Develop Your "Before Buying A House Checklist"
A checklist of things to look for before you start buying a house.
Buying a home is an exciting time.
You get to tour some great houses, learn more about exciting Houston neighborhoods, and invest in your future.
But, before you make the major purchase, there are a number of things you’ll want to research and keep in mind to make the experience as positive as possible.
"Expert advice and excellent service – that is what you can expect from Paige Martin and the Houston Properties Team. Their extensive knowledge of the Houston area is fantastic and they are always willing to talk you out of homes that are not right. They give really helpful tips and ensure their clients understand each step of the process. I highly recommend Paige Martin and her team!" – Zachery, Google Review
Table of Contents
- What Do You Need to Prepare Before Buying a Houston Home?
- Find and Win the Best Houston Home For You
- The Best Houston Realtor to Sell Your Home
What Do You Need to Prepare Before Buying a Houston Home?
If you’d like to see any specific Houston homes or learn about Houston neighborhoods that are best for you, please contact Paige Martin at [email protected], ranked #1 Individual Agent with Keller Williams in Houston and #10 in the United States.
1) IDENTIFY THE RIGHT TIMING
Most of the time, people will buy a home when they’re ready to settle in a specific area for at least two or three years. If you are the type of individual that moves around a lot, buying may not be the best option for the time being, as it typically takes more than two years to recoup your closing costs (depending on the market’s appreciation rate).
2) PROTECT YOUR CREDIT
One of the first things you should prepare in advance of a home purchase is your credit. Get your credit report at least three to six months in advance. You want to know what the credit reports have on file for you and what your credit score looks like.
Over three to six months, you can make an impact on your credit score – a good credit rating can save you a significant amount of money with a lower interest rate.
There are a number of places to get a free credit report, one I like is Equifax.
3) GET PRE-APPROVED
It’s also a good idea to get pre-approved for a mortgage before you start the house-hunting process. This will save you from looking at homes that are out of your price range. In addition, coming into an offer already “pre-qualified” can shorten the, as you will be in a better position to make an offer.
Compare local and national mortgage lenders. I’m happy to recommend some good Houston ones. In addition, sites like LowerMyBills allows you to easily search and compare vendors.
4) KNOW YOUR SCHOOLS
School districts are very important for home buyers.
You’ll want to do some research (or talk to a knowledgeable Realtor) about what schools are highly ranked in your area.
I would recommend looking at homes with easy access to good schools. Even if you don’t have children, homes that are zoned to good districts have appreciated at some of the best rates in the city(e.g. Memorial, West University, Collegeview, CollegeCourt).
You can search for Houston Schools and compare ranking, resources, and locations.
5) LEARN ABOUT HOUSTON NEIGHBORHOODS
Research good Houston neighborhoods.
Most of Houston’s neighborhood’s have a distinct personality. River Oaks is very different from Houston Heights. Familiarize yourself with the different personality types and which one(s) may suit you and your family best.
You can search Houston neighborhood profiles or talk to your Realtor about what may be best for you.
6) FIND THE RIGHT REALTOR
Find a good Realtor that you can trust. Realtor's services are free to home buyers. You'll want someone's expertise in the neighborhood to help you find, select, and negotiate the right home for you. It's a great service at a great price.
Once you have found a house that you want to buy, familiarize yourself with what homes have sold for in that area.
If homes are being sold for above the asking price, it can help ensure that someone else is not outbidding you. On the other hand, if homes are going for less than the asking price, it can save you quite a bit of money.
Find and Win the Best Houston Home For You
"Expert advice and excellent service – that is what you can expect from Paige Martin and the Houston Properties Team. Their extensive knowledge of the Houston area is fantastic and they are always willing to talk you out of homes that are not right. They give really helpful tips and ensure their clients understand each step of the process. I highly recommend Paige Martin and her team!" – Zachery, Google Review
With the overwhelming home buying process, an itemized list will help you get the ball rolling. Breaking a complicated process down into manageable steps aids in having a clear mind for this life-changing decision.
This checklist will help you find and win the right Houston home that fits your present and future lifestyle needs. If you're a first-time homebuyer, you can also check this comprehensive Houston home buyer's guide.
By following these six items, you'll invest in a good home in a fitting neighborhood when you are ready. Your preparedness will also make home sellers more receptive to your offers compared to other buyers.
You'll also have a great realtor that will guide you through the process. The realtor will also protect your interests during negotiations.
The Best Houston Realtor to Sell Your Home
The Houston Properties Team has a well-defined structure based on the individual strengths of each member. Each member is a specialist in their role – which is why our homes sell faster and for more money than average.
Paige Martin, Broker Associate with Keller Williams Realty, and the Houston Properties Team are ranked among the top residential Realtors in the world.
They have been featured on TV and in dozens of publications including The Wall Street Journal, Fortune Magazine, Reuters, Fox News in the Morning, Money Magazine, Houston Business Journal, Houstonia, and Houston Chronicle.
Paige Martin was just ranked as the #5 agent in the world with Keller Williams, completing over $1 Billion in Houston residential real estate sales.
Her recent awards include:
– 2021 Best Real Estate Teams in America, RealTrends.com
– 2021: Top 100 Women Leaders in Real Estate of 2021
– 2021: America’s Top 100 Real Estate Agents
– 2021: Top Real Estate Team (Houston Properties Team), Houston Business Journal
– 2021: Best Houston Real Estate Team, Best of Reader’s Choice
– 2021: Top Real Estate Team (Houston Properties Team), Houston Business Journal
– 2021: #1 Real Estate Team, Keller Williams Memorial
– 2020: America’s Best Real Estate Teams, Best of America Trends
– 2020: Best Houston Real Estate Team, Best of Reader’s Choice
– 2020: Top Real Estate Team (Houston Properties Team), Houston Business Journal
– 2020: #6 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Worldwide
– 2020: #1 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Texas (Top Keller Williams Realtor)
– 2020: #1 Real Estate Team, Keller Williams Memorial
- 2019: Top Residential Realtors in Houston, Houston Business Journal
- 2019: America’s Best Real Estate Agents, RealTrends.com
- 2019: #5 Individual Agent, KW Worldwide
- 2019: #1 Individual Agent, KW Texas
- 2018: #5 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Worldwide
- 2018: #1 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Texas
- 2018: #1 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Houston
- 2018: America’s Best Real Estate Agents, RealTrends.com
- 2018: Top 25 Residential Realtor in Houston, Houston Business Journal
- 2018: Texas’ Most Influential Realtors
- 2017: #1 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Texas
- 2017: #1 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Houston
- 2017: #10 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Worldwide
- 2017: America’s Best Real Estate Agents, RealTrends.com
- 2017: Top 25 Residential Realtor in Houston, Houston Business Journal
- 2017: Texas’ Most Influential Realtors
- 2016: #1 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Texas
- 2016: #1 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Houston
- 2016: #20 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Worldwide
- 2016: Texas’ Most Influential Realtors
- 2016: Top 25 Residential Realtor in Houston, HBJ
- 2016: Five Star Realtor, Featured in Texas Monthly
- 2016: America’s Best Real Estate Agents, RealTrends.com
- 2015: #9 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, United States
- 2015: #1 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Texas
- 2015: #1 Individual Agent, Keller Williams, Houston
- 2015: America’s Best Real Estate Agents, RealTrends.com
- 2015: Top 25 Residential Realtor in Houston, HBJ
- 2015: Five Star Realtor, Texas Monthly Magazine
- 2014: America’s Best Real Estate Agents, RealTrends.com
- 2014: #1 Individual Agent, Keller Williams Memorial
...in addition to over 318 additional awards.
Paige also serves a variety of non-profits, and civic and community boards. She was appointed by the mayor of Houston to be on the downtown TIRZ board.
Benefits Of Working With The Houston Properties Team
Our team, composed of distinguished and competent Houston luxury realtors, has a well-defined structure based on the individual strengths of each member.
We find team approach as the most effective way to sell homes. We have dedicated people doing staging, marketing, social media, open houses, and showings. Each Houston Properties Team member is a specialist in their role—which is why our homes sell faster and for more money than average.
The benefits of working with a team include:
- the ability to be in two or three places at one time; a member can handle showings, while another answer calls
- collective time and experience of members
- targeted advice and marketing of agent expert in your area
- competitive advantage by simply having more resources, more ideas, and more perspectives
- a “checks and balances” system; selling and buying a home in Houston is an intensely complex process
- more people addressing field calls and questions from buyers and agents to facilitate a faster, successful sale
- efficient multi-tasking; one agent takes care of inspections and repair work, while another agent focuses on administrative details
- multiple marketing channels using members’ networks
- constant attention: guaranteed focus on your home and your transaction
- lower risk for mistakes. Multiple moving parts increase oversights. A team approach handles these “parts” separately
- flexibility in negotiation and marketing
- better management of document flow
- increased foot traffic through more timely and effective showing schedule coordination; and
- increased sphere of influence and exposure to more potential buyers.
To meet all the award-winning members of the Houston Properties Team, please go here.
Best Houston Real Estate Resources
- An Ultimate Guide to the Best Active 55+ Communities in Houston
- How To Avoid Buying In Houston's Flooded Zones
- Houston Neighborhoods | Houston Map, Real Estate, Homes
- Memorial Park Condos Houston For Sale | Memorial Park Condos For Sale
- Pasadena Housing Market | Real Estate Trends & Forecast
