Start with the Mission and Vision for Your Home
- What is your dream home and does that fit your budget?
- How do you envision living in your home?
- Will you be raising kids?
- Are you working from home?
- Do you plan to entertain?
- What do you envision in your neighborhood?
- Do you want to be within walking distance of certain things?
- What amenities are you looking for?
- If you have kids, how important are schools and location?
- Is there anything else that you envision?
Balance Your Mission and Vision with Your Budget
Start out by making two lists:
- Must-Haves – The first should include items you must have (i.e., the number of bedrooms you need for the size of your family, a one-story house if accessibility is a factor, etc.).
- Nice-to-Haves – things you would like to have (pool, den, etc.) but that are not absolutely necessary. Realistically for first-time buyers, you probably will not get everything on your wish list, but it will keep you on track for what you are looking for.
Questions our Advisors will ask
Questions including but not limited to that you should be ready to discuss:
- How long have you been looking?
- Are you working with another salesperson or broker? If so, who?
- How many are in your family? Do you have school-age children?
- Do you rent or own your current home? Rent amount?
- Must you sell your home or complete a lease period before buying? How long is the lease?
- How soon do you need to move?
- If we find the right property, are you prepared to make a decision now?
- What is your price range?
- Do you have a budget for monthly payments?
- Has a lender prequalified/ pre-approved you for a loan? If so, for how much?
- What’s the name of the lender that prequalified / pre-approved you?
- How much cash do you want to use for the purchase?
- Is there a particular location you prefer?
- How many bedrooms do you need? Square feet? Units?
- Do you have a particular style of home in mind?
- Any there any particular features or amenities that you desire (flooring, landscaping, pool, kitchen, great room, view property, corner lot, etc.)?
- Are you okay paying HOA fees?
- Are you okay with mello-roos tax?
- Are you okay with a community zoned as condos?
- Will anyone else be helping you make the buying decision?
- What special requirements do you need in a property?
- What are the automatic deal breakers in a property?
- What conditions in the purchase would be a deal breaker?
- Where are you employed and/or your spouse employed?
- What’s the furthest you are willing to commute to work?
- Do you have family, friends or other needs nearby that you want to live close to?
- What times are best for you to view properties?
- How do you like to communicate—by phone, fax, mail, text, or e-mail?
- What’s the best time to reach you? At what number?
- Have you purchased a home before?