House hunting in your local area or even within your state can be a task on its own; add long distance to the equation, and the process becomes even more taxing. Fortunately, if you’re working with a good real estate agent, long-distance homebuying doesn’t need to be more frustrating than necessary!
Define early on what you want in your new home
If you’re buying a home long distance, you won’t have the convenience of touring houses within short driving distance. Define your housing wants and needs to shorten your list of potential homes only to those you might actually purchase.
Plan ahead
Homebuying should never be a last-minute decision if possible, especially not when moving long distance. Create an itinerary that includes finding a trustworthy agent, house touring dates, and move-in dates. Think about how long you may need to be in a hotel, what vehicle(s) or moving company you’ll use to transport your luggage, and all other organizational information.
Be ready to alter this itinerary as you solidify dates or deal with unexpected changes!
Make a travel budget
Create a budget as you organize your itinerary—not just for your new home, but also the travel involved with long-distance moving. The budget should include plane tickets or road trip costs, hotel bookings, food, a car rental if necessary, and an emergency fund.
Gather information from the Internet
Before consulting with other people, performing thorough research will significantly help the long-distance homebuying process. Use the Internet to find potential home listings, reputable real estate agents, local schools, and general information on the area that can help inform your decisions and expectations. Forums and blogs dedicated to the region can also give you a feel of the community before your visit.
Once you’ve done your research, you can fill in the blanks by talking to an agent and any local contacts.
Communicate with your agent
Find a reputable real estate agent in the area to which you’ll be moving. Don’t be afraid to bombard your agent with questions—he or she is there to help! Use his or her familiarity with the area and hands-on experience with the local housing market to your advantage. Your agent can provide insight that your friends, family, or the Internet can’t.
Solicit advice from friends and family with connections in the area
One daunting aspect about long-distance homebuying is not having any connections to help you settle in. Mention to your friends and family in your current hometown about your moving plans, and you may be surprised to find they know someone in that area.
If you already have friends and family in your future hometown, ask them for advice. What’s the community like? Do they know anything about the neighborhoods you’re considering? Local real estate agents? Businesses?
The key advice for long-distance homebuying is to research and plan thoroughly. The process is smooth sailing with those tasks done.
Moving long-distance to the Auburn, Opelika, or Lake Martin area? Contact a real estate agent you can trust! Call Ryan Roberts at 334-750-9872 or email [email protected]! For more real estate advice, follow the Ryan Roberts blog!
