As we get closer to the official start of summer, the temperatures aren’t the only thing picking up! The number of Metro DC residents planning to buy a new home is rising— as it tends to do during these warmer months! As the summer continues, the local real estate markets in Washington DC, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, and Northern Virginia will see a much larger influx of homebuyers.

So now that homebuyers are flocking to local markets, how can you stand out? Grab a pen and paper and make yourself a checklist to ensure you’re on the right track to buy a home in the DC Metro.

Here are a few tips to give you that homebuyer edge over the others this year:

Clean Your Finances

After you spring cleaned your home this year, it’s time to turn to your finances. A seller doesn’t know your financial situation, so despite how confident you are in obtaining a mortgage, they might not feel the same. Oftentimes when sellers are in a rush to sell, they do not want to worry about financing potentially falling through.

To be pro-active, you can get pre-approved by your lender. The pre-approval process is extensive and involves paperwork to detail your income and assets. For both your Metro DC real estate agent and the home seller, this letter of approval offers peace of mind that you’re serious about buying.

Work with the Seller

Think about it— when you’re competing with other buyers, the best thing you can do is to work with the seller. Be flexible! There are likely a number of buyers in Washington, DC, Bethesda, Chevy Chase, and Northern Virginia real estate who are set on dates, numbers, and come packaged with contingencies.

Show that you are willing to work with the seller on the home sale puts you ahead of other buyers who may have the purchase contingent upon their own home sale. Sellers are more willing to work with buyers who don’t have extra hoops to jump through.

Be Quick

Found a home in the DC Metro that you love? One that meets all of your wants and needs? You may want to act fast. Other homebuyers may have started the process and love the home as much as you do. Remember, sometimes an accepted offer can come down to a matter of minutes between buyers.

Let The Estridge Group help you find your dream home this year! We have helped numerous other buyers find the perfect property to call home and we’d love to assist you in doing the same!