[robojester]

Thanks for the tips but we are not that interested in new construction.
Of course once we see the used market for ourselves that may change.

Just one of many reasons to come see for your self.
We may come home and start packing...

[Raiderman]

Originally Posted by robojester

Thanks for the tips but we are not that interested in new construction.
Of course once we see the used market for ourselves that may change.

Just one of many reasons to come see for your self.
We may come home and start packing...

That's what we did.. went for a nice little vacation for a week at a friend's house in January, were here by June. Absolutely no regrets!

[robojester]

Sounds like a story worth a beer at least

[robojester]

My wife is selling off our library on amazon.
Had a garage sale this summer ...actually two...

[Willy702]

Originally Posted by robojester

Hence the sooner part.
However many of these house look too good to be true.

Once I see what you can get NOW for said houses I can at least track the market a bit.
I am not going to run across country and buy a house in a weekend.

Am I the only one that starts looking at houses this far out?
I figure knowledge is power.

I would focus on looking at listings to create a good sized list of neighborhoods to consider. When in town do things like get up early and drive the toughest commutes to get a sense of what your tolerance will be when you move. Also go by subdivisions in your areas of focus around 7pm to see what it looks like in terms of cars and people outside. During the day do your best to put on your thinking cap in terms of what you do normally where you are now. Do they have the kinds of services you want within 10 minute drive? What kinds of restaurants do you eat at now, go try the local versions of it. People think moving to another city is about the things they can't get at home, but no matter who you are the stuff you will do regularly is going to prove more important to you. These are things you can't really get a sense of when you don't live in a place. I made this mistake with my last move, got seduced by a good price in a good community but underestimated just how bad the commute was and just how far it really was to get to services. Luckily it was just a one year lease.

I bet doing this you'll have eliminated 80% of the potential listings and then when you go back for round 2 pay close attention to the listings at your price range so you can further narrow the list down. By the third trip you'll be ready to look at houses and possibly make offers with a lot of confidence.

[BBMW]

I wouldn't be in such a hurry to buy. Move out, rent for 6 month - a year, see if you like living there. If so, look to buy at a more leasurly pace.

The market feels toppy. It's come back a long way pretty fast, and it has recovered faster than the underlying economy.

[robojester]

I agree with both above.
It nice to have a large time window

[ElleTea]

Originally Posted by robojester

Hence the sooner part.
However many of these house look too good to be true.

Once I see what you can get NOW for said houses I can at least track the market a bit.
I am not going to run across country and buy a house in a weekend.

Am I the only one that starts looking at houses this far out?
I figure knowledge is power.

Researching neighborhoods is one thing, wasting the time of a realtor and the seller when you have no intention of buying at the present time is another. My house is on the market and I have had a couple people look that said after "Oh, I'm just getting ideas for when I AM ready."

I don't think a person should schedule showings until they are ready to go with cash in hand or a solid preapproval of the bank.

[robojester]

Funny even telling them that I am not buying today, I have no problem finding realtors to "waste their time" showing me properties.
Maybe some folks fall in love with a house and buy it in a couple hours.
I like to do research.

Sorry if you feel they are wasting your time , let me know where you live, and I will make sure we don't come look at your house.

[ElleTea]

Originally Posted by robojester

Funny even telling them that I am not buying today, I have no problem finding realtors to "waste their time" showing me properties.
Maybe some folks fall in love with a house and buy it in a couple hours.
I like to do research.

Sorry if you feel they are wasting your time , let me know where you live, and I will make sure we don't come look at your house.

I know realtors who won't bother with clients until they are preapproved. Years ago, before I was truly ready to buy, I called my parent's realtor (that I had known all my life) about a house that I liked that went up for sale. Even she told me to get preapproved and call her back when I am ready.

Real estate can move fast, especially in a market like LV and sometimes you HAVE to buy it in a couple of hours...and you still will likely miss out. They go quick. So, I just don't see the point of looking at specific properties that won't still be for sale next week, let alone when you are truly finally ready.

Time is money, and if you have found a realtor that isn't afraid to waste both, good for you.

As for my house and my time? It takes effort to get the place ready and to take the dogs and leave. I treat every showing as "this may be the one" and pull out all the stops. If someone is just looking with no intention of buying at all, that is wasted effort, IMO.

When I was in the market, I did my research by going to open houses. That way a realtor's time wasnt tied up with me showing me properties when she could be spending that time with a real, paying client.