How to navigate first time home buying in this market

Been thinking of purchasing your first home? I know you’ve probably been listening to the news or the social media feeds. You’re probably hearing words and phrases like “inflation” or “high interest rates”.

Well, both of those things are correct but it hasn’t slowed the real estate market in Essex County MA.

In the last month homes in Essex county average days on market is 43 days. Average days to offer, 29 days. That’s the average of 34 cities and towns.

The real question here is “How do I purchase my first home in such a competitive market?”  The answer is simple. You need an agent that is familiar with where you’re looking. (And no, I don’t just mean myself) Everyone out there knows someone, who knows someone, who’s a real estate agent. Meet with more than 1 person. If you don’t feel the chemistry or you don’t feel they are hearing or understanding your wants/needs move on to the next. You’re interviewing someone whom you will be working closely with during your transaction, you have to feel good about it.

What I will tell you NOT to do is reach out to search engines like Zillow. Why? If you decided to get an agent through one of the search engines it could be anyone. And I mean anyone.  If you’re choosing to look at homes on the Seacoast of MA then you don’t need someone from central or western MA getting you as a “lead” to assist you in buying a home in a market they know nothing about.

When you get the right agent in the area you’re looking you get access to a plethora of knowledge. Local agents know the tax rates, new items that may be hitting tax bills. They know if you have a brand new school, or a school in the works of being replaced. They know where to direct you for the closest hospitals and doctors offices. A local Realtor can be minutes from the homes you’re looking for when you yourself can not be there.

Don’t just settle when making one of the largest and most important purchases of your life. Especially when its the first. Trust your self to an agent that knows your market and wants to take care of you and your investment. You can never go wrong with a Coldwell Banker Real estate agents. Not only is our company global but our marketing reach spans farther than just the boundaries of Massachusetts.

Tired of building someone else equity by paying rent? Please reach out and lets sit down and create a plan for you.

Cheers