Are you planning to buy a home this spring? Though things are more balanced than they were at the height of the pandemic, it’s still a sellers’ market. So, when you find the home you want to buy, remember these four tips to make your best offer.

1.Lean on a Real Estate Professional

Rely on an agent who can support your goals. As Bankrate notes:


“. . . select the best real estate agent for your needs. They will be a critical part of your home buying process.”

Agents are local market experts. They know what’s worked for other buyers in your area and what sellers may be looking for in an offer. It may seem simple, but catering to what a seller needs can help your offer stand out.

2.Know Your Budget

Understanding your budget is especially important right now. As Sandy Higgins, Senior Wealth Advisor at Capstone Financial Advisors, puts it:


“Understand your current budget … ...

You may have seen reports in the news recently saying it’s better to rent right now than it is to own your home. But before you let that impact your decisions, you should understand what these claims are based on.
A lot of the time, these reports are assuming things that aren’t realistic for the average household. For example, the methodology behind one of those reports says that renting is the smarter financial option because of the opportunity to invest money elsewhere. It assumes renters take the money they’d spend on costs tied to buying a home and put it in an investment portfolio.
But here’s the thing – most people who rent aren’t making those investments. Ken Johnson, Co-Author of the BH&J National Price-to-Rent Index, explains:

“One of the difficulties with the rent and reinvest model is many people . . . simply rent and spend the difference. . . . That’s wealth destroying.”

Th ...

The #1 obstacle stopping home buyers in Houston from buying a home right now is the crazy market we’re in.

Here are the most common reasons why they may be having trouble in this market. 
1.Low inventory
2.Unqualified credit
3.Unsure of the buying process
4.Need to sell before they buy

Unfortunately, to overcome all of these obstacles you almost need to be everywhere at once, and you need to know how to navigate through the mayhem of everyone else working to get the same home you are. 

It’s not fair, and if you're alone, it’s not fun, but I think I can help.

I’m Michael with The Michael O’Neal Group and we specialize in helping dozens of buyers in and around Houston purchase a home even in the crazy market we’re in today. Want a personal home buying strategy session and find out exactly what it takes to find a home, and put in a winning offer? Click below to schedule a free home buying strategy session. 

P.S. In the l ...

Consumers drive sales volumes to near-record levels as interest rates stay low
HOUSTON  — Temperatures weren’t the only thing soaring in August. Home sales registered another hot month, as low mortgage interest rates kept consumers in a buying mood. According to the latest monthly report from the Houston Association of Realtors (HAR), August sales of single-family homes throughout greater Houston totaled 8,679. That is up 3.9 percent year-over-year and marks the second largest one-month sales volume of all time; the record of 8,930 was set just last month. On a year-to-date basis, home sales are running 3.1 percent ahead of 2018’s record volume.
Homes in the $250,000 to $500,000 range scored the greatest sales gains, up 14.7 percent compared to August 2018. Next were homes in the $500,000 to $750,000 range, which rose 7.0 percent. The luxury segment, which encompasses homes priced from $750,000 and up, fell 3.0 percent.
The median price of a single-family ...