Buy Smart. Buy Confident. Buy with Columbia County Real Estate Specialists.
Your trusted partner in making informed, successful home and land purchases throughout Columbia County.
Columbia County Home Buyers
Establishing the Standard for Excellence
Before You Sign
Prioritize
Identify and prioritize the property traits you desire most.
Research
Research local towns and school districts to establish the area suits you best.
Finance
Establish how the purchase will be financed and qualify for mortgage financing if necessary.
Search
Conduct market research to identify acceptable properties.
Evaluate
Visit acceptable properties to establish which of them are desirable.
Negotiate
Negotiate the sale terms with the seller when a desirable property is found.
Contract
When your purchase offer is accepted you will enter into a formal contract and conduct the appropriate property inspections.
Close
At the closing, the transaction will be finalized and your dream of home ownership will become a reality.
If you are knowledgeable in the above areas purchasing a new home is something you may decide to undertake yourself. If you are not confident in completing these tasks enlisting the services of an experienced and well qualified real estate company to work at your side will be an instrumental part of achieving your goals.
At Columbia County Real Estate Specialists we are experts at buying and selling real estate. Columbia County is where we live, it is where we’ve helped people buy and sell real estate for the past decade. If you are considering the purchase of a home or property in Columbia County contact us to learn first-hand why our past clients have chosen to work with us and why so many of them confidently refer our services to their friends and family.
This was our third experience using John and Margaret Avenia, Columbia County Real Estate Specialists. Once to purchase a home and twice, and most recently to sell property. I would highly recommend giving John and Margaret a call! They are very knowledgeable with Columbia County and pricing in the ever changing real estate market. Our most recent sale was at the start of the pandemic and their professionalism throughout the process was second to none! Thank you John and Margaret for all your help in all of our RE transactions!
Your Guide to Buying a Home: From Decision to Closing
Making the Decision to Buy
Buying a new home can be one of the most exciting and satisfying experiences of a lifetime. For many, it will also be one of the most significant financial commitments they ever make. Making the decision to purchase a new home is a life altering decision that requires forethought, planning and the conviction to succeed.
Making Your Wish List
If you are going to buy a new home you want to make sure it is the right home. It should be a home that meets your needs of today, as well as tomorrow. At the initial stage of your search a prioritized list of wants and needs is essential. This list will be continually refined as you research properties and determine the features you desire most. Only when you have clearly defined your most important goals can a buying plan be created to efficiently accomplish them.
Selecting a Real Estate Agent
When you begin to view homes that are for sale you will have the choice to do so with a real estate agent who represents the seller, or an agent who exclusively represents you and your interests. We don’t believe there is a single good reason for potential buyers not to work with a buyer’s agent. Before making your decision learn the differences between working with a buyer’s agent versus a listing who represents the seller. Making the right choice could be one of the most important decisions you make when purchasing a new home.
Create a Buying Plan
Once you’ve made the decision to purchase a new home developing an organized and efficient plan to accomplish your goal becomes the priority. Online research will give you an initial idea of what properties are available and their asking prices. We believe it is also important that you spend time researching the community you’d like to purchase a home in. Familiarizing yourself with the community, its schools and the people who live there is the best way to confirm it will be the right place for you. The buying plan will make sure your goals are clearly expressed, allow you to measure progress against your expectations and help take emotions out of future buying decisions that need to be made.
Execute a Buying Plan
It is not common for someone to purchase the first property they see. Buyers need to be prepared for a substantial amount of research, numerous trips visiting properties and additional time getting to know the community. The services of a buyer’s agent can be especially helpful in this stage. An experienced buyer’s agent is a local expert who can help maximize the benefits derived from your valuable time and energy. The time you invest creating the marketing plan and the confidence you have in your buyer agent’s ability to execute it will be the keys to success.
Making a Purchase Offer
When you’ve finally found the ideal home you’ll want to make a purchase offer for it. This is when the buyer’s agent you’ve chosen will need to shine. Negotiations can take on a life of their own and a deal is only struck when both the buyer and seller are satisfied. An experienced buyer’s agent will guide you through the negotiations and all of the steps necessary to have your offer accepted.
Closing the Sale
Your purchase offer has been accepted and success is at hand. The typical purchase offer will contain a number of contingencies that must be met before the sale can close. These contingencies typically include property inspections, title searches and the mortgage approval. During these important steps unexpected problems can arise and when they do the transaction can easily fall apart. Identifying the problem, maintaining proper perspective and keeping all parties working together toward the common goal is vital to completing the sale. This is when having the right buyer’s agent at your side makes all the difference.
