If you’re ready to invest in a new home for you and your family, it’s time to start looking at what the Corona real estate market has to offer. We know how easy it is to get excited about the prospect of living in a bigger, better, and more luxurious home. 

However, this is not the time to lose your wits or make any impulse decisions. Buying a new home is a major, long-term commitment that will affect you for years to come (if not the rest of your life). It will impact your budget, your friendships, your children, and more. 

Needless to say, you need to take your time to make the right choice. We also recommend finding the best realtor in Corona to make the process easier. For now, let’s talk about everything you need to consider before choosing your next home. 

Your Budget

First, you need to identify how much money you can afford to spend on your new home. It’s important to get a clear understanding of your monthly cash flow, as well as the true costs of homeownership. Otherwise, you could easily end up living paycheck to paycheck like 63% of the country.

To avoid this, dig into your finances to determine how much room you have in your budget to spend on your home’s monthly and yearly expenses. These include:

  • Monthly mortgage payments
  • Property taxes
  • Homeowner’s insurance
  • Utilities and services
  • Maintenance and repairs
  • And more

We recommend shopping well within your budget, rather than maxing out your payments. This will leave you plenty of room for other financial obligations, luxuries, or emergencies. 

Your Loan Eligibility 

When looking at Corona real estate, you also need to consider your loan eligibility. There are various types of loans with different requirements for qualification. Much of this will be determined by your credit score.

Your credit score accounts for:

  • Debt to income ratio
  • Bill payment history
  • Debt payment history
  • Amount of credit in your name
  • Types of credit in your name
  • Etc.

Your credit rating will dictate how much you can get approved for, as well as the interest rates for which you qualify. High credit scores will grant you access to lower interest rates. If you don’t like the amount of money or the interest rates you’re approved for, take a few months to boost your credit score. 

Location

Next, work with your real estate agent in Corona to help you find a home in the ideal location for you and your family. This means different things to different people. 

For example, you might want to be closer to town to minimize your commute every day. You might also enjoy being close to certain amenities like grocery stores, movie theatres, malls, restaurants, hospitals, etc. 

Alternatively, you could be happier in a quieter neighborhood more removed from the city. If you have children, you should consider what school district your neighborhood belongs to. You might also want to find a home with nearby parks and playgrounds. 

House and Property Size

Whether you’re working with a real estate agency, independent realtor, or a broker, make sure they understand what you’re looking for in terms of house and property size. Corona real estate varies greatly, depending on which neighborhood you’re shopping in and what your budget is. Ensure you’re looking at homes that have enough space for you and your family. 

This is especially important if you have a young, growing family. You may want extra bedrooms to accommodate future children or a big backyard to build and provide space for your children and pets to play.

Your Lifestyle

Before deciding on a home or having your realtor place an offer for you, think about your current and future lifestyle. For example, if you’re someone who likes to entertain guests, a small home with a tiny kitchen probably isn’t the right property for you. 

The best real estate agent in Corona will ask you these types of questions to help you find the most fitting home. If you like spending time outside, this means looking at homes with outdoor living areas (or space to create outdoor living areas).

Thinking about your likes, dislikes, hobbies, and lifestyle is one of the most important aspects of how to choose the right home.

The Walkthrough 

Once you prioritize your needs to determine the right type of home, the right location, and your price range, it’s time to have some fun. You can finally start to tour the available homes on the Corona real estate market. 

However, this step is more important than you might think. It’s not just about walking through the home to see if you get a good vibe. You also need to keep your eyes peeled for damages or any other potential concerns. 

If you’re working with a real estate agent in Corona, CA, they’ll be there with you to point things out. They have ample experience touring homes and will be able to provide valuable insight and perspective.  

The Home Inspection Report

If you’re interested in a home and want to place an offer, make the offer contingent on an official home inspection. Your mortgage lender will probably require this anyway. 

A licensed home inspector will tour the property to verify its condition. They’ll take an in-depth look at the home’s major structural and functional components. This includes:

  • Foundation 
  • Roofing
  • Electrical 
  • Plumbing
  • Siding
  • Flooring 
  • Damages
  • Etc. 

If the inspection comes back with any major or minor issues, you have several options. You can lower your offer, demand repairs/renovations, or back out of the deal. 

Ultimately, it depends on the severity of the report, what the seller is willing to do, and what you’re willing to accept. 

 

Looking for Corona Real Estate?

If you’re ready to start shopping for Corona real estate, we couldn’t be more excited for you. This will be such an exciting experience for you and your family. Just make sure you take all of the things listed above into consideration. 

And if you want to get started today, contact us to get in touch with one of our local, experienced real estate agents. We would love to help you find the home of your dreams.