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Then again, what exactly is bad about dealing with the agent showing you the house, or condo in my case? Conversely, what's the benefit of your own agent over the seller's agent doing the showing? Is it similar to coming to court with your private lawyer instead of using a public defender? (Who technically works for the government/police looking to prosecute you, not for you personally.)
If you don't have a buyer's agent, I'd suggest having the listing agent show you the property. In IL the listing agent would need to have you sign paperwork to be both the seller and buyer's agents. This way you won't be kept to working with the agent that showed you the property.
the reason to work w/ a Buyer's Agent is to have representation, and to guide you through the process. It was essential for me, buying in the same area that you are looking.
What I do is start by looking on Realtor.com. Write down ones I'm interested in after seeing pix online. Then I do a drive-by. Check the place out in person, have a look at the neighborhood, the types of people who live there, are there old cars or new ones? Is it run-down, is it well-taken-care-of? Then if I'm still interested, I tell my agent, and she sets up an appointment to see it.
What I do is start by looking on Realtor.com. Write down ones I'm interested in after seeing pix online. Then I do a drive-by. Check the place out in person, have a look at the neighborhood, the types of people who live there, are there old cars or new ones? Is it run-down, is it well-taken-care-of? Then if I'm still interested, I tell my agent, and she sets up an appointment to see it.
I've actually self-toured quite a few suburbs. Oftentimes, it was a "side job" as part of traveling to my meetups. Most of the groups I'm in meet in a specific part of the Chicago area. During the last few years I've been going there, I took a liking to certain suburbs. Other times, I drove to a specific suburbs to take a close look at the streets and the amenities. Like you said, I made mental notes of the buildings, the operating businesses, and the infrastructure. This is how I narrowed down my choices on where to buy my condo.
I guess the next steps would be: (1) get pre-approved for lending, (2) find an agent, and (3) start touring properties.
until you get financing to make sure what you can afford, you're just a voyeur on the internet. Unless you're paying straight cash, and then presumably you know exactly how much you have.
until you get financing to make sure what you can afford, you're just a voyeur on the internet. Unless you're paying straight cash, and then presumably you know exactly how much you have.
Let's keep my finances out of the discussion here. As much as I welcome the affordability advice, I prefer to talk about it privately with my agent. The properties and locations I've been considering at are all within my current budget. I did not browse anything willy-nilly, if that's what you're insinuating.
The only exception it are those 1%-er houses. Heck, Redfin et al. are the only way I'll know how they look like inside.
I don't think Bo's discussing your finances, just trying to get you to see that the first step is to see what's realistic for you. Then you spend time looking through listings, going to open houses, etc.
Let's keep my finances out of the discussion here. As much as I welcome the affordability advice, I prefer to talk about it privately with my agent. The properties and locations I've been considering at are all within my current budget.
Nobody wants to know your financials. But if you are going to seriously look for a home, before you waste anyone's time, you need to get qualified. Many sellers won't accept an offer without a formal pre-approval from the bank.
But if you go looking for properties now, when you do finally decide to get qualified, those properties will likely be long gone.
*shrugs*
OR he'll find out what he qualifies for won't purchase what "resonates" with him, and will be disappointed.
Get prequalified. Then research.
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