3 real estate-information sources to take with a grain of salt
If you’re looking to buy your next home, your world is likely full of people who love to share their advice. Maybe they know someone who got a great deal on a fixer-upper, they fill your inbox with links to real estate websites, or maybe they think it’s a terrible time to buy and aren’t afraid to say so.
Unfortunately, my husband and I gained experience with some of these “helpers” when we bought our first home last year. Here are a few examples of sources to be wary of when you really need timely, relevant information:
Family members who bought their house 20 years ago. While long-time homeowners can give you basic advice about the buying process, a lot has changed even within the past few years, including financing options, interest rates, and homebuyer-assistance programs.
The friend who lives in another city. Markets vary from place to place – even from neighborhood to neighborhood in some areas. The home we ended up buying is in a small-town subdivision, so my friend who owns a condo in metropolitan downtown had a vastly different experience from ours. He wasn’t able to give us useful advice and we wouldn’t have known what to tell him either.
Websites with unreliable or outdated content. It’s fun to check out homes online and dream, but the reality is that you cannot trust a lot of real estate sites. Many have out-of-date or inaccurate information, such as properties that sold months ago listed as available.
Leave it to a professional. Many sources claim to know what’s best, seek professional agents and realtors – have the latest information about your local market and the experience to help protect your interests.
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