Buying a home can be stressful. Applying for a mortgage, viewing properties, making offers and competing for homes with multiple bids can be daunting. But it doesn't have to be when you work with an experienced real estate professional who is passionate about their work and looks forward to earning your business and building a partnership for years to come. MKB, Realtors partner Curtis Burchett provided helpful points to consider when preparing for a home purchase.

Make your lists and dare to dream

First things first: Establish the basic parameters of what you're looking for and prepare two lists. List No. 1 will detail your must-haves, the items that are non-negotiable, such as minimum three bedrooms, two-car garage, close to schools, etc. Keep this list manageable and include no more than five must-have items.

List No. 2 will be your wish list. Make this list as long as your imagination. Is a rocking chair front porch or wood-burning fireplace on that list? Maybe you've always wanted a claw-foot tub or soaring 10-foot ceilings. What about a fenced yard for the pups?

"Keep these lists handy, as they will help keep you on track as you begin your house hunt. It's important to share these lists with your Realtor so that they keep an eye out for anything that fits the bill," advises Burchett. 

Decide on a budget and be realistic

Do you plan to finance your purchase through a mortgage? If so, the first step is always to talk with a lender to get a full picture of what you can afford. Do you have "champagne taste on a beer budget"? Have a heart-to-heart with yourself on the reality of your budget compared to your desires. Staying within budget gives your agent the direction to make sure your goals and expectations are met. And showing homes outside of your price range can set you up for aggravation and disappointment. 

Thinking outside the box can pay off

"A good Realtor will help educate their buyers on current market conditions and, ultimately, how aggressive they want to be in order to achieve their goals," said Burchett. "As an example, in a seller's market here in Roanoke, there might be only 650 houses on the market with 1,500 agents working to find their clients the right home. To complicate the situation, only 100 of those houses might be in your price range, and to narrow it even further, only 10 might meet your location, amenity, and quality criteria. This can be a difficult situation with limited inventory, but at MKB we have over 200 agents constantly communicating their clients' wants and needs with each other." 

"I had recently experienced a situation where my buyers were not finding 'the one' and were willing to wait for the perfect house." recalled Burchett. "Another agent in my office had a client with a house my clients would love, but the seller needed to stay in their house a few months for medical reasons. The sellers were hesitant to put theirs on the market because it would most likely be sold very quickly. We were able to broker a deal where the seller could live in the home as long as needed and never had to put the house on the market, and my clients could get a house that fit all of their expectations and didn't need to continue their search. Both parties got what they wanted and were very happy with the result. I made lifelong clients that day."

Yes, the process of a home purchase can be complicated, but MKB, Realtors will guide you every step of the way. With nearly five decades of experience (50 years in 2023!), MKB has grown into the largest and most successful real estate company in the region. MKB is entirely locally-owned and has five offices in the Roanoke area: Daleville, Roanoke Main office, Oak Grove office, Salem and Moneta.

MKB is committed to providing you the best, most professional real estate experience. Beyond listing and selling homes, MKB also assists in relocation to/from the area, property management of both homes and commercial properties, mortgage qualification, refinancing and much more. For more information, visit mkbrealtors.com.

**This article was copied in full from its original source in The Roanoke Times.