Kim Clark Explains How to Keep Your Cool When Buying a Home

CAPE COD, Mass. - March 21, 2014 - PRLog -- Every aspect of buying a new home from the house hunt to the closing can feel stressful. Until the sale is actually final and the ink is dry on the paperwork, the process can seem uncertain. Even the calmest of buyers can feel overwhelmed or unbalanced under these circumstances.

What can you do to reduce or eliminate the stress you might feel when circumstances surrounding your home purchase seem out of control? The good news is that by being proactive, there are a few things you can do to stay on top of the situation and keep calm in the face of any unexpected obstacles in the home buying process.

Trust a good agent. When you decide to buy a new house, enlist the help of a real estate agent with a solid reputation who seems like a good match for your needs. A good agent should be trustworthy, easy to work with, communicative, and knowledgeable about the market where you are planning to buy. By following the advice of an expert, you’ll be able to reduce some of the anxiety that can accompany a home purchase. Remember, you’re not in this alone.

Be prepared. Start the buying process off right by knowing what you are looking for. Do some research into the area where you intend to buy, and contact a lender immediately to get preapproved for the financing that you need. Having a preapproval letter in hand when you make an offer can mean the difference between having your offer accepted and losing out to another buyer. Getting a mortgage takes more time than it has in the recent past and lenders will go over your financial picture with a fine-toothed comb, so the sooner you can get the ball rolling, the better.

Take care of yourself. When you are buying a new home, it’s easy to become so focused on the purchase process that other aspects of life get neglected. This can be particularly true if you are selling one home while you are searching for another. Everything may seem to be happening at once – or maybe things just aren’t happening fast enough. It’s important to remember to take care of yourself. Allowing yourself a time out from thinking about the purchase can give you the break you need. Remember to eat right, get enough exercise and sleep, and if at all possible, maintain your normal routines so that buying a home doesn’t completely take over your life. You might consider treating yourself to something that feeds your soul – whether it’s a spa day, round of golf, shopping excursion, or some quiet meditation that you enjoy most, don’t neglect to put a little “me time” in your schedule.

Don’t let the details overwhelm you. By focusing on the big picture – and the end result of moving into your new home – you can alleviate the stress of becoming mired in the details of your home purchase. Focus on the positive and try to remember that all the paperwork and uncertainty will be well worth it when you’re living in the home of your dreams.

As with all of life’s changes, the process of buying a home can be what you make of it. With a little preparation and a dash of positive thinking, you’ll be on your way to owning a new home in no time.