Recent Home Buyers In Too Big Of A Rush Now Living With Buyer Remorse

It was unlike any home buying activity I have ever seen, according to Houston Home Buyers. It was a like a feeding frenzy. Potential home buyers in Houston were so eager to visit homes for sale and submit written purchase offers that they often disregarded their buying criteria. Many of them were participating in bidding wars that drove home prices in Houston to historical highs.

According to various surveys 52% of all home buyers experience some form of buyer’s remorse and overall 25% said they were unhappy with their decision. Roughly a third of all home buyers said they purchased homes with less square footage than they wanted and an equal number said they expanded the acceptable search area to purchase a house. And, roughly one third said they accelerated their plans for a house purchase in Houston due to the fear that home prices and mortgage interest rates would continue to climb.

What Are The Most Common Mistakes That Home Buyers Make?

Poor Financial Planning

Large Future Expenses

This mistake covers a lot of ground starting with family planning several years into the future. Big future expenses such as car purchases should be part of the financial plan. And there should be a “buffer” amount equal to at least two months income for unexpected expenses.

Failure To Understand All Costs of A Home Purchase

Down Payment – the average house down payment for a first-time buyers is 6%; repeat-buyers average 13%
Moving Expenses
HOA – transfer fee
Property Taxes – begin the day of title transfer
Mortgage Insurance – private mortgage insurance to protect the lender
Closing Costs – loan application fees, home appraisal, survey, credit reporting fees, home insurance, loan origination fee, pest inspection, lead paint inspection, property inspector, attorney fees, wire fees

Waiving A Home Inspection

Not a good decision. Home Inspectors are professionals and know far more about the construction and condition of a home than the average home owner. They can discover current and future areas of the home that need repair. Undiscovered and needed repairs could cost the home buyer tens of thousands of dollars, especially if they involve the foundation, roof, plumbing, HVAC, or electrical systems.

Failure To Research Mortgage Providers And Get Pre-Approval

One of the biggest failure points in a home purchase in Houston is the buyer’s inability to qualify for a loan. If potential home buyers are pre-approved then they have a negotiating advantage over other potential buyers needing a mortgage.

Not Researching The Neighborhood

There is a lot of information online that can help potential home buyers in Houston. Police reports and crime statistics are online and there are neighborhood Facebook groups. Nextdoor is another source of neighborhood information. School ratings are also online. And it is a good idea to note the businesses such as groceries, restaurants, medical, and entertainment that are easily accessible.

Rushing Into A Bidding War

No house is perfect including those that are purchased far above their asking price in bidding wars. It is important for potential home buyers to control their emotions and not be seduced by FOMO – the fear of missing out. House buyers on tighter budgets may not qualify for a mortgage when a house is bid above its appraised value. And house sellers will be more inclined to sell to those who have larger down payments and need smaller mortgages.

Why Do People Regret Buying Homes?

Overpaid For The House
Neighborhood Issues
Long Commute To Work
Higher Than Expected Maintenance Costs
High Property Taxes
Layout Of House

Is It OK To Buy A House That Needs Work?

Yes, but at the right price. And there are many pitfalls when rehabbing, remodeling, or repairing major items in a house. Typically this is the area of a residential house investor or professional home buyers company in Houston. Ask for referrals of contractors. Multiple contractors should be researched and at least two should be providing an estimate of the work to be done. The lowest bid is not always the best.

Houston Home Buyers is a home buyers company that purchases houses in any condition with 100% cash. Home sellers avoid repairs, showings, commissions, fees, and a ton of headaches. Many of the houses are upgraded and remodeled and return to the housing stock as a rental or retail sale.