Choosing the Right Home to Fit Your Needs: An Interview with Don Plourde
Choosing the right home to fit your needs can be challenging, whether you are a first-time homebuyer or a seasoned real-estate connoisseur. Sometimes you know you’ve found your dream home as soon as you pull up to the curb. Other times, it takes a while to decide.
We asked a local real estate agent, Don Plourde, for tips on how to find the right home to fit your needs.
Read on for more guidance on how to narrow your search.
Don is a Broker and Co-Owner of Coldwell Banker Plourde Real Estate, located in Waterville, Maine. He currently serves as a board member of the Central Maine Growth Council. He is also the former Chairman of the Maine Real Estate Commission.
How can a real estate agent help homebuyers narrow down their home search?
After a pre-approval letter, your real estate agent will help you look for your new home. Working with a local real estate professional is a great way to see what homes are on the market.
A qualified agent can help you get to what items are “must haves” and which are on their “wish list.” People often have ideas of what they want and are sometimes somewhat unrealistic about their expectations. With a tight inventory market, it is essential to identify those items.
What questions can homebuyers ask themselves to help determine what kind of home will fit their needs?
First, you will need to narrow down your home search by making a list of “must haves” and “nice to haves.” Some helpful questions to ask yourself might include the following:
- How many bedrooms are ideal for your family?
- Figure out your location. Are you looking for an area that has proximity to work and family? Moving outside of your target area may have more advantageous prices.
- Do you anticipate any changes in your household size?
- Do you need extra land for outdoor activities like gardening or sports?
What advice would you give to new homebuyers looking to stick to their budget?
Be prepared for emergency expenses. Don’t borrow the maximum loan amount. You also need to remember that your family budget may be tight for the first few years after buying a home.
However, if you have a fixed-rate mortgage, it should get easier as time goes on due to pay raises and opportunities to refinance in the future. (Check out KFS Mortgage Company’s mortgage loan calculator for more details.)
Are there specific features to look for in a home for homebuyers who want to age in place?
Many people want to stay in their homes as they get older. Consider a one-level ranch-style home or house with a bedroom on the main level if this is the case. Open floor plans and minimal stairs are preferable. Look for extra handrails in bathrooms and wider doors. Also, check to see if there is room for a ramp.
A pre-approval is the first step toward finding a home to fit your needs. Before you find a qualified real estate agent, you should get a pre-approval letter for a mortgage loan based on a careful review of your financial information.
The loan experts at KFS Mortgage Company are here to help you through the process and answer any questions about which loan options work best for you.
To schedule a free no-obligation consultation, contact KFS Mortgage Company today.