For those of you considering a move in a year to five years, there is still an opportunity for you to grab on to today.
Take this time to decide what you are looking for in a move (More space? Bigger yard? A new city altogether?).
Determine what area you are moving to. Explore. On your time off, drive to the cities you have considered. Enjoy their shops or their local farmers markets, for example.
Work on getting your finances in order. Pay down debt and be more deliberate about saving. Learn what makes sense to pay off and what doesn’t. Go one step further and talk to a lender. This will help you learn what it takes to buy and what closing costs to expect.
Creating a plan will keep you focused and on track for when the time is right.
On a side note, if you know that you will be buying in the near future, there are some opportunities to seize with caution. Major purchases like a new boat or a new ride may adjust your debt-to-income ratio. A new job can also affect your qualifying. A conversation with your lender can put this in perspective for you.
By Kristin Beise, RE/MAX Advantage Plus
