Buying a new home is sometimes a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. That’s why you want to make sure you do everything you can right. This especially holds if you are planning long-distance house hunting in Portland. There are many things you should get to know, research, and schedule. To inform you of the things to look out for and the necessary steps to take, we created a list of tips for long-distance property purchases.
Critical factors for long-distance house hunting in Portland
Long-distance homebuying has its challenges. Luckily, it’s not an impossible task. If you want to move from Idaho to Oregon, the proximity of these two states certainly makes things less complicated. Anyway, hiring a team of great people, such as an excellent real estate agent and a prominent moving company, goes a long way. So, be sure to follow our tips on purchasing a house in Oregon long-distance and moving out of state. If you do, you will transfer from the nearby Idaho in no time.
Examine the area
When you want to relocate to an unfamiliar area, there are numerous factors you need to take into account before actually buying a house. For instance, you will learn about the crime rates, school rankings, and average commute times.
Fortunately, finding out these facts has never been easier. Therefore, you should consider the Internet as your best friend when long-distance house shopping. First, we recommend you look at the city maps and focus on the neighborhoods that meet your requirements. Then you want to narrow down your research by investigating the factors mentioned earlier for the specific community.
You can also read online blogs and forums to get a sense of someone else’s perspective. However, if you have relatives or friends in the city, their thoughts and experiences will be precious.
Interview a couple of real estate agents before deciding
Your number one priority when long-distance house hunting in Portland is to find a top-notch real estate agent. Agents come with different levels of expertise and experience. The best match for you should be the one who specializes in out-of-state home purchasing and relocations.
Therefore, it would be wise to interview a couple of different agents before making your final decision. Here are some traits you’ll want your agent to have to ensure a successful home buying process.
- A great agent should have experience in long-distance relocations.
- Someone familiar with the technology needed through every process (such as e-signing, if you cannot attend).
- A good agent has a work license.
- Someone who is sensitive about your time and obligations and communicates on your schedule, even if you live in a different time zone.
- Finally, a great agent will understand your non-negotiables, your personal preferences, and your budget.
Decide on your non-negotiables
When entering a housing market, you should always know what house traits are a must-have for you and your family. Being specific about your non-negotiables will tremendously help your agent choose the best options for you and save everyone’s time.
Some of the mandatory things you need to decide could be:
- square footage
- number of bedrooms and bathrooms
- garage space
- yard
- distance to parks, stores, parks, schools, your job
- house style
Have a set budget
Of course, you will need to determine your homebuying budget. Besides that, it would be wise to plan a couple of visits to the city. So, have a travel budget too.
As you examine Portland listings, you will be able to get a good idea of typical price points in the areas of your liking. You can also research the other living costs, such as groceries, gas, public transport, daycare. Knowing these additional living costs will help you get the overall picture of your expenses. Also, it will help in setting a budget for homebuying.
Furthermore, you will need to budget some money and time for the visits you’ll make during the house-hunting process. For example, it would be ideal to plan a 4-5 day-long trip to ensure you have enough time to see different houses and maybe even sign a purchase contract.
However, it would be good to set a budget for at least two or three trips. Sometimes things don’t go as smoothly as we want them to, so it’s always good not to put too much pressure on a single trip.
Ensure a firm offer
Long-distance house hunting can be tough on the buyers. However, your real estate agent can help in assuring the seller you are a serious buyer. There are also a couple of extra things that can make your offer look more appealing.
For example, if you are presenting a cash offer, be sure it will go on top of the list. This way, you won’t need a pre-approval or pre-underwritings. Still, an all-cash offer is not the most common for the majority of buyers.
So, getting a pre-approval before making the offer will significantly help. Lastly, the higher the down payment you offer, the higher the chances that your proposal will get accepted. Therefore, it would be good to ensure you have at least a 5-10% of the overall price ready for the down payment.
Take care of the logistics in advance
Even if you are still in the house-hunting process, making a list of all the logistical things that need doing in advance will be of great help.
It’s worth remembering that even if you’ve found the perfect house, you will still have to pack your stuff and move. Additionally, you will also need to arrange the selling of your current home and get the price quote from the moving company of your choosing.
When thinking of the necessary arrangements, some other things to keep in mind are booking flights, booking hotels if you travel by car, preparing snacks and activities for the kids, and don’t forget to include your pet in your plans if you have one.
Final thoughtsLong-distance house hunting in Portland doesn’t have to make you feel like everything is out of control if you follow our tips and primarily put your trust in a great real estate agent. With the right people on your team and a decisive attitude, we are sure you will ace the whole home buying process and possibly selling your old home logistics. Good luck!