Buying a home in Texas can be an enticing decision — unless you’re buying one out of state. For many, there’s not much less comfortable than making an out-of-state purchase.
Indeed, much trepidation surrounds buying a Texas home when you do not live in the state. However, you don’t have to be paralyzed from making the jump. By following a few simple tips like going to a home inspection, buying a home out-of-state will not be as intimidating.
Luckily, this article contains several tips on buying a Texas home — specifically for those out of state.
Tip #1: Research and Work With Your Real Estate Agent
Doing real estate research on a home in your city is crucial. The importance of doing this for a home that is hundreds of miles away multiplies by a factor of 10.
Buying a home out of state makes the services of a real estate agent vital. With an agent, you will have a resource person with whom you can confirm your real estate research. Of course, at the end of the day, your agent can only give you options. You will have to make the decision yourself.
Tip #2: Look For CRS or CRP Designations
A certified residential specialist (CRS) or a certified relocation professional (CRP) are two people you will need on your out-of-state house hunt. More than their expertise, their certifications add legitimacy to their practice.
In other words, you can get great house buying assistance minus the risk of being scammed. Real estate agents can be CRSs or CRPs. Either way, get in touch with one before you choose a house in Texas or anywhere else, for that matter.
Tip #3: Hire a Relocation Specialist
Moving from one state to another is a challenging and exhausting process. You need to find a new home and sell the one you have. You also need to pack when you leave and unpack when you get to Texas. There’s also tons of paperwork to do.
For the entire moving process, a relocation specialist can take care of nearly all of your problems. A relocation specialist can:
- Help you find the right home
- Assist you in the sale of yours
- Find a school for your kids
- Take care of shipping and logistics
- Give you the grand tour of the neighborhood in which you are about to settle
- Help you with the necessary documentation and paperwork
A relocation specialist is someone you need to have on your moving team, along with your real estate agent.
Tip #4: Don’t Be Afraid To Ask Questions
Moving to a new state, you will be unfamiliar with many things. Your real estate agent or relocation specialist understands this. For this reason, you need to be comfortable with asking as many questions as you can.
For the above-mentioned professionals, there is no such thing as dumb questions. They will be more than happy to answer any. It is part of their job description, after all.
Tip #5: Visit The Neighborhood, and Ask About The Area
You can direct questions about the neighborhood to your agent or relocation specialist. Or, you can ask the locals if you get the chance to visit the area yourself.
As a potential newcomer to a neighborhood, you need to ask questions about:
- Security
- Floods
- General weather conditions
Asking about security will help you with decision-making. It can also give you a clue about the average price of properties. Knowing about floods and the weather conditions will help you determine the need for things like flood insurance or homeowner insurance.
Final Thoughts
An out-of-state home buy in Texas does not need to be daunting. By following these five simple tips, not only will your move be a success but you will also move to the home of your dreams.
