Buying a home can be both exciting and stressful, and more of the latter if you are buying a home in North Carolina clear across the state from your current home. Making a home purchase from far away comes with its own challenges, but with the right approach, you can buy your dream home successfully and with minimal stress attached.
Use “Why” to Find Out “Where”
While buying a home from across the state can be stressful, narrowing down the area for your home search can make it less so. When determining your home search area, it is important to not just think about where you are going but why you want to live there. Consider the reason you are moving in the first place. If you are making a move to be closer to family, it might be best to choose neighborhoods that are near your loved ones. If you are moving for a career change, consider looking at communities that are close to your workplace and that will provide a favorable commute. Understanding your reasons for making a big move and setting up your search area to match will help reduce your stress and help ensure you get the right home for you.
Research Neighborhoods in Advance
It can be hard to tell whether an area is right for you just from photos on a real estate website, but online research is a great place to get started on finding your dream home. Before you officially begin your home search, familiarize yourself with the area you are moving to in advance, so you have some knowledge of what to expect. For example, if you are moving to a big city, you might need to prepare yourself to downsize to afford to live there. On the other hand, if you are moving to a rural area, you may need to adjust your expectations if you are used to walking everywhere you need to get to. Having a good idea of what your new area will be like lets you better use your time when you begin your official house search.
Recruit a Trusted Team
The key to buying the right home from across North Carolina is making sure you have the right people on your team to help. Enlist the help of a respected and professional real estate agent who knows the area well, and let their expertise be your guide. A good agent will listen to your needs and concerns and show you homes that will be the best fit for you. Another team member to add is a trusted loan officer who can help you understand the housing market in your area and help you find the best loan product for your situation. The NC Housing Finance Agency maintains a list of preferred real estate agents and participating lenders and loan officers who can help you purchase a home you can afford.
Be Strategic About Your Travel
When buying a home from across the state, you will likely want to see many homes all at once to minimize your travel time. This is a big decision for you and your family, and buying a home sight-unseen isn’t right for everyone. Remember to budget for travel expenses when you go to see your potential new homes. A good real estate agent will be able to schedule multiple showings for you in the short time you might be in town and will help you make the most of your time and minimize your travel expenses. Aside from house hunting, you can also use this time to explore your new town or city and get to know your potential new neighborhood to ensure that you will be happy in your new home for the long term.
Buying a home across the state doesn’t have to be stressful, and the NC Housing Finance Agency has resources that can help. From affordable mortgage products to home buying resources and everything in between, the NC Housing Finance Agency is dedicated to making home ownership happen for you.
