Buyers feel much more confident in their San Antonio home purchase when armed with as much information as possible. Some buyers hit up sites like Zillow and Trulia to search for their next home. Savvy buyers dig a little deeper. Have you ever thought of harnessing the power of social media as part of your San Antonio house-hunting strategy? You should. It might surprise you with the types of information you can gather on a home that catches your fancy.
San Antonio House-Hunting & Social Media
Won't You Be My (Nextdoor) Neighbor?
The one thing you can't change when considering a San Antonio home to purchase is its location. Once you find a home you like, I highly recommend driving through the neighborhood at various times throughout the week. That helps you see what traffic looks like as well as how the neighborhood functions on weekdays vs weekends, for example. But to really get to know who your potential neighbors are, you might want to join Nextdoor. This online community acts as a neighborhood sounding board. Enter the address you want to learn more about and it will guide you to the appropriate community board. Here, you'll see what your neighbors are really like. You also might find homes for sale or rent that haven't been listed on the MLS yet (where real estate sites like Zillow and Trulia get their information from). Read up on what people in the neighborhood are saying about living in that particular neighborhood. Keep an eye out for potential red flags. What looks nice from the outside might not be as sweet on the inside. Or, you may find that this is the perfect neighborhood for you to live.
A History of the House
Social media also provides a look into a home's past. When doing your San Antonio house-hunting, check out the Instagram and/or Facebook pages of the current owner. So many people take to social media to air their grievances or show off their DIY skills. You might find out about an undisclosed plumbing issue or see just how much renovation work they've done to the place with "before" and "after" photos. If the accounts are public, you'll have access to all of their posted photos.
Mortgage Rate News and Updates
Finally, when doing your San Antonio house-hunting, learn the latest news and keep up with current rate information by following financial sites on Facebook (Bankrate or Nerdwallet) or Twitter (@Bankrate or @NerdWallet). When you know what current rate trends look like, it gives you a better idea of how much to factor into the budget for your new home. Plus, NerdWallet always offers up great financial advice to buyers, sellers, and current homeowners.
When you're ready to make Stone Oak living your reality, contact me. I'd be happy to show you what's going on in the neighborhood.
LUX Move Up* by Christine Aldrete Banks, CRS, SRS, RSPS
www.StoneOakLiving.com
830-279-8678