Congratulations!
You are here because you’ve decided to begin searching for a home in Ocean City! Whether you are looking for an investment, second home or new primary home, you found the right place! But first there are a few things you should consider.
- Make a list of your wants and must haves. Before you begin looking for a Realtor, lender or even stepping foot inside an open house, you should know exactly what you need and want. This will include size, number of bedrooms, location, neighborhood, etc. Once you have a strong idea what you are looking for, it’s time for step #2.
- Find and Hire a Realtor. To begin this step, ask around! Everyone and their mother knows a real estate agent but make sure you take the time to interview and speak with the agent. You want to choose someone that will work for you to find your wants and needs. Not an agent who wants another sale under their belt. So how do you differentiate?! Well, check to see who wants to learn about you. Many agents will talk about their sales and why they’re the best agent on the planet. But few will listen and ask the right questions. These agents will know this is about you and your family not them and their “peacock chests”(credit to anyone who gets the reference). You may be amazed the agent you like doesn’t do a ton of sales and or have a billboard. Sometimes they are the ones most committed to you and your needs. So don’t be afraid to work with the “little” up and coming agent. They usually work the hardest.
- Find a Lender. Under the guidance of your newly hired Realtor, begin the pre-approval process with a lender. There are two different kind of lenders out there: private vs bank. More on private vs bank lenders on the “Choosing a Mortgage Broker” page.
When considering lenders, shop around. This is a huge purchase and you should have the time to select the lender you enjoy working with. Private lenders are my favorite based on the programs they offer and how quickly they are able to close for the average buyer in a competitive market. But if you are a highly qualified borrower looking for the lowest rate on a larger loan, feel free to shop around with banks lender.
Most importantly, hire locally! I cannot stress this enough. Ocean City is a unique town when it comes to “condos”, multi family homes, insurance policies, etc. You want to have a lender who is familiar with the homes in OC. Every time someone insists on using their home town lender, it usually leads to delays in settlement, raised tensions and sometime switching lenders before the deal goes sour. Hire local!
- Now that you have a pre-approval from your new favorite lender, you are ready to begin touring homes! This second to last step is be honest with your Realtor. Do not hold back when touring homes, negotiating, talking financials, working with a lender, everything! We are here to help you. Don’t feel like you have to do this all alone. We are so much more than a butler who opens doors while looking at houses. We are full of knowledge and recommendations to help get you to the finish line. We would never expect a buyer to have all the answers so please do not hold back. We will NEVER use the information you give us against you. It’s our job to protect you and your interests at all times. So you should be confident to divulge all thoughts throughout the process. I am available just about 24/7 so never hesitate to ask me anything.
- Last and most important, relax and have fun. This is a fun and exciting time. I know things can be emotional and taxing. But I tell every one of my clients, when it’s meant to be, it’ll happen. There will be delays and/or hiccups along the way, but I haven’t met an issue that couldn’t be fixed. And that’s my job to make sure every hiccup is met with a solution getting you to the finish line. Breath, relax and enjoy! The end is definitely worth it!