So, you’ve decided to buy a house and move to Gowanus. While it’s possible to relocate to New York with ease, what about buying a house there? You might be worried about this process, afraid you’ll make a mistake. And you’re right to be worried, since buying a house is a serious investment. But, here a guide to buying a house in Gowanus, that will give you everything you need to know.
Creating your budget when buying a house in Gowanus
While moving to your new place should be simple, buying the house and organizing this process requires focus and careful planning. It’s very important that you create your budget carefully before you buy a home in Gowanus, Brooklyn. To give you a picture, the median home value in Gowanus, according to zillow.com is around $1,203,458 and the median price of home currently listed is $999,999. But, you shouldn’t forget about the deposit, which is from 2% – 5% of the property price. Also, there are other costs that you should keep in mind:
- Costs of the survey are not to be forgotten when buying a house in Gowanus
- Fees of valuation, solicitors’ fee, and mortgage arrangements
- The costs of new furniture, house decoration and maybe the costs of remodeling
Also, don’t forget about the relocation costs and of course, the costs of hiring a moving company. Just be sure to choose reliable professionals, like Movers 101. This kind of company will make the relocation process smooth and easy.
Before you reach this step, you need to go through the whole process
What about your credit score?
Before qualifying for the loan, check your credit score. If your credit score is good, there’s more chance that you’ll get favorable terms. But, if the score is not that good, your interest rate might turn out to be too high. Or, even worse, you might not get approved in the first place. So before qualifying for the loan, try out some online platforms to check your credit score for free.
Qualifying for the mortgage
The next step to buying a house in Gowanus is the prequalification process. Before making offers, get a letter from the lender that proves you’re qualified. This kind of letter is important as it will show that you are a serious and eligible buyer. After you get the loan approval, you’ll be able to sign the Purchase Agreement.
Know what you want and what you need
There are many kinds of houses in Gowanus, Brooklin. You should know what kind of houses you’re looking for before you start actually searching for the right property. First decide on the exact part of the neighborhood, if that’s important to you. Maybe you want to have better access to public transportation, or maybe that’s not important to you at all. A two-bedroom, three-bedroom, smaller home or larger home, this is the time to let your real estate agent know what you want.
What to know when viewing properties?
Now that you know what you’re looking for in the properties, it’s time for viewing. Before you actually buy a home in Gowanus, schedule at least 3 appointments on the first day. And scheduling appointments is not hard, usually, a 24-hour notice is enough, since sellers are also interested in selling their properties. Remember to try and not buy the first house that you see. When viewing properties, ask your agent about potential flaws that you don’t see at the moment. Also, on the second day, you can schedule three appointments. Who knows, the next one might be much better than the last one?
Viewing the properties is a very exciting part of buying a house in Gowanus
Narrow it down
If there’s a time to get really nit-picky when buying a house in Gowanus, it’s right now. Now that you’ve narrowed down the list of properties you’re interested in, you should pay attention to every small detail. Check the plumbing, the electricity, the windows, everything. Realtors can usually see if something is wrong, even if you can’t catch it at the first look. If you notice a flow, you might be able to lower the price. Or if not, you can decide if that’s something you can work your way around. Just know that remodeling and repairing are not that easy as it might seem while you’re happy with the property you’re viewing at the moment. Just like with the questions you ask the movers before hiring them, you should get all the answers you need:
- How long has the house been on the market?
- Why is the seller selling the house in the first place?
- When can you move in?
- Is the seller considering other offers at the moment?
- Every other question that you would like to have an answer to.
Once you’re satisfied with all the answers and you’ve found the right house, it’s time to make an offer.
How to make an offer
The next step to buying a house in Gowanus is making an offer. This is the time to be smart, and if you do it the right way, you might get a good deal. So, before making an offer, see if the price of the house is right or not. Check the comparable houses in Gowanus and see if they’re close. And it’s also useful to see the average days similar houses stay on the market. After that, you make an offer. While you should negotiate, don’t suggest a price that’s too low. If you do, the seller might get the impression that you’re not serious and walk away.
Paperwork
If you’re sure that you and the seller agree, it’s time to sign the Contract. But, real carefully absolutely every single part of this contract, so that you know what you’re agreeing to. Pay attention to the financial details, deposit, and other similar terms.
Pay attention to all the details
What comes after buying a house in Gowanus
After buying a house in Gowanus, it’s time to plan your move here. But what do after the move? Well, it won’t be hard to figure that out, here in NYC.
