5 Austin Home Buying Resources For While You’re Stuck at Home
During such difficult times, it’s impossible to go about business as usual. Even if you’re someone that works from home, your day-to-day has changed exponentially. Hours of the day that were filled with certain activities are left open — and many people are starting to go a little stir crazy. We hope you take this time to reflect and slow down a bit. Read a good book, call a friend you have not talked to in a while, pick up a paintbrush and make some horrible art and educate yourself on something new.
If you’ve thought about buying a house at all and think you’d want to take this time to educate yourself fully so you know if it’s right for you, we’ve got you covered. Although you may feel unsure about purchasing a home during this uncertain time, there are other things you can do to prepare besides paying a down-payment. The preparation part before the purchase is a key step, and this is the time to take advantage of the information that is out there.
We offer 5 resources that not only help you prepare for home buying — but are readily accessible from the comforts of your home. So please take the time to peruse these resources, and reach out with any and all questions!
1.) OUR BOOK “HOW TO BUY A HOUSE IN AUSTIN”
Did you know that one of our founders, Kristina Modares, wrote a book on buying a home in Austin? It is a step by step guide to buying in Austin, and includes helpful tips designed to specifically aide the first time home buyer. From the questions you always wanted answers to — to the ones you never thought to ask, this book is essential in preparing you to buy a home in Austin!
Want a copy? Don’t worry — we’ll give you one for free! To download the book, click here. If you’d like a hard copy, email us at travis@openhouseaustin.co.
2.) ATTEND OUR VIRTUAL HOME BUYING WORKSHOP
In the average month at Open House Austin, we offer 1–2 in house home buying workshops. In these workshops we go through the process of buying in Austin, and answer any questions you may have. Because of the outbreak of COVID-19 our in house workshops have been halted.
HOWEVER — we have launched an online webinar of our popular home buying workshop! Get the same detailed experience from the comfort of your home. Our first webinar will be Thursday March 26th, at 7pm. Make sure to get a ticket in advance.
3.) SIGN UP FOR AN ONLINE HOME SEARCH
If you’re skeptical to begin looking at homes in person — we have a solution! We can set you up with an online home search. Not only will you have access to hundreds of homes on the market, but you’ll be able to start a specific search for homes that meet your criteria. From neighborhoods to price points — you’ll be able to easily sort through homes that fit your requirements.
This home search feature also contains a mortgage calculator! If you find a home you like, you can play with the calculator to see what your monthly mortgage payments could be. It’s a great way to discover what your future would look like in a specific home. You will be a more informed buyer if you start to know what’s happening in the market. If you “favorite” a home, you’ll get updates on it and know how long it takes to sell and if they drop the price or it gets multiple offers.
Want to start perusing homes? Click here to begin your search from the comforts of your couch.
4.) READ OUR BLOGS
Reading up on blog posts is a great way to learn some useful information about buying in Austin. From learning to house hack to familiarizing with contracts — our site is chalk full of useful information.
Our website contains 2 sections with articles to help you prepare for home buying! The first is our blog! It has a variety of useful posts on ranges of topics, and is a great tool when preparing. Not only do our agents share their own experiences with renovations and being landlords but we also share updates to the market and different ways to house hack!
Another great source of home buying guidance is our Buyer Stories. This section of our site showcases people that have purchased homes with us, and gives a first hand account of their experiences. We launched this project at the beginning of March 2020 in the hopes that highlighting past buyers’ stories would shed some light on the home buying process. This gives the perspective of other buyers (often first timers) rather than a realtor or investor. By reading these stories, you’ll able to see advice and warnings from people who just like you not too long ago!
Make sure to check out both sections of our blog, and stayed tuned for more blog posts and buyer stories each month.
5.) SCHEDULE A CALL TO GET THE DEETS
After utilizing all these other resources, it’s time to schedule a call with one of our realtors! If you have any pertinent questions that weren’t answered, that’s the time to hop on the phone with one of our agents! This is a great free source to utilize while you’re spending more time at home. Preparing a list of questions before a call is also a great step in order to make sure your pressing questions are answered. We can also share our list of reputable lenders and make sure you know the best way to get in touch with them as well.
Want to schedule a call with us? Fill out this form and we will be in touch shortly after to contact you with a time.
We hope this list will be helpful to you! Always feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns about the home buying process. Continue to stay safe ❤ Talk soon!
For daily updates and information, also make sure to follow us on Instagram at @openhouse_austin!
