This month, Money magazine offered advice for house hunters eager to get a jump on “the most active homebuying season of the year.” The busy season may still be weeks away, but it’s widely expected that landing a ‘good deal’ on one of the St. Cloud houses that meet all requirements may take some doing. “How to Spot a Good Deal When Shopping for a Home” offered five pointers. Briefly summarizing (in reverse order):

The fifth one, “Buy during the offseason,” is the most timely. In addition to arming buyers with a valuable grounding in the local market in this less active period, it can lead to valuable offerings when it’s combined with the fourth pointer, “Look at homes that have been listed for a while.” St. Cloud houses that are long unclaimed can have failed to find buyers due to real troublesome issues that make them hard to sell—but they might also have what are correctible failings for motivated buyers. Slow-to-move properties can also have owners whose patience is exhausted, making them eager to make a deal, move on, and be done with it!

Money’s third point, “Consider potential profits,” actually goes to the wider meaning of what constitutes that “good deal.” For shoppers whose focus is solely on finding the lowest-priced St. Cloud house, such a deal may be far from a good one when all factors are taken into account. Buyers whose focus is solely on a property’s value as shelter can miss the investment value that is built into the purchase. A home that is well maintained, close to good schools, has a good layout or is close to amenities like parks, restaurants, and stores, is “one that will be in demand for years to come.” Recognizing a St. Cloud house’s future investment value can turn the more pricey of two homes into a superior value.

The second idea, “Don’t fall for the pretty stuff” is a slightly different angle on that third point. Curb appeal is the seller’s way to win a favorable first impression—but veteran shoppers are careful to recognize beauty that’s only skin deep.

The first point is the universally recognized place to start: “Know the market.” Comparisons with similar homes that have sold recently are the sine qua non of adroit home buying. Getting started the right way is also as simple as simple can be: just give me a call!   

Providing a superior level of informed, professional real estate services to buyers and sellers throughout Central Minnesota. We have agents specializing in residential, commercial, multifamily, new construction, existing, investment properties, foreclosures/REO, and short sales with offices located in:

Multiple Office Locations To Serve YOU!

Saint Cloud 320-259-4554

Princeton 320-983-3555

Sartell 320-259-4554

Little Falls 320-259-4554

Minneapolis 763-565-2000

Hutchinson 320-455-9127

Litchfield 320-298-1140

Premier Real Estate specializes in MANY areas around Central MN including Saint Cloud, Waite Park, Rice, Royalton, Sartell, Royalton, Little Falls, Cold Spring, Saint Joseph, Elk River, Monticello, Ramsey, Saint Michael, Andover, Ham Lake, Anoka, Champlin, Buffalo, Glencoe, Brownton, Silver Lake, Kandiyohi, Dassel, Minneapolis, Maple Grove, Saint Louis Park, Saint Paul, Robbinsdale, Crystal, New Hope, Brooklyn Center, Brainerd, Nisswa, Aitkin, Albany, Coon Rapids, Sauk Rapids and more!