Monthly Archives: March 2019

Have you recently purchased a home and discovered that it was in fact not the right home for you? Or are you considering buying your first home and fearful that you may purchase the wrong home? Unfortunately, this happens more than we would like to report. Individuals get excited about specific attributes of a house and make a rash decision to purchase. Then, after they have moved in, they discover that they have made a huge mistake!

We want to help you avoid making this mistake…and provide you a solution if you have already realized that you made this blunder!

How To Avoid This Mistake…

We have worked with dozens of clients in the Houston area who have reported that they identified after they purchased their home that there was something about the house that did not fit their needs. Here are the four most common errors reported:

1. The neighborhood was not what they expected.

There is an extensive amount of research that homeowners conduct before moving into a home – what the neighborhood is like, how the school systems rate, and what the crime rate is. Unfortunately though, there are certain aspects to moving that cannot be researched – one in particular is the behavior of your neighbors. Some may be extremely noisy or throw parties often. To avoid moving into a neighborhood that does not meet your expectations, always talk with the neighbors before the purchase – that is, ask them how they enjoy living on the street, how quiet and/or loud the streets get at night, and any other question that may be specific to your wants of a certain community.

2. The design is not for them.

When assessing your future home there is usually a long check list of the wants, must-have’s, and no-ways. However, it is extremely challenging to find a home that meets all of your criteria. Unless you have an unlimited budget, you most likely have to make some sacrifices on your checklist – and the most common one that people report to sacrifice is the layout. More often than not they think to themselves that they can deal with the layout – say for a fabulous view or a built-in pool. This is not a mistake to be made! You will spend a majority of your home life in your home, so selecting a home that has the layout of your dreams is crucial. If you are on the lookout for a new home, place this item at the top of your checklist!

3. They chose the fixer-upper.

Over the last two decades fixer-uppers have been on the rise – these are homes that can be purchased at a lower price point but need some repairs, maintenance, and remodeling. Thanks to home improvement shows such as “Property Brothers,” “Flip or Flop,” and “Queer Eye,” thousands of Americans are jumping into purchasing fixer-uppers with the expectation that they will renovate just as they saw on television. Though, many people who adopt this mentality are truly unaware of the financial burden and time commitment that goes into renovating a home. Before taking the leap into one of these huge projects, be sure that you complete all necessary inspections and get a contractor’s opinion on how much the improvements will cost and how long they should take – this can give you a better timeline and budget of what to expect.

4. They overlooked inspections.

What if you found a home that you loved and you allowed the seller to give you his or her word that the property was in prime condition? Many homebuyers do just this – they overlook the need to have all inspections completed prior to close. They assume that because the home is newly built or newly renovated, the issues can’t be that bad. This is a major assumption when making a house purchase. If you are in the process of purchasing a new house, confirm that all inspections have been completed before you close escrow! These mistakes can be extremely costly, especially if a problem with the foundation is uncovered.

What To Do If You Regret Your Purchase?

For those that are in the market to purchase a home they have the ability to review this list and ensure that they don’t make these mistakes. But, what about those individuals who have already purchased their home and then realized that they made a mistake?

Thankfully, there is a way out – sell to an all-cash buyer. We here at Gulf State Homebuyers purchase homes in any condition – we also purchase homes of all designs and in all the neighborhoods surrounding the Houston area. We provide homeowners with competitive offers and a simple solution to getting out of their unwanted home – watch now to learn more, or contact us today and speak with a representative on how we can help you get out quickly!

The neighborhood that you raise your children in can have a large impact on their future. From the amenities that allow them to explore the outdoors, to the school and athletics programs that provide them a chance to attend a prestigious university – every aspect of your community can either give them a better future, or create a barrier that they must overcome.

With this is mind, it is imperative that when you are deciding to start a family, you review the pros and cons of every potential neighborhood and identify the one that best suits your needs. However, many people do not know what this checklist consists of – so let’s take a closer look.

Strong Community Network and Neighborhood Amenities

The first aspect to consider when picking out a neighborhood for your future is to identify what the community is like – are there programs that can allow you to get to know your neighbors such as activities at a local community center, or are there nearby parks or pools that you can walk to and enjoy on the hot summer days?  These bonuses to your neighborhood will not only provide your children with an array of events, but will also provide you as the parent the chance to meet like-minded people in your community and make friends.

Schools and Athletic Programs

Another factor to consider, specifically when you are selecting a neighborhood that is best for your children, is to review the neighborhoods school system and athletic programs. Depending on what your hopes are for your children’s future, this aspect can vary – some parents find it important to have access to the best pewee football league, while others are looking for schools that offer dual language programs. Identify your priorities and review the programs that each school district provides.

Affordability

You may have a detailed checklist of what you do and do-not want for you future home and its community, however, the hard reality is that your financial status does not always match your list. Therefore, when assessing a community, you will want to look at the affordability of specific neighborhoods. In addition to looking at average values of homes, you will also want to look at details such as average price per square foot (especially if you are looking for a large home for that big family) and what amenities are included in the average homes (backyards, pools, open living areas, etc.). By identifying the most affordable neighborhoods you can start to narrow down your final selection.

Job Opportunities

Finding the best neighborhood for your family goes beyond looking for the children – it is also essential for your future and mental health as well. Not only do you want to select an area that has supplemental job opportunities, but you will also want to select one the minimizes your daily commute. Finding a stable job that can support your family and reducing the stress of the morning commute can actually improve your mental health, which ultimately allows you to better enjoy your time with family!

Accessibility

Last but not least, you want to consider the accessibility in both the neighborhood and in your future home. If you are currently living in a home that has a walk-up, lacks space for an expanding family, or is so busy with traffic that it could pose as a threat to children playing outside, you may want to consider a move. If you are just looking, these are some of the things you want to assess. Additionally, you can review what the sidewalks are like – do they provide room for you to get your daily exercise – and, what will accessibility be like during all four seasons? Fortunately though for those living in Baytown, the seasons will not impact you too much!

Are You Looking To Move To Your Next PERFECT Neighborhood?

Many Americans who currently own their home are hesitant to transition to a new neighborhood, even when it comes to moving to improve the future for their children. The moving process is daunting and timely, and with Americans working more hours than historically, the challenge may be too big for them to battle. However, what if there was a way to make this transition easier?

We are here to tell you – there is! If you want to move and remove half the hassle, we can help. We can buy your home, all cash, and remove the need for you to market and sell your home through a real estate agent. We can even modify the terms of the close that best suits your needs – so if you need extra time to shop and find the next best neighborhood for you, that’s no problem. You can live in your home until you are ready to go, and we will even help with your moving expenses. We provide our clients with competitive offers so that they can take that next step for their family’s future.

If you are interested in learning more, contact us today and speak with one of our qualified representatives!