If a new home in the Berkshires or a piece of Upper Hudson Valley real estate is in your future, there’s no time like the present to prioritize your homebuying goals. Homes in the Berkshires and Upper Hudson Valley sell during every season of the year. These evergreen tools and tips will help you no matter when you start your real estate journey.
Get Organized
Approach homebuying the same way you’d approach any other major purchase. Know what you’re looking for and what your purchase criteria are.
- Develop a list of homebuying criteria before you start looking for homes.
- Create a Stone House Properties account.
- Once you create an account with us, you can save searches and sign up for email updates.
- Use a spreadsheet to keep track of the homes you’re considering.
Get Your Financing in Order
Start your financial prep at least nine months before you plan to buy.
- Check your credit score.
- Shop for a mortgage lender.
- Decide whether to sell your current home before your next real estate purchase.
Start Prepping for Your Move
Give yourself plenty of time to get ready to move to your new home.
- Create and follow a moving checklist. We’ve looked at more than a few, and our top pick is this moving checklist from Real Simple .
- Decide what goes into the moving truck.
- Start selling, donating, or freecycling household items that aren’t moving with you. The less you take with you, the faster and more affordable your move will be.
- Research and get estimates from at least three moving companies.
Learn About Your Selected Area
Whether you’re moving to a new area or somewhere closer to your current residence, set aside some time to learn about where you plan to move. Berkshire County and the Upper Hudson Valley is a largely rural area. As you look for homes, use these tips to become familiar with the infrastructure and lay of the land.
- Use your Stone House agent as a resource guide.
- Do online research about the towns where you’re considering buying.
- Visit the official website for the towns you’re interested in.
- Take a driving tour in real life.
- Use Google Maps Street View to take a virtual tour.
- Explore geographic and cultural amenities online.
