how to buy a cheap house

Defining the criteria of the property you wish to buy is a step not to be neglected. The more you refine your needs and desires, the more efficient you will be in your search for the ideal home.

The list of elements to study can be long:

Privileged geographical areas?

Total area of the house (minimum, maximum) ?

Number of bedrooms ?

With or without garage ?

With a garden ? If yes, what is the ideal surface area?

Will you accept a semi-detached house?

With a separate or open kitchen?

Is a swimming pool essential?

Are you ready to carry out major work? Minor landscaping work?

Do you prefer a single-storey house or, on the contrary, one with different floors?

Whether you are looking alone or through a real estate agency or a notary, all the answers to these questions will help you save time in your selection. It will also save you unnecessary visits.

The answers to these questions are not that obvious, especially if you are buying as a couple. You will have to find compromises between the wishes of each party.

House prices are very high. Before looking for houses that strongly correspond to your criteria, you should first check if you have the necessary budget for this type of purchase and find the right plans to buy cheaper.

There are thousands of micro real estate markets. It is therefore not enough to be informed about general real estate trends when you are about to buy.

You need to get as much information as possible about your city's real estate market. Do a mini-study of the local market.

Knowing recent prices will make it easier for you to identify bargains and avoid paying too much for your home.

In addition to property prices, find out about upcoming developments in your city, study the PLU (Local Urban Plan), find out about nearby shops and transportation, are also part of the information to collect. This will allow you to buy your house with full knowledge of the facts.

The real estate websites are sufficiently developed today to allow you to make precise searches for houses according to your criteria and your budget.

When you make your selection, look for properties that are up to 20% more expensive than your budget. Negotiation margins can sometimes be important.

You can start by making very precise searches with most of your criteria. In case of low offers on this type of house, you will always be able to widen your target (geographically, by removing some restrictions, etc.). Think about creating email alerts. This will allow you to keep track of new properties and changes.

You will have a good overview of most of the houses for sale in real estate agencies.

A first visit will allow you to check that all the essential points are present and to make a first impression. Do not hesitate to ask as many questions as possible and take notes of the information collected. After having visited several houses, it is difficult to remember everything without mixing things up.