Relocating to a new state can be exciting and overwhelming, especially when you’re trying to buy a home at the same time. With proper planning and preparation, the process can be smooth and (mostly) stress-free! Here is a guide with tips and tricks on how to relocate and buy a home in a different state.
If you’re not familiar with what areas to look at, contact a mortgage broker ahead of time. Typically, you would think you want to reach out to a realtor, but mortgage brokers work with several realtors on a day to day basis and can connect you with the right one based on the area you’re looking in and who you might fit best with based on personalities. We can also recommend agents who are experienced at working with out-of-state buyers to help you navigate the unique challenges of buying a home in a new state.
Always be sure to get pre-approved for a mortgage before reaching out to a realtor and starting the house hunting process. This will ensure you are able to afford what you’re looking for and help determine the right areas for your budget. It will also help show you are a serious buyer for your realtor.
We always recommend you visit the new state and explore different neighborhoods before with your realtor if you can. This will give you a better understanding of the area and it’s immediate surroundings. If it’s not possible to visit in person, the realtor you select is even more crucial to ensure they know what you’re looking for and the area meets your standards. One thing you can do is use Google Maps and drive the streets on google to get a feel as well.
Make sure you select a good moving company. This is one reason it’s imperative to have a good realtor that’s experienced in out of state moves because they work more closely than mortgage brokers with identifying the right movers. If you are moving yourself and live in a place with a lot of people leaving, like California for example, you might want to consider looking at moving trucks in neighboring states if it’s convenient. For instance, if you live on the CA and AZ border, you might be able to pick up a moving truck from Phoenix cheaper than in CA if it’s convenient to pick one up from there.
Relocating and buying a home in a different state at the same time is a lot to handle at once. We’ve done it ourselves so we understand. However, with proper planning, guidance, and preparation it can be a surprisingly smooth transition. If you have any questions or want to get connected with the right realtor, let us know – we’re here to help!