How to Buy a Home in Today's Market

The market of homes for sale in Sacramento (and everywhere else) has really heated up. There is about 1.5 months of home inventory for sale currently in the Sacramento market. Less than six months inventory of Sacramento homes for sale is considered a seller's market. The graph below shows few homes for sale in the Sacramento real estate market.

That metric alone hints that it's tough to be a buyer, and other measurements of Sacramento real estate tell the same story. The graph below shows the average number of days this year that Sacramento homes for sale have spent on the market.

The two graphs tell the whole story. Home buying has increased dramatically in 2013, but inventory has stayed low and that makes it tough for buyers to find, acquire and successfully close escrow on the ideal home. It's a bit of a negative-feedback loop - sellers are reluctant to list because then they have to find  new homes to purchase (which are scarce) and many sellers are still too far underwater to sell. The good news is that this will change - as prices rise, more sellers will be able to list their homes for sale in Sacramento. market but buyers can still find great homes at reasonable prices in areas with excellent schools.

In the meantime... you can find and buy the perfect home in a nice area of Sacramento with great schools.
Here's how...

Thinking of buying?

Get Prepared
 Talk to a Realtor and tell them about the area and the kind of home you want. It's FREE and it's the best way to dive into the local real estate market and start looking without spending all day. That's your real estate agent's job. They will spend their time and use their knowledge to locate the best market opportunities on your behalf.
Find a Loan
Need a loan? Your Realtor can help you start preparing your paperwork for the lender. If needed, they will  recommend several reputable and competitive lenders, and work with you and the lender to make your loan application a fast and efficient process. Don't skip this step in your eagerness to start looking at houses. Submitting an offer without a lender preapproval letter is a waste of your time.
Look at Lots of Houses
          Tour all the available homes for sale with your Buyer's representative. Your Realtor provides you with their time, market expertise, and access to all properties for sale.
Make Offers
           Few experiences are as exciting as walking into a home for sale and knowing it's just right for you. But, to make the dream a reality, you must write an offer that the seller will accept. Your agent will assist you in writing and negotiating all offers and counteroffers so that you have the best chance at home buying success while protecting your interests.

We can help. Get help buying a home or call us today at 916.893.1566