I like to advise my buyer clients to work from a plan of preparation in searching for their perfect home in Bend, Oregon.
   
Five essential prerequisites that will allow you to react quickly:
1)  Road Map:  Identify the target areas which fulfill your needs and wants within your budget. (A good buyers’ agent is important to hire at the ‘get-go’ as the expert advice and time he/she will save a client is remarkable).  It probably will make the difference between getting what you want, or missing out.  A buyer’s agent will listen carefully to your “want list” and “wish list” and identify areas and homes that fit the bill! You will have your own advocate for finding and obtaining the best deal!  And, the seller or builder usually pays the agent’s fee.  Why would you choose otherwise?

2)  Obtain a Pre-Approval letter from your lender.   It is critical to have your qualification process completed in order to be competitive with the other bids that might be already presented. Stay a step ahead of the competition!

3) Your lender will advise you not to make large purchases right before you apply for a mortgage—i.e. new car, new boat, extra expenditures, run up on credit cards…do watch the spending since you are now focused on buying that perfect home!

4) You do want that perfect home, but at what price?  Decide ahead of time, before you are just dying to buy that home, what your limit is.  Very much like attending an auction, don’t get caught up in the flurry of the moment!

5) Don’t forget to calculate Taxes and Homeowners dues within your monthly payment. These will be recurring costs associated with your home, and with Taxes and HOA dues, might go up or down depending on the market and assessments by individual HOAs.

In the Bend, Oregon real estate market, we are seeing a continuation of soft home prices and great mortgage interest rates.  Right now is an unbelievable opportunity to purchase a home in our market.

Many of our buyers are “waiting” for the bottom-------and I ask, “How will you know?”
“Had you rather purchase one day too soon…..or, one day too late!

For buyer and seller resources, links to Central Oregon area information, a Photo Gallery, and a user-friendly Property Search, please visit www.hendrick.com. You can save your searches, or have new listings emailed to you automatically when they hit the market.

Golf at the Pronghorn™ Club in Bend, Oregon

I specialize in Bend’s local real estate market including golf communities, second homes, primary homes, and land. I like to work with my real estate clients as a “Real Estate Consultant” because I want to know all the facts and the information, but I don’t like being “Sold.” Many of my clients also appreciate the ability to obtain all the information, preview the homes they want, and know when they make a decision, every detail will be handled smoothly by me.

And please note that I own the Martha Hendrick Realty site, so your email addresses are never sold or shared.