Buying a home with confidence
We all have dreams, and they are as vast and varied as the world is wide. But they all start with inspiration, and inspiration starts with our surroundings. That’s what home is. Family. Friends. A sense of place. An amazing view. It is all part of what makes a space a home, because your home is where you truly LIVE. As a leading luxury real estate brand, Sotheby’s International Realty® understands that your best life begins with a home that inspires you.
BUY vs RENT
Making the Decision
Many people consider home ownership to be an integral piece of the American dream, but there is more to it than that. Some reasons you may choose to buy instead of rent your home.
Build Equity
One of the primary reasons people choose to buy their home is so their hard-earned money can go toward increasing their own assets, rather than into their landlord’s pocket.
Control & Responsibility
Homeowners have the freedom to make their home into a reflection of themselves. The flip side of that is that the owner bears responsibility when something needs fixing.
Stability vs. Flexibility
If you plan to stay in a location for an extended period of time, owning your home brings more predictability to your budget and makes it easier to set down roots. If you don’t plan to stay long, or have some unpredictability in your income, it may make more sense to rent.
How to decide?
An experienced Realtor® can help you examine your circumstances and the market conditions, and advise you on your best options.
When To Buy
Reasons to Buy Now
Determining if the time is right to buy a home is your first step in the home buying process. Here are some reasons to consider buying now rather than waiting for a future date.
Tax Savings & Equity Building
The sooner you buy, the sooner you can start building equity in what is likely to be your greatest asset, and the sooner you can take advantage of the tax benefits of owning a home. Talk to your CPA or tax professional to understand your particular situation.
It’s the Right Time in Your Life
Sometimes it’s just the right stage of life to make a move: you want social and educational continuity for your children; your financial circumstances have changed; you are empty nesters or retirees and are looking for more freedom, or maybe you have changed jobs.
Generally Rising Home Values
Market timing is a risky practice and an approach we don’t recommend for the purchase of your primary residence. Over the long term, however, home values tend to rise. Just like the stock market, if you get in sooner rather than later, and hold on to your investment, it is likely to appreciate.
Lock in Interest Rates
If you are financing your home purchase, locking in an interest rate now will give you more predictability for your household budget, and will be a long- term benefit if interest rates rise.
My Value To You
Can’t I Do This Myself?
With all of the information available to consumers today, some people try to buy a home on their own, or use the listing agent to represent them. Hiring a professional agent dedicated to you provides significant benefits.
Dedicated to You
Hiring a professional agent gives you an advocate dedicated to you and your success, with no conflict of interest. We take the time to get to know your needs, hopes, circumstances, likes and dislikes. A successful agent becomes a trusted advisor that can tell you what you need to hear.
Expert Guidance in a Complex Market
The real estate market changes daily. An experienced professional stays on top of these changes, helping you save time and energy in identifying homes that best fit your needs, avoiding delays or costly mistakes.
Access to Off-Market Properties
Not all homes for sale are found online. Increasingly, homes are being offered off-market through agent connections. Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty agents are among the best-connected anywhere.
Negotiation & Market Expertise
We’ve seen it often: an out-of-town agent or a buyer who doesn’t know the local market over bids, costing them significant amounts of money. Or they lose out on a home because they don’t negotiate effectively. Pricing practices vary by area and by agent. Knowing whether a price represents market value, a wishful stretch, or a low-ball “auction” price requires a savvy adviser who knows the market.