Welcome to your House Hunting Adventure. This is an exciting time, and I am here to help you embrace and enjoy your journey!
With all the choices in today’s market, how do you go about finding the right home? It seems the more research you do, the more alternatives you discover.
It’s important to visualize your needs and plan ahead. Know what you want in a home, what’s important to you, and what you can live without. Think about how you live in a house. As you look at homes your wants/ needs/ ideas may change and evolve. It’s all part of the journey.
Where and what you buy will affect you for as long as you live in the house. Get your priorities in order before you start looking. Let your REALTOR ® help you refine your list, understand the market and get pre-qualified.
For first-time home buyers this is a new experience, so it’s especially important to do your homework. If you currently own a home, you know exactly what’s lacking. You may need another bedroom or bathroom, or a good school nearby.
First, decide where you want to live. A big part of the answer hinges on where and how you earn a living. Take time to think it through.
People with children have other major considerations: school and safety. If you plan to send your children to private schools, you can live where you want assuming you can easily arrange transportation. On the other hand, a good public school system can offer many choices as well such as traditional schools, charter Schools, home school and eLearning. Check them out.
Obviously, lifestyle is an important consideration, make sure you’re near the things that matter most.
It used to be that homes came in a limited variety, but in Fairbanks and North Pole, you have many choices. In addition to the traditional single-family home, you can buy a cabin, log home, townhouse or condominium to name a few.
In Fairbanks you can find almost any combination. Make sure the rules and regulations, zoning requirements, neighborhood covenants as well as the by-laws, match your lifestyle. Do you want to have horses, chickens, do you not want those things close by? Do you have a home business, etc.
If wanting a condominium, you’ll want to check the documents and financial soundness of the homeowner’s association. Also, you’ll want to determine if the monthly fees are worth the services and additional amenities such as heat and water, lawn care, snow removal, etc.
Affordability can be a factor not only in the type of housing, but whether it’s new or an existing home. Old houses often have fine woodwork or interesting nooks and crannies not normally found in new homes. They generally sit on landscaped lots with mature trees and grown bushes.
New homes may cost more, but you can make many more decisions on amenities, colors, carpeting and fixtures. Make sure you’re dealing with a reputable builder. We have many in our area.
Selecting a real estate professional is an important first step in beginning your search. Ask for personal recommendations to find a REALTOR® who is experienced, knowledgeable, responsive, will represent your interests and has access to the local Multiple Listing Service. Make sure you feel confident about his or her knowledge and skills and understand the business relationship that you have established between you.
Elizabeth Schok with Somers Sotheby’s International Realty is a member of the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council (REBAC) of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, who has attained the Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR®) designation and the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) designation. Contact Elizabeth, She and her team want to help you find a great house to call home! (907) 322-9188.
The Schok Group @ Somers \Sotheby’s International Real Estate
Elizabeth Schok, REALTOR® Associate Broker
Nkanza Flores, REALTOR®, Buyer Specialist
Dakota Sharpe, Office Guru