3 Tips for Women during the Home Buying Process
*Updated January 2018
Looking back, I have had the pleasure of working with women throughout most of my professional life. In my first career as an Esthetician, 
I worked in a Day Spa, where day after day a vast majority of our clientele was women. That’s not to say I never saw men – some guys do love their facial treatments! Fast forward to the present and my Real Estate career. Over the past 13+ years in this industry, I’ve worked with both men and women, and I can honestly say there is a difference between the two. While both are treated equally at the table, they show up with a different view on the Real Estate transaction, and their approaches and needs can be very different as well.
True or False?
Single women make up 23% of first time home buyers.
According to the National Association of Realtors – it’s true! Most women would tell you that there is a huge sense of independence in owing their own home, and it often helps them feel they are in charge of their future and financial goals. Regardless of whether they are single or not, women have a tendency to want to settle in and put down roots. Buying a home can give them the opportunity to do just that, while gaining a great sense of community and belonging. Here are the top 3 things Women need to know when buying Real Estate.
Know Your Budget
First and foremost, what can you comfortably afford? This is key, as no one wants to be “house poor”. Getting in touch with the right professionals is going to be critical, so finding a great Realtor should be at the top of your to-do list. Realtors are a great resource when it comes to buying a home. Not only do they know home buying and selling inside and out, but a great agent is going to know all the key players needed during the transaction – including a great lender.
Once you have contacted your Realtor, request the names of several Lenders they recommend. Contact the Lenders to get pre-qualified for a loan. Fully understanding how much you can comfortably afford and still maintain the lifestyle you enjoy, is going to make or break your buying experience. For example, you may be able to afford $2,500.00 per month for your PITI payment (principal, interest, taxes, insurance), but do you really want to spend that much? If you spend that much can you reasonably maintain your lifestyle or are you going to have to cut back (less Starbucks, wardrobe adjustments, less travel, etc.)? If you are not willing to cut back then you have to know what comfortable means to you, and what that equates to in a purchase price. Women tend to look at Buying as an investment into their future, and will often proceed with caution. Take a hard look at the short term and the long term goals. You may even want to get in touch with a financial advisor to understand the big picture.
Know Your Home Style
Understanding what type of home you can afford, and what other expenses may be involved in owning this style of home is very important. If you can afford a single family home, you need to know ahead of time what the monthly, yearly, and even next 5 years will cost just for maintenance. And maintenance on a single family home may include simple things like the lawn and interior touch ups. It could also be potentially large expenses such as roof repairs or new windows.
If you have a clearer idea of what style home you want, whether it is a single family home where you can plant a garden, a townhome with a smaller backyard, or a condo where the gardens are maintained for you, this can be a real time saver. Consulting with your Realtor about this is extremely helpful. They will ask the right questions to help you understand more about what type of home is right for your lifestyle in the market you are located in.
Know Your Team
Last but not least, surround yourself with a great team – Realtor, Lender, financial advisor, home inspector, etc. Starting out with the right team can make all the difference in the home buying experience. Women often rely on and trust other professionals, so forming a team you can trust will provide a level of comfort along the way. Most likely you will only buy a few homes over the course of your lifetime. Take your time, do your research and make sure you feel comfortable with making the right decision. Buying a home is a wonderful experience, but it is not something to rush.
We love helping our clients find the right home! Whether this is your first home or your fourth, we are happy to help you through the home buying and selling experience. We believe in transparency and our experience and commitment to helping you find your dream home leads you to a wonderful real estate experience. Contact us today to find out more about the programs we offer – like cash back to our home buyers and our cutting edge, enhanced listing service.
With over $500 million dollars in closed real estate transactions you can be sure the JS Realty Team knows how to get deals done! Our clients are happy to refer us to their friends and family, and you can read some of our reviews here. We are the expert Real Estate Agents you’ve been looking for!
Located at 
The spacious and bright foyer has tile floors and recessed lighting. Large windows fill the home with natural light. Hardwood floors can be found throughout most of the main level. In the family room a beautiful slate surround wood-burning fireplace with a wooden mantle is perfect for those chilly nights. A gourmet kitchen features granite counter tops, plenty of cabinet space, stainless steel appliances, and a breakfast bar. A powder room with tile floor and designer light fixture is also located on the main level.
Here are some of the parameters of this grant that buyers must follow:
Open houses bring people through your front door. Yes, some of those visitors will be people “just looking”, who have no intention of buying a home at the moment. However, they have friends, relatives, and co-workers that they might mention the home to. Open Houses also attract Buyers that are just starting out on their home search. A lot of new buyers like to get a feel for the area and what type of home they can afford by attending an Open House. A 
Open Houses provide great feedback to the listing Agent and the Seller. Whether it’s a neighbor or a potential Buyer, an experienced Agent is going to try to get as much feedback about the home as possible from the visitors. The kitchen may be updated but the bathrooms are smaller than the house a few doors down. Your yard is landscaped and well cared for, but the house across the street hasn’t seen a mower all season. Maybe last month 3 new families moved in, all with young children. This is the kind of additional feedback on the home and neighborhood that could possibly be helpful to the listing Agent and Seller. This is a great way to gauge the markets response to a home for sale.
Having your home on the market and keeping it 
The JS Realty Team is please to introduce you to our newest listing!
Hardwood floors can be found throughout the main level. The kitchen features granite counter tops, plenty of cabinet space, and a custom backsplash. Recessed lighting and a breakfast bar complete this beautifully updated kitchen.
Spacious family room has large windows that let in tons of natural light. The dining room boasts designer lighting and access to the fenced-in backyard. 
This is arguably the single most important step. Your Agent needs to know the market and neighborhood very well. You’ll want to hire an Agent with a lot of experience, but in this industry, experience doesn’t equal years in business. What you want to look for is the number of transactions. Finding an Agent that has sold a lot of homes shows you that the agent is successful in selling homes and knows how to negotiate for you. Transaction Experience is the best way for an Agent to learn negotiating skills. Your Agent should also have an extensive marketing plan that includes professional photos, a virtual tour, social media platforms, and a strong web presence. Another important element of a strong listing Agent is monitoring feedback and communicating with you – the Seller.
If you over price your home, you will reduce the number of showings with qualified, serious buyers – because they will know the neighborhood and market. Serious Buyers will have been tracking your neighborhood and today’s Buyers are in tune with the market value. We have heard Sellers say “Let’s just try this price and see what happens”. That strategy does not work well because the first two weeks the home is on the market is when the most buzz and excitement for the new listing is happening. If the Seller has overpriced the home, Buyers will look elsewhere and your listing will lose out on the initial enthusiasm. If the Seller stays overpriced for too long, then the listing becomes “stale” and that tends to encourage low ball offers.
The old adage “you never get a second chance to make a first impression” is very apropos when selling your home. Make sure the front yard, front door, and surrounding area is in top condition. As the Buyer approaches your home and are waiting to get in, they are feeling their first impressions, so make it shine! If you are going to upgrade, concentrate on kitchens, baths, floors, and walls. These will give you the most bang for your buck. Inexpensive fixes like paint, replacing old drapes, replacing door handles, kitchen and bath hardware, light fixtures, and leaky, rusty faucets can go a long way on a tight budget. For more ideas on sprucing up your home check out 
It seems like everyone these days has a crazy, busy schedule. It can be difficult, but if you make your home available for showings and try not to limit the showing times, that can go a long way towards finding the right Buyer and the right price! The key to getting a great contract is to have as many people as possible seeing your home. If you miss out on a Buyer because of restricted showing times, you could have missed your best offer.
With over $200 million in sales, the 
The JS Realty Team recently listed this gorgeous town home in Ashburn, Virginia and it’s a MUST SEE! Located at 
There’s also a custom wine cellar that was cleverly hidden beneath the staircase.
Upstairs, the Master bedroom has 2 walk-in closets, and the en-suite bathroom features a Jacuzzi tub and walk-in shower. The 2 additional bedrooms have walk-in closets. A laundry room and den can also be found upstairs, along with a loft that would make a great kids playroom!