Now Can We Go See Homes?
No, not just yet. Before we go out and see homes, we want to talk with you a bit more and find out what you want, why you are moving, what your life is like now and what you want it to be after you close and get your keys. We need to talk about timing too.
Let’s Talk Location and Lifestyle
After taking care of your finances, this is the next most important part of the search and decision process. This is where you envision your life day-to-day and how your home fits into that vision. So, even before thinking about the specifics of the home, as discussed below, you should imagine where it is you want to live in San Diego County and what your daily life is like – and what you want it to be like once you move into your home. Another real estate cliche is that the most important thing is “Location, Location, Location”. Again, there is a lot of truth in most cliches and that is true with this one as well.
Some Things to Consider
Do you want to be close to the ocean? If so, is that because you surf, love to swim, run on the beach, or because you just want an ocean view? Do you want to have a mountain view or a canyon-edge backyard? Do you have kiddos that need to be driven to school? Is there a particular school you want your children to attend? How long of a commute do you want? How important is it to be close to your favorite grocery store, yoga studio or gym? What about proximity to family and friends? Do you have pets that need to be walked at lunchtime? What setting do you want? Urban, Coastal, Suburban, Rural? Once you start pulling together this vision of your home life and community, we can help you choose where to focus your home search to help make your dreams a reality.
Setting Out a Timeline
Related to these “big picture” issues of lifestyle and location is the timing of your home purchase – your personal timing as well as market timing. Whether you are currently renting a property, need to sell a home before you buy, or if you are relocating from another state, city or country, putting together a timeline for your goals is essential. When does your lease term expire? Are you starting a new job on a certain date? Do you need temporary rental housing? Do you have children who need to be registered in a new school? These are just a few of the many issues we discuss with our clients when mapping out a timeline and strategy. And while homes sell in San Diego during each week and month of the year, there are some regular seasonal market adjustments that must be accounted for. We’ll map out the timing with you and do our best to make it a smooth transition. Good planning depends on good communication and we will make sure you are always up to seeped with the details. At this early stage, we will ask how you prefer to communicate which will set the stage for a successful escrow process and overall experience. Calls, FaceTime, face-to-face meetings, emails, text, etc. We’ll talk about the best way to communicate throughout the process to make sure we can help you successfully execute your plan.