Are You Really 'Just Looking' For A House?

Are you really just looking for a house, or are you actually thinking about buying? In this episode of We Know Henderson, we’re going to talk about the difference between “just looking” for houses and being ready to buy. If you’ve ever looked at real estate websites but don’t think you’re ready to work with a realtor, this video might just change your mind.

Browsing For Real Estate

Picture this scenario: you just walked into a department store with $2,500 in cold, hard cash. Your money is burning a hole in your pocket because you want to update your wardrobe and get some new threads. As you walk into the store and an associate comes running right up to you, what do you say? "Oh, no thanks. Just looking."

Does that sound normal to you? It does to me. It happens in real estate, too. Maybe you've gone to three or four websites. You might be three weeks, three months, or even three years out from buying, and somebody calls you after you've input your information. They get you on the phone and you say, "No, just looking," or, "Just browsing."

While you may be just looking or just browsing, you do have a goal. To accomplish that goal, it's often important to have the right person by your side as a guide. There's a lot of information out there, like what area you're going to buy in, interest rates, and who's a good lender. Most importantly, you need to know what your financial picture is like now and how to control it to make sure you’re prepared to achieve your goal of homeownership.

A Case Study

Here’s a simple story to illustrate. I had a client that was looking to purchase a home. They thought it would be best for them to refinance their vehicle and drop their payment by $200 a month.

As it turns out, that new credit hit would have been a brand new loan, bringing their credit score down below the threshold that would make them eligible to buy. Luckily, I caught them at the last minute. I told them not to make that move and talk to their professional financial advisor and lender first. In the end, we were able to help them accomplish our goal.

The Path To Homeownership

So instead of getting a call from an agent that is ready, willing, and able to help you and saying, "No, just looking," let down that apprehension. It's natural, and all of us have it—including me. Instead of putting them off, though, be open and welcome to that conversation. See if they could give you the right guidance to put you on the path to homeownership.

Whether you are three weeks out, three months out, or even three years out, get the advice now that will put you on the correct path to your future. Realize that you're not just looking; you have a goal, you want to own a home. That's an awesome goal, and you can achieve it with a little guidance. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to me and I’ll be happy to help!