The housing market is hot. Homes are going quick, and buyers are looking to take every advantage possible to make sure they get the home they want. In some cases, this even means buying a house sight unseen.
Do people really buy homes sight unseen?
Yes, and the practice became even more common during the pandemic. According to a recent Zillow survey, over one-third of prospective buyers are open to the idea of buying their home without seeing it first.
Although more prospective buyers then ever before are comfortable not setting foot in a potential home before putting in an offer, that doesn’t mean they are okay with moving forward without setting eyes on the property.
Instead they expect virtual images — and this means more than just a couple of pictures. Technological advances make virtual tours the norm, and many real estate agents are taking to social media platforms like TikTok to help their prospective buyers get a better feel for the home even when they do not have time to physically get to the home before putting in an offer.
Is it safe to buy real estate without physically seeing it first?
There are ways to reduce the risks that come with putting in an offer before you get to the home. First, do some due diligence. Research the neighborhood and the market to make sure the property suits your needs.
Next, make sure the real estate contract you use to make the offer is tailored to your situation. Using a fill-in-the-blank document can leave you open to risks that you may want to avoid, especially in these situations. A real estate attorney can tailor documents to your needs or at least review the documents to discuss any potential risks so you know what you are getting into.
With these steps you can help to better ensure a real estate deal leads to a dream home, not a future headache.