Avoid These Top Homebuyer Mistakes in Today’s Market

<article class="post-1250542 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry" id="post-1250542"><span class="entry-date">October 30, 2024</span><div class="entry-header center-block text-center"><h1 class="entry-title">Avoid These Top Homebuyer Mistakes in Today’s Market</h1><div class="shareBlock"><div class="shareTitle">Share</div><div class="shareIcons"><a aria-label="Twitter Share Link" class="twitter solid display-inline-block" data-tracking="Post,Social Post Link Clicked,Twitter" href="http://twitter.com/share?text=Avoid+These+Top+Homebuyer+Mistakes+in+Today%E2%80%99s+Market&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fgilliggroup.com%2Fblog%2Favoid-these-top-homebuyer-mistakes-in-todays-market%2F" target="_blank"><span class="force-hidden">Twitter</span></a>
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</div></div><div class="post-tax post-category"><span></span><a href="../category/realtor-blog/index.html" rel="tag">Realtor Blog</a></div><div class="post-tax post-post_tag"></div></div><div class="entry-content"><div><img alt="Avoid These Top Homebuyer Mistakes in Today’s Market Simplifying The Market" decoding="async" loading="lazy" src="https://files.keepingcurrentmatters.com/KeepingCurrentMatters/content/images/20241028/20241030-Avoid-These-Top-Homebuyer-Mistakes-in-Today-s-Market-original.png" style="display: block; margin-bottom: 5px; clear: both; max-width: 100%;" width=""/>
<p>No one likes making mistakes, especially when they happen in what’s likely the biggest transaction of your life – buying a home.</p>
<p>That’s why partnering with a <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2024/10/15/why-an-agent-is-essential-when-buying-a-newly-built-home/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">trusted agent</a> is so important. Here’s a sneak peek at the most common missteps buyers are making in today’s market and how a great agent will help you steer clear of each one.</p>
<h4><strong>Trying To Time the Market</strong></h4>
<p>Many buyers are trying to <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2024/10/18/why-buying-now-is-worth-it-infographic/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">time the market</a> by waiting for home prices or mortgage rates to drop. This can be a really <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2024/09/27/buy-now-or-wait-infographic/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">risky strategy</a> because there’s so much at play that can have an impact on those things. As Elijah de la Campa, Senior Economist at <em>Redfin,</em> says:</p>
<blockquote><p><em>“</em><strong><em>My advice for buyers is don’t try to time the market. </em></strong><em>There are ​a lot of swing factors, like the upcoming jobs report and the presidential election, that could cause the housing market to take unexpected twists and turns. If you find a house you love and can afford to buy it, now’s not a bad time.”</em></p></blockquote>
<h4><strong>Buying More House Than You Can Afford </strong></h4>
<p>If you’re tempted to stretch your budget a bit further than you should, you’re not alone. A number of buyers are making this mistake right now.</p>
<p>But the truth is, it’s actually really important to avoid overextending <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2024/10/14/why-a-condo-could-be-your-perfect-first-home/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">your budget</a>, especially when other housing expenses like home insurance and taxes are on the rise. You want to talk to the pros to make sure you understand what’ll really work for you. <em>Bankrate </em>offers this advice:</p>
<blockquote><p><em>“Focus on what monthly payment you can afford rather than fixating on the maximum loan amount you qualify for. </em><strong><em>Just because you can qualify for a $300,000 loan doesn’t mean you can comfortably handle the monthly payments that come with it along with your other financial obligations.”</em></strong><em> </em></p></blockquote>
<h4><strong>Missing Out on Assistance Programs That Can Help</strong> </h4>
<p>Saving up for the upfront costs of homeownership takes some careful planning. You’ve got to think about your <a href="https://www.simplifyingthemarket.com/2024/09/12/what-to-know-about-closing-costs/?a=712984-fa409495d5d70154d03a25e81e9540e2" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">closing costs</a>, down payment, and more. And if you don’t work with a team of experienced professionals, you could miss out on programs out there that can make a big difference for you. This is happening more than you realize.</p>
<p>According to <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C8VIz8ns2_F/​?img_index=6" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><em>Realtor.com</em></a>, almost 80% of first-time buyers qualify for down payment assistance – but only 13% actually take advantage of those programs. So, talk to a lender about your options. Whether you’re buying your first house or your fifth, there may be a program that can help.</p>
<h4><strong>Not Leaning on the Expertise of a Pro</strong></h4>
<p>This last one may be the most important of all. The very best way to avoid making a mistake that’s going to cost you is to lean on a pro. With the right team of experts, you can easily dodge these missteps.</p>
<h3>Bottom Line</h3>
<p>The good news is you don’t have to deal with any of these headaches. Connect with a local real estate agent so you have a pro on your side who can help you avoid these costly mistakes.</p>
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