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We are would-be home-buyers and are shopping for what and where home shall be – but after a fair amount of shopping, rather than converging on an answer, we have pointless collections of data points that seem to mean nothing.
We are now thinking that a buyer’s agent might be a smarter approach as that would leave us to live our lives while we hire a pro to do what they do for a living . . .
If you are an agent or one who acts as buyer’s agent, or can recommend one, please let us know. Dunno what the typical buyer is like for a buyer’s agent to deal with, but we might not be it.
I am supposing that if your or the agent’s first questions are either
1. Where do you want to buy/live and/or
2. What is your budget?
You or the agent do not understand this customer and would probably not be our agent.
We have looked over various locations -- Areas that look ok to us include: Eastern Tennessee/Western (not West) Virginia, North California (North of Sacramento up to Oregon) Oregon, Washington, Chunks of Colorado, Chunks of Texas – live there now, but not too thrilled about it, as the schools tend to be very lame. Maybe Canada or other parts outside the US?
====================
We started our wish/want list and it looks like:
He (me) Says:
The site:
Property Footprint: At least 2 to 10 acres. More ok.
Probably no HOA areas as it should have an ok for Solar and Wind power.
3 phase electric power available in area
High speed (of some sort) internet
Bike-able to grocery stores, etc.
Garden area at least 2000 sq ft to 10000 sq ft.
Open zoning for business use, or rural without business restrictions
If existing house or rebuild-able or able to place new to have --
Existing building/house Net Zero energy or rebuild-able to Net Zero
Greenhouse (or can add)
South windows with Summer shade
----------------------------------
She (Mrs. Phil) Says:
Near school(s)
Pool or lake
Warehouse/shop (actually for me, but on her list)
House –
(if existing house/building)
1700 + square feet
3 + bedrooms
2 + Bath
Nice biking
At least 2 annual festivals in area
Pick-up band music in the area
Schools (public or private that are in the area) --
Under 20:1 student teacher ratio
More than 1 foreign language
Symphony orchestra
Low “trash” attendance/area
Desirable area
Walking/bike distance to home
Exemplarily rating or known-good private
At least 2 extracurricular activities
====================
So are there buyer’s agents that can work from that? And if so, how do we go about dealing with them?
Agents are going to be local, so the same agent that helps you in TN couldn't do much for you in CA. My first advice is to narrow down your geographic area to a few cities. Then find and interview several agents in each area. Tell the agents that you are considering that location along with several others up front but you're willing to commit to them if you select that area. Tell the agent your criteria and see what info and homes they can locate for you. Then you can visit once you narrow your list down again and make sure of your choice.
I do work extensively with buyers, but I'm not located in any of the areas you mentioned. (Although a number of items on your list would seem to be a good fit for my area ) Anyway, back to the subject at hand. . .
I would think that you'd want to work with a buyer's agent once you decide on an area. If you're unsure of which area is right for you, then you may want to call some agents in the various towns and let them send you a few properties that meet your criteria. Please be upfront with them and let them know that you've not decided on the exact locale yet. If you haven't already gotten information from the Chambers of Commerce and done research on the areas, then you'd want to begin with that.
I'm not sure from your post what is most important to you and your family - the location or the property. I would think that you'd want to sit down as a family and prioritize your list. Once you have agreed on the 3 or 4 MOST important criteria on your list, then it's time to visit those areas you mentioned and see if the LOCATION meets your criteria. Obviously if schools are a top priority, it wouldn't be necessary to visit any area with sub-par schools per your standards. There are other items on your list, though, such as pools/lakes, music festivals, 2-10 acres within close proximity to town, etc. Do all the locations on your list meet that criteria? Etc.
Once you have your location narrowed down to no more than 2 or 3 possibilities, then you're ready to interview buyers agents and revisit the areas. This time you'll be looking at properties, too, rather than just checking out the areas. I commend you on knowing specifically what you want. Many times, folks will say something like, "we're not really sure what we want, but we'll know it when we see it". Generally, if someone hasn't thought things through then they're really not ready to purchase a home.
Keep in mind that sometimes people want what is simply not available in a certain area. And I must admit that some of your criteria seems a bit contradictory (such as 2-10 acres in a somewhat rural setting, but bikeable to grocery stores. I can only think of one area in my locale that meets that criteria, and that's only because it's a rather unique town.) Anyway, make sure you and your family have your list prioritized because compromises might have to be made.
The best to you as you endeavor to find your next home!
Agents are going to be local, so the same agent that helps you in TN couldn't do much for you in CA. My first advice is to narrow down your geographic area to a few cities. Then find and interview several agents in each area. Tell the agents that you are considering that location along with several others up front but you're willing to commit to them if you select that area. Tell the agent your criteria and see what info and homes they can locate for you. Then you can visit once you narrow your list down again and make sure of your choice.
Thanks Brandon.
That approach is sort of how we have the wide cluster of nothing we are looking at now. You are probably correct, a traditional agent such as you describe is probably not what we are looking for. It is sort of like going to the Chevy dealer and they are going to try to sell you a Chevy because that is what they sell and have on the lot.
I think what we are looking for is someone like who maybe companies hire when the are considering relocating their business operations. It is very independent of the actually sites, but more a profile of an area, and what is available in it. What is such a person called? A re-location specialist? Sounds like a Marketing Term for a moving company.
After playing this a little too long, now, I am trying to single source this to a single competent vendor rather dealing with multiple suppliers (ie, various traditional real estate agents) who just have Chevys, or Lexus or whatever product they have on the lot.
I do work extensively with buyers, but I'm not located in any of the areas you mentioned. (Although a number of items on your list would seem to be a good fit for my area ) Anyway, back to the subject at hand. . .
Yunno, maybe that was the subject. We are NOT looking for an area. That was the whole point of the Why an agent who asked "Where" first would be missing the whole point. I suspect it is more of a flavor and community attitude thing. Has nothing to do with real location any more than where the server this forum sits on is physically located.
Quote:
I'm not sure from your post what is most important to you and your family - the location or the property.
Neither. It is more a specification sheet thing. Either the proposed product / solution meets the specification (a GO) or it does not (a NO GO).
Quote:
Obviously if schools are a top priority, it wouldn't be necessary to visit any area with sub-par schools per your standards. There are other items on your list, though, such as pools/lakes, music festivals, 2-10 acres within close proximity to town, etc. Do all the locations on your list meet that criteria? Etc.
Agreed. The crappy schools have allowed us to wipe off huge sections of Texas and other areas as wastelands from our point of view.
Quote:
Once you have your location narrowed down to no more than 2 or 3 possibilities, then you're ready to interview buyers agents and revisit the areas. This time you'll be looking at properties, too, rather than just checking out the areas. I commend you on knowing specifically what you want. Many times, folks will say something like, "we're not really sure what we want, but we'll know it when we see it". Generally, if someone hasn't thought things through then they're really not ready to purchase a home.
I have identified the method you are describing as a waste of time, as well. I am pretty much a "don't need to see it at all" type. (opposite of the airheads you are describing -- which I suppose makes me a bone-head? ) If it meets the spec fine, if not -- why waste my (and the agent's time) showing it to me?
Quote:
Keep in mind that sometimes people want what is simply not available in a certain area. And I must admit that some of your criteria seems a bit contradictory (such as 2-10 acres in a somewhat rural setting, but bikeable to grocery stores. I can only think of one area in my locale that meets that criteria, and that's only because it's a rather unique town.)
Outstanding. One exists. That is a good thing. We are pretty much mis-fits to most of corporate stamped America, so unique is a very good thing. Would you like to PM/DM me specific details of what you have available?
Quote:
The best to you as you endeavor to find your next home!
Unfortunately, real estate is local. With a lot of local experts.
I am not a rural expert, so I don't know of any properties near Denver that would be a fit, but maybe a consultation with a brokerage like United Country, and others that specialize in rural/land might be able to tap into their network of licensees that might know of something...
The site:
Property Footprint: At least 2 to 10 acres. More ok.
Probably no HOA areas as it should have an ok for Solar and Wind power.
3 phase electric power available in area
High speed (of some sort) internet
Bike-able to grocery stores, etc.
Garden area at least 2000 sq ft to 10000 sq ft.
Open zoning for business use, or rural without business restrictions
If existing house or rebuild-able or able to place new to have --
Existing building/house Net Zero energy or rebuild-able to Net Zero
Greenhouse (or can add)
South windows with Summer shade
----------------------------------
She (Mrs. Phil) Says:
Near school(s)
Pool or lake
Warehouse/shop (actually for me, but on her list)
House –
(if existing house/building)
1700 + square feet
3 + bedrooms
2 + Bath
Nice biking
At least 2 annual festivals in area
Pick-up band music in the area
Schools (public or private that are in the area) --
Under 20:1 student teacher ratio
More than 1 foreign language
Symphony orchestra
Low “trash” attendance/area
Desirable area
Walking/bike distance to home
Exemplarily rating or known-good private
At least 2 extracurricular activities
====================
So are there buyer’s agents that can work from that? And if so, how do we go about dealing with them?
I know you want to work with one agent, but you have zoning issues that will have to be dealt with and there is NO WAY that one agent can go across states and be aware of local zoning laws. I would be extremely worried for you that if you tried that you would purchase a property and not be able to do the things you wanted on them.
An agent that crosses different states isn't going to know about special programs. Out here we have the NW Energy Trust which offers rebates for making properties green. You should check out their website. BUT...my point is that an agent in another state isn't going to know about those small details. Relocation companies can be national, but they refer to local agents. You would still be working with many different agents.
You have a multitude of issues in that you are willing to consider many states, for many states MLS's are regional so you would have to potentially work with different agents within a state, and you would have to prioritize your criteria. We have UGB's out here so our cities are more compact, so biking to work is not a problem from a ten acre property. Prices are high here compared to Texas, and we have tough zoning laws. So...business use on rural land, you'd have to be more specific and may have to get a conditional use permit. We don't have open zoning out here. That may eliminate Oregon from your list and make your search that much easier!
I don't see an easy solution to your problem other than working with several individual real estate agents. There is just too much to know for each locale.
Unfortunately, they're right in that you're going to have to zero in on an area and then find an agent who's at least licensed in that state to help you. But zeroing in an on area or two CAN be done online.
My first question is, where are you in Texas and what is it that you don't like about it? I ask because all of the things that you have on your list I recognize as being available in the Central Texas/Austin area.
I think what we are looking for is someone like who maybe companies hire when the are considering relocating their business operations. It is very independent of the actually sites, but more a profile of an area, and what is available in it. What is such a person called? A re-location specialist? Sounds like a Marketing Term for a moving company.
What you have described is a corporate relocation consultancy.
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) Anyway, back to the subject at hand. . . 
Generally, if someone hasn't thought things through then they're really not ready to purchase a home.
