I have helped a lot of buyers find their homes over the years. First-timers, move-up buyers, people relocating to Southern Ohio from somewhere else entirely.
And almost every time, there are a few things I wish they had known before we ever looked at the first house.
So here they are — straight from me.
Get pre-approved before you fall in love with a house.
I know that sounds like a formality. It is not. In this market, inventory is limited and good homes move fast. If you find something you love and you are not already pre-approved, there is a real chance you will watch someone else buy it while you are filling out paperwork. Get that step done first. Our preferred lender Trey Budke at USA Mortgage is great to work with if you need a referral.
Your wish list and your budget will probably need a conversation.
That is not a bad thing — it is just reality. What I do is help you figure out where your priorities really are. Sometimes people think they need four bedrooms and end up happier in a three-bedroom with a great yard. Sometimes the location matters more than the square footage. We work through it together.
The online estimate for that house is probably wrong, and the Assessed Value on the county auditors’ site isn’t the true value.
Zillow, Realtor.com, all of them — those automated values are ballpark guesses based on data that does not account for the actual condition of the home, recent updates, or what similar homes in your specific area have actually sold for. That is where I come in.
You are not bothering us.
Seriously. Bryan and I are both available. Text me, call me, send me a listing you saw at 9pm and want to know about. That is what we are here for.
If you are thinking about buying in Southern Ohio and you have not talked to anyone yet, I would love to be your first call.
📞 Call or text me: 937-205-6513 🌐 VanceTeamRealtors.com 🌐 VanceHomeExperts.com
Vance Team Realtors — Serving Highland, Clinton, Adams, Brown, Ross, Fayette, and Pike County Ohio