Many Are Affiliated With Real Estate Companies

Category: Finance, Real Estate.

Would you buy a car because your friend liked it?

The answer to both questions is probably not. Would you ask a car salesman which vehicle is best for you? How many people would move to a locale because their friends liked it? How many people would ask a real estate agent which locale is best for them? Lots. Plenty.

It s because people are only now becoming aware of the resources available to help them find the best place to live. Why is that? In the past, we didn t have any alternative to seeking the advice of people we know or had met and then guessing about whether a locale was really right for us. There are dozens, perhaps hundreds of locales around the area. Imagine: you re moving to a new area. During your relocation, you ask friends and colleagues who live in that area where you should look for a new home. Not being satisfied, you get in touch with a real estate agent or relocation service and ask them to help you find the best place to live.

You might get suggestions like: "look here, it has good schools" , or" I live in X and I really like it" , or" try Y, there are a lot of transplants there" . They start asking you a lot of questions about what you like or don t like in a locale. You re still not sure. Then you go out and drive around. It s not that you re indecisive. What s more, the real estate agent may steer you to locales they know well and where they have a lot of experience.

It s that you don t have the right information to make the decision. It s not because they are unethical. But is that the best thing for you? We all tend to gravitate to that with which we are most familiar. No. That s a lot of pressure.

Choosing a locale and buying a home is one of the biggest decisions in your life. Add to it the stress and uncertainty of moving and you are really in a difficult spot. Do your homework first before contacting a real estate agent or relocation service. But there is an easy way out. Get unbiased advice- -use the Internet for research, the same way you would if you were buying a car. Be careful which ones you use. There are many web sites that offer" relocation advice" .

Some are affiliated with relocation services and serve to generate sales leads on potential clients. Did you know that real estate salespeople are limited by the US Fair Housing Act in what they can tell you about a locale? Many are affiliated with real estate companies. It s not that you aren t allowed to know( the information is available through the Census bureau) , it s just that they cannot be the ones to tell you. How can you tell? So look for independent, unaffiliated, unbiased, unrestricted advice to inform your decision. To be sure, review the legal disclosures on the web site to determine if it s affiliated with a real estate or relocation company.

Start by determining which locations are best for you. Reorder your search process. There are several web sites that provide independent recommendations. Pick one that makes it easy for you to get what you need without overwhelming you. They range from asking a few simple questions to having you completely lengthy questionnaires. Once you ve done that, or if you already have a few places in mind, get reports on those areas so you can compare and contrast each locale.

Now you are ready to contact a real estate agent or relocation specialist. Look at housing, and demographic data, school to validate which locales are most appealing. Use the information you have to interview them. If they don t, find someone who does. Make sure they know the locales you re interested in and have experience there. This is a very important decision.

Once you ve settled on a locale, get in depth information on the place. Make sure any professionals with whom you re working are properly qualified to help you. In addition to being a home, your residence is a huge investment. No. Would you invest$ 250, 000 in the stock market without knowing a lot about the companies in which you were investing? Then, do the same with the investment in your home.

Does that make it a sure thing that you will make the best decision? Review real estate, demographic, school, and cultural facts for the locale to make a fully informed decision. No, but it does maximize the possibility of being happy with your decision. Use the web to put yourself in the power position when you move. Knowledge is power.