This informative post was contributed to Leisure Freak by freelance writer Sierra Powell.
Your life is probably pretty exciting right now if you’re thinking about buying a home. It’s a wonderful thing to buy a home, but you have to stay mindful of your budget, especially after you retire. You can still find an amazing home without breaking the bank. These are some things you can do to achieve that:
Image Source: Pexels.com
Look for Homes That Have Been Sitting
One of the best ways to get a break on the price of the perfect home is to look for ones that have been sitting. These are homes that have not sold for some reason or another. They may not be bad homes at all. Maybe the prices were too high, and no one else was willing to pay what the owners wanted. Maybe something about the homes didn’t appeal to others but may still appeal to you. Either way, the sellers will be eager to make a deal on it. Make an offer if you find one of these that you like. Don’t forget to use your negotiation skills. You always have the power to negotiate to pay the price you want for a home.
Consider Searching for Foreclosure Homes
You may want to sign up with an organization that can help you to find foreclosure homes. You have a great chance of getting a house at a reasonable price if it’s in the middle of foreclosure. In some cases, you can get a 30 percent discount on such a home. Make sure that you understand the redemption period and where the home is in the process of foreclosure before you put your heart into the sale. You need to know that the home will be yours when it’s all said and done.
Talk Directly to Your Real Estate Agent
You could talk directly to your real estate agent to ensure that you get an affordable home. Let the real estate agent know your budgeting boundaries and tell him or her that you will not budge. That way, the agent will only look for homes that match the price you want to pay or cost less.
Think About Buying a Fixer-Upper
Another idea to get the perfect home without breaking the bank is to look for fixer-upper homes. Fixer-upper homes are properties that need a little bit of work on them. Maybe the home needs new carpeting, or it has a few electrical issues. Perhaps it needs to be painted or the walls need some work. You can take advantage of an opportunity like that if you’re handy with tools and you want to save money. You could even find a fairly-priced handy person to help you to fix up your project home.
Don’t ever pass up a fixer-upper because it might be perfect for you. If your fixer-upper seems like it might need some bigger ticket items replaced down the road like a roof, appliances, garage doors, etc it might be worth picking up a home warranty plan to help you with replacing these items.
Look for Some Short Sales
You can also consider grabbing a short sale. Sometimes, sellers just want to get out of a house deal and move on with their lives. You can purchase such a house if their bank agrees to let them make a short sale. You’ll save money because you’ll be able to buy the home for less than it’s worth.
Explore Some Other Areas
Another way you can find a cheaper house is to look at some of the less expensive areas near you. There might be a nearby town within 10 miles where the cost of living is less than it is where you live. That’s quite common in places that are known tourist attractions. Take a drive one day and do some research to find the most affordable houses. This is possible even in Southern California. You can obtain a home with a slightly lower value and still stay within the VA loan limits in San Bernardino.
Again, don’t forget to negotiate when you find the home you want. You don’t have to pay the price that’s on the listing. Home prices are usually up for negotiations. Take a chance and make an offer on something you like. Maybe you won’t have to break the bank after all.
Find Your Dream Home Now
You now know a few secrets that will help you get a new home without breaking yourself. Try them all and then choose the home that best meets your needs. You’ll be glad you did.
Thank you Sierra for contributing this tip filled article to Leisure Freak. One of the best aspects of retirement is having the freedom to live anywhere without the tethering of employment. Retirement should include living where we are happiest.
Author Bio: Sierra Powell graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a major in Mass Communications and a minor in Writing. When she’s not writing, she loves to cook, sew, and go hiking with her dogs.