You're relocating to a new area, and you need to find a new home.  This doesn't have to be a stressful endeavor!  In fact, it can be enjoyable...and I want to do all I can to ensure that it is.  To have a thorough understanding of the home buying process here in Minnesota, if you're unfamiliar, will hopefully contribute to a stress-free move for you and your family.

Your current circumstances are most likely going to influence the order in which you complete the steps in the home buying process, but regardless of what your current living situation is, you're probably going to be working within a specific time frame to get moved, so let's get you started down the path to home ownership here in Rochester! 

If you currently own a home...

If you currently own a home, you're going to want to plan to get your home sold.  Ideally, you'll be able to sell your current home before you purchase your next, but sometimes the stars don't align as we'd like them to, and you may find yourself owning two homes...for only a short period of time, hopefully.  I don't usually advise my clients to put themselves in this situation, but sometimes, especially when relocating to a new area for a job opportunity, time frames dictate that you get packed up and moved to a new home before you have the opportunity to sell your current home.  If this happens, it's even more important that your home be ready and priced to sell!  Ask yourself, is holding out for a higher price the wisest decision when every month that house is costing you a mortgage payment, taxes, utilities, and maintenance costs?  Price it at or slightly below market value, and get it sold.

Dependent upon whom your new employer in Rochester will be, you may be able to negotiate relocation benefits that may include a buyout of your current home, in the event it doesn't sell within a specified time frame.  To learn more about relocation benefit packages, click here.

If you don't know a Realtor in the area in which you currently live, let me know and I'd be happy to help you select one (I know what to look for in a good Realtor).

If you currently rent...

If you are currently renting, and you know you're going to be moving to Rochester soon, I'd suggest you talk to your current landlord (sooner rather than later) to see what your options are for getting out of your current lease, in the event you're not at the end of the lease term.  I've found that if you rent from an individual, your chances of breaking a lease without there being financial consequences are better than if you're living in an apartment complex and are dealing with a management company.  Depending on the vacancy rates in your area, and the time of year you're planning to move, you'll hopefully be able to work something out to either sublet, or break your lease altogether...without having to pay too high a penalty. 

Ok, let's talk about buying a home in Rochester...

We have to start somehwere, so let's assume you've already been to Rochester for your house hunting trip, and that you've found the home of your dreams (sounds so romantic, doesn't it?)  Well, the very unromantic part of the whole deal is next, and that's writing up and negotiating your offer to purchase the home.  And then, of course, once we have a fully signed agreement, we have to meet the terms of that contract to ensure that we get you to the closing table.  This is where things may end up being a little different than what you're used to, if you've owned a home in another state.  I've created a closing timeline, which will guide you through the steps we'll take to get you to the closing table in a timely fashion, so you can start your new life in Rochester!