5 Crucial Tips for Buying in Boston Next Spring!

Are you a first-time home buyer? Here are 5 of the most important things you need to know as you prepare to buy your first home.

Choose the right realtor.
Interview 2 to 3 agents. Ask them about their experience working with first time home buyers. Find out what they know about the market and what they have sold in the area. In a competitive market, a savvy realtor will give you the edge you need and possibly even find you a property that others are not aware of.

Speak to more than one mortgage broker.
Different lenders offer different products and some may be able to save you money or assist you by providing a better service. Ask advice from your realtor as they likely can introduce you to a few reputable lenders in the area. When your realtor and lender have a strong professional relationship, oftentimes the purchase becomes a smoother process.

Understand contingencies.
When writing an offer with your realtor, there are many ways to strengthen it without paying more than you need to. Working with an experienced agent will provide you with this necessary insight.

Patience.
When buying a home, it’s best to not do so under a time crunch. If possible, allow yourself some flexibility so that you are able to be realistic with deadlines and also make the right decision.

Think about your short and long term plans.
Buying a home is a commitment but does not mean you need to have your forever home right away. Your realtor should be able to walk you through some very important questions that help you determine what is most important at this stage of your life.

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Check out our buyer’s guide for an more in-depth look into the home buying process here.

About the Author

Joshua Stephens, Vice President

Joshua Stephens is the founder and president of Moving Greater Boston and a Vice President of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Warren Residential. After graduating from UMASS Amherst with a degree in psychology in 2008, Josh dedicated five years to social service work on the North Shore before joining Berkshire Hathaway in 2013, where he found his professional calling and quickly distinguished himself as a motivated innovator capable of synthesizing the needs of buyers, sellers, investors, and developers. In just a few short years, Josh formed Moving Greater Boston and achieved over $100 million in sales after only 7 years in the business. Josh's team has been consistently recognized at both the local and national levels, receiving numerous prestigious awards for sales and customer service. Last year, the Moving Greater Boston team was awarded the coveted Chairman’s Circle Platinum award for all of Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, which recognizes agents and teams that are in the top 1% for sales across a network of over 70,000 agencies. In 2017, Josh was also personally selected to serve on the Berkshire Hathaway Home Services National REthink Council, an honor bestowed upon only 15 agents among thousands of applicants. Despite his many and ongoing successes in the world of real estate, Joshua has never lost sight of his social work roots. A compassionate and principled professional who knows the value of strong communities, Josh continues his advocacy outside of the office by being actively involved in a number of local organizations and charities. In 2016, he was instrumental in conceptualizing and developing Business Networking International (BNI) Prospect Hill, an organization that connects local business professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs. As a native of Massachusetts, Joshua has an intimate knowledge of Boston real estate, while having a degree in psychology helps him to understand each of his clients' unique needs, enabling him to connect them with ideal communities, an opportunity which he considers both a priority and privilege. Rather than simply facilitating the buying and selling of property, Josh views his role as a realtor as a lifelong commitment to continually serving the best interests of the people who have put their trust in him. Josh continually strives for excellence in service, provides in-depth knowledge of the market, and blends unwavering integrity with amenable good humor to alleviate the stress of real estate transactions and assure the experience is one that lets the sensation of being in the perfect place, at the perfect time, truly resonate.