Everett/Snohomish County Housing Market Is Heating Up – Do You Use Your Head or Your Heart To Make Home Buying Decisions?

Spring is here and with it the start of one of the busiest times of year for housing. Everett/Seattle is one of many metropolitan regions in the country showing signs of a strong market in the coming months. Even though many communities are still seeing prices fall, buyers are  shopping and some are  willing to pay more than fair market value to secure a deal. But is it a deal if you get into a bidding war and end up using your heart rather than your head?

We certainly don’t want to see a repeat of the housing crisis of a few years ago. Even though prices are more realistic than during the great housing boom, prices are still stabilizing and paying more than a house is worth is never a wise decision. Prices are not inflated like they were in years past but no one knows what the economy will have to endure over the next few years and the housing market is still very fragile.

Make sure to use your head when making such a huge financial decision. Ask yourself if you really HAVE TO have “that” house. Why do you HAVE TO have “that” house. Are you willing to shell out the extra money for it when the appraisal comes in at fair market value and you just offered $20,000 or more over?

With home purchases, I have seen many buyers become emotionally invested in a particular house. When this happens, many times the buyer compromises on what they need in a home, the price range they are comfortable with and even the location. Just because there are 5 other people who want that particular house doesn’t mean that you have to want it as well. It’s like the car lot scenario where everyone is standing around the red sports car, drooling over it.  The first thing human nature has us do is walk up and drool over it as well. We want what everyone else wants sometimes for illogical reasons.

Buying a home is the biggest financial decision most will ever make. Make sure you team up with a  Real Estate Broker that has your best and long term interests at heart and will help guide you to make logical decisions. A good reality check is important when emotions are such a big part of home purchasing decisions.  Always take time to think about major purchases like a home. Sleep on it. Crunch the numbers. Will you own the house or will the house own you? And remember, we are just getting to the time of year when many sellers get their homes ready for the market along with another huge influx of foreclosures slated to hit the market this Spring.

I am here to partner with you and help you achieve your dream of home ownership. I will take as much time as it takes to find the right fit for you and your budget, whether it be days, weeks or months. I want to be your real estate consultant for life.