighborhood.
See what you can find out about what living in different communities afford you.
How is the commute from each area to your new job?
Search online for listings and look for agents that specialize in the local area. It’s always a good idea to email a few of them. Most agents will send you listings each week, so you know when new houses hit the market.
Work With A Knowledgeable Realtor
When you’re relocating, it is essential to hire an agent that specializes in the area. They can accurately assess the property, know different amenities and new listings in the market.
An agent with expertise in the local market can provide you with this information and stand out from the competition. Your agent will be doing a lot of legwork since you may not be able to see the properties in person, so choose wisely.
You can start looking for agents through referrals or searching on the internet. Check out their real estate website to see how long they’ve been selling real estate, the area they specialize, their sales and client reviews.
Once you’re certain of the agent, ask for details on recent comparable sales, average days on market, and average sales price.
Get A Second Opinion
Sure the best way to search for a home is in person but you may not have the luxury of making multiple trips to tour properties. It’s always better to have friends or relatives in the area stop by to see the home in person but for many buyers that isn’t an option.
If that’s the case here’s where you real agent will come in handy. If you can’t be there in person a trusted set of eyes is the next best thing. If your agent has a good idea of what you’re interested in they can preview properties for you and send you a video walkthrough of homes they think would be a good fit.
Try To Make It To the Home Inspection
If you don’t have enough time to view homes in person and can only make one trip during the home buying process try to make it to the home inspection. Many buyers want to be there to sign the paperwork at settlement but if it comes down to choosing between being present during the search, inspection, or settlement we recommend being at the inspection.
Yes, the home inspection report will have pictures of key issues and pictures are great however video is better and your presence is BEST.
During the home inspection not only will the inspector point out areas of concern but they’ll also share important maintenance steps you can and should execute to get the most out of your new home.
Bottomline
Buying a home in Northern Virginia or any other state is much easier with our today’s technology. Buyers can now view houses without actually visiting and can have real-time conversations with their agent while looking at the house thanks to video chats.
Hopefully, these advancements will make the processing of buying a home out of state a little easier for you.
By working with a trusted real estate agent you can ensure a smooth transaction.
Are you thinking about buying a home soon? Check out our Steps to Buying a Home Guide. Feel free to give me a call at 703-539-2053 or email [email protected] to schedule a private showing of this or any other property.
About the Author
The above article was written by Abraham Walker, Your Northern Virginia Real Estate Agent, helping clients market their homes to achieve high sales with a quick closing time is my main priority. He’s the co-founder of Ask A Walker and can be found on YouTube, Facebook, and HERE on this blog.
I help people sell and buy real estate in the following Northern Virginia area cities & neighborhoods: Kingstowne, Island Creek, Cameron Station, Overlook, Alexandria, Old Town, Belle Haven, Fort Hunt, Mount Vernon, Springfield, West Springfield, Burke, Lorton, Woodbridge, Lake Ridge, Manassas, Annandale, Fairfax, Arlington, McLean, Reston, Herndon and of course Vienna.
If you found this post helpful please share it with others interested in keeping up with Northern Virginia real estate.
