Tacoma is the hottest real estate market in the country right now, and this can make buying a home extremely stressful. However, it doesn’t have to be that way if you plan ahead and work with an experienced real estate agent who knows what they’re doing!
In this video, MovetoTacoma.com creator Marguerite sat down with her niece, fellow Tacoma real estate agent, and Buyer Specialist Keryn to discuss how buyers can prepare to buy a house in Tacoma:
In our current Tacoma market, it’s become normal for homes to receive multiple offers. And the buyers who get the best deals and write the best offers (and actually win homes!) are the most prepared and the most educated about buying a home.
Building trust with your real estate agent is key.
When someone first contacts Keryn and is ready to start their home search, she will spend about 45 minutes to an hour with them going over everything. She’ll answer all of their questions, and during this process both Keryn and the buyers figure out if they’re a good fit. People are often nervous and untrusting at first, but if there is a good connection, it will be clear in this first meeting. Keryn gets a good sense of the client’s expectations and she also shares her expectations. Usually by the end of the conversation, people are much more relaxed and excited!
Keryn is all about preparedness, efficiency, and education.
And in fact, Keryn loves it when someone contacts her YEARS in advance of buying a home. It’s never too early. There’s so much to digest about the home buying process, and the more time you have to prepare and the more relaxed you are, the better. Sometimes people will call Keryn because their dream home has hit the market and they want to sell their current home and make an offer ASAP… but they don’t have their financing in order or anything. It can be a very big letdown for some people to realize that it’s not going to happen. Taking the time to prep can solve a lot of problems!
You should be empowered to make your own decisions.
The worst thing Keryn hears from people about previous real estate experiences is that they didn’t know what happened during their transaction and that their agent would just tell them what to do. Keryn never wants to tell you what to do. She wants you to know the process well enough that you can make your own decisions. One of Keryn’s big fears is that her clients will have buyers remorse, and she wants her clients to carefully make decisions they’ll be truly happy with.
Liking your realtor and lender is a REALLY BIG DEAL. To Keryn, there’s nothing wrong with not choosing a realtor just based on the vibe. The agent might be great at their job, but they just might not be the greatest fit for you, and it’s important to trust your instinct here!
If you’re interested in buying a house in Tacoma and need a Tacoma buyers agent who specializes in the neighborhoods you’re looking in, feel free to contact Marguerite for an introduction.
