7 Key Tips for Buying a Harbor Country Home!

When it comes to buying a home in one of Harbor Country’s charming towns, there can be a lot of decisions to make at once that may seem overwhelming. Whether you choose to buy a vacation home or permanent residence in Sawyer, New Buffalo, Union Pier, Lakeside, Harbert, Grand Beach, Michiana, or Three Oaks; you can’t go wrong! There are a number of beautiful homes currently on the Harbor Country Real Estate market that you’ll be sure to find one that fits your budget, needs and dreams!

In our work as Harbor Country Real Estate agents, our goal is to provide you with current real estate market news and tips for buying or selling a home along the Lake Michigan shoreline. Today we wanted to focus in on some of the best house hunting tips that will help your search run smoothly and help you find (and buy) your dream home in Harbor Country with a timely and efficient process!

Below are seven tips you’ll want to be sure to review before beginning your home search in Harbor Country.

1. Location Matters- You’ve heard the saying, “location, location, location” and it’s very true! You’ll want to narrow down to one or two of your top Harbor Country towns you’d like to live, as well as determine whether you’d like a lake view or would like to be more in town. This will help you hone in your search!

2. Make a List- Begin compiling a list of things you love about your current or past homes, as well as things you want your new home. Of course prioritizing your list of wants will also help as you search. The top things on your list will be your “non-negotiables” while the items further down on the list are things on which you’d like to have, but are willing to compromise. Showing this list to your Harbor Country Real Estate agent will give them a clear picture of exactly what you’re hoping to find.

3. Do your Homework- With loads of information online, beginning to research the area in which you want to live and the cost of homes in that particular town is a great place to start. It will give you an idea of what’s available, what the homes have to offer and the average price of homes. This will quickly help you determine if where you want to live is in your price range and if the homes have the features you desire.

4. Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage- This is a key step in the home search process. Getting pre-approved before you begin your home search will give you a clearer picture of what you can even afford. There’s no sense in wasting time looking at homes only to find out they’re out of your price range. This crucial step will guide your house hunt!

5. Use a Checklist- As you begin touring Harbor Country homes, it may be hard to keep them straight! Rate the features of the home and takes notes as you tour. This will help as you look back at the homes you’ve visited and provide you with a ranking system to help you narrow down your search.

6. Be Prepared to Make an Offer- Before you even begin looking at homes in Harbor Country, make sure you’re ready to buy! Whether it’s a vacation getaway or you’re considering relocating to Harbor Country, be completely sure it’s what you want and that you’re ready to make an offer if you find the right home. Homes in Harbor Country tend to go quickly, so if you do find the home of your dreams, you’ll want to be fully prepared to act quickly!

7. Relax- While searching for an ideal home can mean a major life change, being overly stressed about it will only make the process more difficult. Begin your search early to avoid feeling a time crunch and try to keep the entire experience in perspective. Relying on your Harbor Country Real Estate agent to take care of the details and point you in the right direction will also help ease the stress of the home search.

As always, we’re here to help and would be happy to talk with you about what you’re looking for in a Harbor Country home. We have helped many buyers find their dream home in Harbor Country and would love to help you through the process as well!

Contact us today to get started!