Buying a Home Long Distance – Emails 4-6 of 11

We are going to speed this up, because I have SO much content I want to share with you over the next few months! As a result, included in this week’s email are steps 3-5 of buying a home long distance. Please make sure you scroll down once you click on the link, to see all three videos included. You can expect two more emails on this subject, with steps 6-7 and 8-10.

Today we are covering visiting our area ahead of time, picking your realtor (Your realtor should be asking you a lot of questions and feel like a professional advisor AND friend), and choosing your lender (Your lender should have or be willing and able to develop a relationship with you and your realtor. Your realtor should be able to text your lender and get a quick response for time-sensitive activities, like pre-approval letters, even on weekends).

Step 3

Step 4

Step 5

As a reminder, we will be going into detail on each of the steps to making a long-distance home purchase, over the next several weeks. Here is the full list:

1. Be clear about what is important to you in a home. Write it down. Pick your top three points and describe them in detail.
2. Research what you can online.
3. If you can, visit the area before you start making offers, so that you can get a feel for different neighborhoods.
4. Find an experienced realtor who you trust and feel comfortable with, and who asks you a lot of questions about what is important to you. This person will be your eyes, ears, and nose on the ground, and needs to understand what is important to you.
5. Get pre-approved with a local lender, or someone who has experience in the market you’re moving to. For coastal North Carolina, this is particularly important.
6. Understand the real estate market you’re moving to and its purchase process, along with key elements of its purchase contracts. Not all states are the same, and in North Carolina, we have a due diligence fee that other states do not have. Understanding this is important. In addition, as the market changes, the real estate market in your area may be different than the one you’re moving to. Understanding these differences is critical to your home purchase success.
7. If you are not buying new construction or a newer home, consider getting an inspection before your offer is accepted.
8. Have a plan for viewing and signing contracts electronically, and delivering funds within 24 hours when your offer is accepted.
9. Visit the home once it’s under contract before the end of the due diligence period, if possible.
10. Be present for the final walkthrough of the home and closing if possible.