On November 30th, 2010, I closed on two houses that will be beneficial in improving the market here in Picayune and Pearl River County, MS:

This home, located at 17 Laurel Grove Drive, is in the North Hill Subdivision in Carriere. It is a 4 bedroom home on an acre of land with an inground swimming pool, and it sold for full price, cash (and it never even had a “for sale” sign in the yard):

This home, located at 29 West Robin Drive, is in the Eagle Heights Subdivision in Picayune, MS, and features 3 bedrooms, an open floorplan, and a beautiful covered back patio for entertaining. It sold for $220,000:

House Hunting Tips when searching for a home in Picayune Mississippi.  What you should know when you are wanting to buy a home in Pearl River County, MS.

Some things to keep in mind when searching for the perfect property for your family:

1. Make your first step the step of locating and hiring a Real Estate Consultant that you are confident has your needs, desires, and best interests at heart.  Your Real Estate Consultant can prove to be a lifesaver when you’ve reached the final hours before closing and the sky looks as though it’s going to fall.  They will also be there to search out the home that fits your needs, negotiate your deal, and advise you on anything that comes up during inspections and the loan process.
2. Next, if you need to get financing for your next home, you will need to talk to a lender to get “pre-approved” for a loan.  There is a difference between being “pre-qualified” and “pre-approved”.  You will be a better-positioned Buyer when you have a pre-approval letter from a lender, stating that it has already been determined that you can get a loan for the amount you are offering.
3. Meet with your Real Estate Consultant to identify the things that are absolute necessities in your search.  Discuss a list of “needs”, and then add to the list the “wants”.  It’s important to realize that not every item on your list is going to exist in one house.  Know what you can’t live without (amount of bedrooms, amount of bathrooms, size of yard, etc), and then add to that the things that you’d like to have, also, if available in the price range you are looking in.
4. Another important factor that must be considered when purchasing a home for your family is the neighborhood. This is more important than many people may realize. It is well worth having a smaller home in a neighborhood that is poised for growth rather than a larger home in a neighborhood that is in the state of decline or on the verge of the state of decline. Crime rates in the neighborhood and the school district are other things that need to be considered as well before deciding to view a potential home.
5. It’s important to look at more than one property before making a decision.  Keep in mind, however, that if you have sat down with your Real Estate Consultant and gone over your needs and wants, then they will have a good idea of what you are looking for.  Your Consultant will pull the properties that meet those needs.  If you are not comfortable with the properties that you are viewing, it’s important to go back to the list and adjust.  Many Buyers tend to start out looking for one thing, and then realize that their expectations may be different than what was discussed.  I’ve had many Buyers tell me that they absolutely have to have one item, and then go in the opposite direction once we start looking.  Keep your Consultant in the loop on your thoughts, and they will be able to tailor the homes they show you to coincide with your list.
6. Rely on the expertise of your Real Estate Consultant to give you advice on making an offer.  There are many more contributing factors to a contract than just price.  How quickly you are able to close, whether or not you have your financing in place, the amount of money you are putting down as earnest money, any request for seller assistance in closing costs, etc, will all be contributing factors.  The truth is, it doesn’t matter how much you offer, it’s the underlying items on a contract that can make or break negotiations.  When you’ve hired an experienced Real Estate Consultant, you will have someone with experience in negotiations to work at getting you the best deal.

You will find many houses along the way but few will reach out and impress themselves upon you as home. Those are the ones you should consider long and hard. Weigh the options, the prices, and your likes and dislikes, and depend on a seasoned Real Estate Consultant to guide you through the process.  If you do all of this you should be well on your way to the home of your dreams.