When buyers are looking for their perfect Hawaii home, there are many things that they need to be aware of. First, the agent is there to guide you, however, do not expect them to tell you everything up front. They are working off of commissions, so they are wanting to get you into a house. Therefore, it is up to you to look for those things that may signal that there is a huge problem with the house.
Secondly, do not take the seller's word. Yes, this may seem as if you are being paranoid. But, the number of people that report that they purchased a house because the previous home owner ensured that there were no problems are often surprised to find costly problems that they have to deal with. Instead, be your own detective, look for problems. Scope out everything as if it is under a high powered microscope in order to ensure that the house is all that people are claiming that it is.
It is also important that as the buyer, you have some idea of what you are willing to spend. This is so that you make sure that you do not get in over your head. If the real estate agent tries to push you to afford something more expensive, respectfully decline and move on to what you can afford. Too many times, buyers get caught up in the beauty of the home, only to find that it is out of their price range, and then they still end up getting it, only to struggle down the road.
You should also do some searching on your own before you head to the Hawaii real estate office. Why? That way you have a good idea of what it available, and what these houses are going for. This will help to lessen the shock if there is one to be had. Plus, it will give you a few ideas of where you would like to start and shows the real estate agent that you mean business. You should also consider going into the real estate office with your pre-approval loan amount, this will make the process go much faster and could be used a strong negotiation tool.
Buyers do not have to feel as if they are defenseless in the home finding and buying process. In fact, they hold more power than they realize. The most important thing is to do what you want to do. Do not let anyone talk you into something that you do not feel one hundred percent comfortable in doing.
