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How To Buy A Shore House Quickly—Before Rates And Prices Rise Again

Saturday, July 16, 2022   /   by Teresa DiPeso

How To Buy A Shore House Quickly—Before Rates And Prices Rise Again

Right now, many homebuyers are feeling some pressure to buy a house fast, fearing that mortgage rates (which have doubled from 3% to as high as 6% in the past year alone) could rise even higher, upping the cost of financing a house.


Yet buying a home can be a mind-numbingly slow process, broken up by periods of confusingly frantic activity. It goes something like this: Look at a zillion homes before you think you’ve found one. Hurry up and get in your offer … and then wait. Submit a million letters to the underwriter … and then wait. And don’t even get us started on closing. The average time for closing on a loan is 50 days, according to Ellie Mae, and the process can often take even longer.


But sometimes you don’t have the luxury of waiting, and rising interest rates along with high home prices are just a few of the reasons a homebuyer might be in a rush. Maybe you’re moving from another state and need a place to live now. Or maybe your current home sold significantly faster than expected—and if you don’t find a new place, the deal will die.


Regardless of the reason, if you’ve got the need for speed, real estate transactions can fly through quickly. But you’ve got to have a little luck and a lot of preparation. Here’s what you need to know before kicking off the buying sprint.


1. Pick your real estate agent carefully


The No. 1 secret to purchasing a home super-quickly? Find a real estate agent intimately familiar with your preferred area—one who knows which homes are about to hit the market.


This will give you a head start in finding out if that listing is right for you.  I have been selling homes at the Shore for 27 years, with hundreds of happy clients along the way.  You need an agent who has seen it all and I have!


2. Ask questions early


The home-buying process can be extremely confusing—especially if you’re a first-time buyer. You shouldn’t feel guilty about peppering your agent with questions, but getting the most important ones resolved early on will expedite the process.


When you fall in love with a home in a competitive market, you need to be prepared to sign the offer fast and submit it immediately.  There may be some questions you want to ask your lender, lawyer, or accountant. If you wait until the offer to ask these questions, you may miss your chance.


3. Get pre-approved (not just pre-qualified)


It’s a good idea to get pre-qualified for a mortgage before starting your house hunt—but a pre-approval is a necessity if you’re eager to close quickly. The two are vastly different beasts: A pre-qualification requires little more than a quick conversation with your lender and perhaps a peek at your credit score.


A pre-approval basically front-loads the entire underwriting process. (Be warned: It might not eliminate all underwriting concerns.)


Sellers will not consider offers without a pre-approval in this market.  It also minimizes any surprises that may delay or force a cancellation during escrow.


4. Be narrow-minded


In this fast-paced market, it’s best to be particular about the homes you see.  Spending time on homes that you probably know won't work for you may cost you one that will. Just don’t bring a super-long list of attributes you think you need. Define your absolute, must-have features and only look at homes that fit that list.


But first, consult with your agent to determine if your wish list is possible in your preferred area and price range. If you run out of homes to see that check all your boxes, you may want to review your criteria.


5. Look for slow sellers


Often, the sellers who are most motivated to move quickly are those who haven’t been able to sell their home for a while.


As your agent, I can provide you with a list of properties that have been on the market for longer than average in your preferred town(s).


6. Make a strong offer


Now isn’t the time for underbidding—even if you’re convinced that all that ratty wall-to-wall carpeting should lower the asking price.


Make sure your offer is as strong as possible, with your agent's expertise and guidance.


That doesn’t just mean offering a lot of money. You can also offer a larger down payment and more earnest money. And that fast closing date will definitely help. Remember: Sellers who aren’t worried about the buyer backing out are more likely to accept an offer.


7. Be prepared to waive contingencies


When you’re buying a home, it’s standard to throw in some contingencies. (A contingency is a clause in the offer that allows you to walk away from the deal under certain circumstances—with all of your cash in hand.)


But if you’re looking to buy in a hurry, you might have to take a deep breath and bypass some of those bad boys. Just beware: Waiving certain contingencies can spell trouble down the line—and possibly land you in a money pit. Choose your battles—and your concessions—carefully.


8. Have your paperwork in order


Even with a pre-approval—the buying process requires reams of paperwork. Get everything together beforehand: At least three months of bank statements, pay stubs, letters of explanation for any weird or unusual expenses. If your mom’s giving you cash for the down payment, make sure the payment is documented.


When you think you’ve provided enough proof of everything, double it. The more documentation, the better, when you’re trying to buy fast.


In most cases, things get held up because paperwork and information isn’t readily available.  Even the smallest omission could end up delaying your closing for a week.


9. Don’t tell the seller


Beyond writing a quick closing date into your contract, don’t hint to the seller you’re desperate for a home.


When a seller knows a buyer needs/wants to buy fast, the buyer is at a disadvantage in a negotiation.



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Teresa M DiPeso & The DiPeso Group Jersey Shore Real Estate Experts
Teresa M. DiPeso
5901 New Jersey Ave
Wildwood Crest, NJ 08260
609-780-1434

The data relating to real estate for sale on this web site comes in part from the Broker Reciprocity program of the Cape May County Multiple Listing Service. Real estate listings held by brokerage are marked with the Broker Reciprocity logo or the Broker Reciprocity thumbnail logo (a little black house) and detailed information about them includes the name of the listing brokers.
The data relating to real estate for sale on this web site comes in part from the Broker Reciprocity program of the South Jersey Shore Regional MLS. Real estate listings held by brokerage are marked with the Broker Reciprocity logo or the Broker Reciprocity thumbnail logo (a little black house) and detailed information about them includes the name of the listing brokers.
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