Find the right real estate agent

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First, if you have friends or family in the new state, ask them to refer you to a real estate agent they trust or ask your current real estate agent to refer someone they might know. If you don’t know anyone there and have already found a job in the new city, ask your new co-workers for referrals.

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Before you commit to working with a new real estate agent, meet with them and ask any questions you may have. Ask how familiar they are with relocation moves, and with the area in Texas you’re moving into.

Also, make sure you ask about availability and how much notice you have to give before you make a house-hunting trip. This last factor can be very important, since you might not be able to make a lot of house-hunting trips before the final move.

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Identify your home needs

Start with what is important for you in the new home depending on your current family situation, lifestyle and future plans. Some of the things to consider would be schools, distance to your work, type of house, age of home, cost etc. Get some suggestions here.

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Get reports, maps, guides, etc. to help you narrow down potential neighborhoods

Second, ask your real estate agent to provide school reports, maps and any other information that can help you narrow down the neighborhoods you are interested in. A lot of times, real estate agents, especially those who specialize in relocation, have access to guides made specifically for those moving from out of state or out of the country

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Work with your lender and get pre-approved!

While you’re narrowing down the areas you’re interested in, it’s also a good idea to get pre-approved for your anticipated mortgage. In fact, it may be smart to get pre-approved before you even start looking at potential homes. This way, you’ll get a much better idea of how much home you can afford. Make sure that the lender you are using is licensed in state of Texas and is familiar with the local real estate transaction quirks.

 

Find out if your ideal neighborhoods are within your budget

Once you’ve narrowed down the neighborhoods, do a quick search online for these areas to get an idea of price ranges. Or, you could always just ask your agent to send you active listings in these areas. Your agent should be able to setup an alert for you so that as the new homes hit the market that meet your needs, you get notified immediately. Either way, you have to find out if these communities are within your budget. Not only look at prices, but also into HOA, CDD or any other types of fees that may significantly increase your housing monthly payments.

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Decide whether you want new construc­tion or a resale home

Another decision you may have to make is whether you want a resale or a new build. This decision may come up after you realize that a neighborhood you really like is out of your price range due to it being a new development.

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Schedule your house-hunting trip

Next, schedule your house-hunting trip and notify your agent. Try to give as much notice as possible so that your agent can start talking to new home builders of possible inventory homes and possible deals and incentives. If you’re looking at resale homes, your agent will be able to see what’s available out there and try to schedule appointments to view homes. Even if your trip is several weeks away, you may still want your agent to send you new listings… you never know, you may see a home that you really like and it may still be available when you get there.

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Come up with a detailed plan for your house-hunting trip

About two days before your house-hunting trip, get in touch with your agent and ask if they have an itinerary or plan for when you are there. A tech savvy agent should be able to share all the information with you electronically!

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Don’t forget to take notes!

While you are house-hunting, take good notes! You may have a lot of houses to see and you want to keep them straight. Don’t rely on your memory. Take notes/photos. List the factors you liked as well as the factors you didn’t like. You want to be able to revisit your notes after taking a break. It also helps to keep your mind clear. After a while, all the houses will seem to blend together especially after you get back home.

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Use photos, video and video chat with those helping you make the decision

Now, let’s say that you’re shopping for a home with a significant other, but either you or your “other” can’t travel because of their job. Ask your significant other to take photos, videos or just do online video chats, so that you can see as much of the home as possible from far away.

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So, there you have a few tips to help you during your out-of-state home search. Even though relocating can be a stressful time, with some planning and organization, you may be able to make this a more manageable, less stressful move.