5 Tips to Find a Massachusetts or Connecticut House Before the End of the Year

Traditionally, searching for and then purchasing a home takes time, but there are ways to expedite the process. Let’s go through 5 recommendations for finding a Massachusetts or Connecticut house before the end of the year to help you achieve your objective.

Run the Numbers

Just as you would when buying a home under any circumstances, everything starts by looking over your current finances and budgeting appropriately. 

Because we’re working on a tight timeline to get you into a new home before the end of the year, you might run across some roadblocks getting accepted for multiple loans. This may be contingent on the amount of money you have set aside for a down payment, so be prepared for lenders to be wary from the start.

The biggest reason this step is so important is that knowing your financial boundaries helps inform the rest of your Massachusetts or Connecticut home buying journey.

Be Decisive

With your finances squared away, the next step is coming up with a list of wants and needs. 

It’s crucial to distinguish between these two groups because it’s doubtful that you’ll receive all you desire when buying a Massachusetts or Connecticut house in such a short period of time. This is making a decision about what you genuinely require from your new home and sticking to it as you move forward.

It’s also a good idea to think of the function of your Massachusetts or Connecticut home over the next five or ten years so that you don’t find yourself needing to go through this whole process all over again in a handful of years.

Call for Help

While we would normally recommend hiring on the services of a qualified and experienced real estate professional, it’s going to be even more important to do so here. 

Meet with at least three different agents to get a sense of their personality, investment in your position, and ability to think on their feet while also intelligently answering your queries. Your realtor will be useful in guiding you to properties that fit your specifications and in assisting you with paperwork and communications during the bargaining process.

By taking that extra load of background work off of your shoulders you’ll be able to focus on pursuing the property and have an easier time thinking through everything from the initial offer to closing.

Hit the Listings Hard

If you have hired an agent, they will immediately go about finding properties that meet your criteria. However, it’s also good for you to take it upon yourself to do some searching on your own. 

Agents will use their Multiple Listing Services, or MLS, to begin providing you possibilities, but there’s always the possibility that a motivated seller with a property that meets your criteria will slip between the cracks.

If you do happen to find a property in which you are interested, let your agent know so they can get in contact with the party and get the ball rolling on a walkthrough.

Minimize Your Contingencies

Once you have blazed a trail through the home search and feel that you are ready to put in an offer, it’s best to keep negotiations short and sweet. 

The simplest way to do this is to pare down your contingency list to the essentials. A mortgage lender will require an assessment and a house inspection if you are applying for a loan. Both of these tasks may be completed quickly and should not jeopardise your deadline if the results are positive.

Not requiring a laundry list of additional inspections and repairs is a surefire way to provide the seller with an offer they can’t refuse.

Guidance in Buying a House Before the End of the Year

If you want to buy a Massachusetts or Connecticut house before the end of the year and need a professional partner in your search, contact us today at 413-455-0008!