Keys To Hitting Your Homeownership Goals in 2024
Article by | Cherry Ruffino
If your goal for 2024 is to purchase a home or sell your current home, it is vital to be knowledgeable of today’s real estate market, clearly define your wants and needs, and work with industry professionals to create your path to homeownership.
There are several factors to consider as you determine your homeownership goals for 2024.
Buying a Home
1. Know Your Why:
You have been dreaming about making a move for a reason—what is it? Perhaps your current living situation doesn’t fulfill your needs as they have changed overtime or you might be ready to leap into home ownership for the first time. Use your why as a starting point to accomplish your goals.
2. Decide Your Must-Haves:
Now that you “know your why,” it is time to decide what you are looking for in a home? What are your must-haves and what are you willing to have some wiggle room on?
3.Research the Housing Market:
With your “why” and “must-haves,” now it is time to meet with a real estate professional. Contact a local, trusted real estate agent to help get a better understanding of the current market, assist in finding homes that meet your needs, and for expert advice along the way of the buying process.
4. Determine if Now is the Right Time to Buy:
It’s crucial to have a clear understanding of your budget and what savings you need to buy a home. Teaming up with a local real estate agent and lender at the earliest possible stage will ensure your financial readiness. It can be the right time to buy or maybe you need to wait a little longer. Having an expert give you a true picture of all that is involved can help you make an educated decision.
Selling your Home
Are you looking to sell your home in 2024? Locally, late spring & early summer are the best times to sell. As the weather improves, home buyers start hunting for their future homes. Outlined below is information preparing your home for sale.
1. Research the Housing Market:
Contact a local, trusted real estate agent to help determine your home’s current market value. They will be able to use their knowledge and expertise to share with you the competition in the market and strategies to get your home sold.
2. Brighten and Declutter your Home:
In today’s market, bright open spaces are most desired by home buyers. Consider a plan to remove items on counter tops for showings of your home and clean up areas that appear cluttered. Also changing out your lightbulbs to a higher wattage can make a big difference!
3. A Fresh Coat of Paint:
If needed, freshening up your home with new paint is a great way to revitalize your home. Light colors will help bring in more brightness too. Even just repainting one main area can brighten your home.
4. Boost your Curb Appeal:
The front of your home is the first impression to buyers. Revitalize your landscaping by keeping the grass regularly cut, adding new mulch, and replacing any shrubs lost to winter weather. Another thing I find very effective is painting your front door. Buyers stay longer at the front door than any other part of the home!
5. Clean, Clean, Clean:
Be sure to clean your home from top to bottom. Nothing sells like a tidy and fresh smelling home. Seeking guidance from a seasoned professional is pivotal at every stage of the buying or selling process. If you find the process overwhelming, it’s completely normal. Don’t let uncertainty hold you back from achieving your goals this year. Your team of real estate professionals will help give you the information and confidence you need to make informed decisions. Let’s take the first step towards achieving your homeownership goals of buying your future home or selling your current home, or both!
Cherry Ruffino is not just a name, but a trusted brand built on her integrity, diligence, and unparalleled customer service in real estate here in the Brazos Valley. Who you work with matters. Cherry Ruffino and her team are committed to making a better experience for their clients through the life transitions of buying and selling real estate.