This answer strongly depends on what your situation is. Are you buying? Are you selling? Are you trying to do both? Are you looking to stay in the area or move out of the area? Buyer’s want to buy low and Seller’s want to sell high. So, if you are only selling you ideally want to sell when inventory is low and interest rates are low. If you are buying you want to ideally buy when there is a shift or a softening in the market. If you are just Buying then an agent should be able to tell you quickly if it is a good time to buy or not. Subsequently if you are just Selling then the agent should be able to tell you quickly if it is a good time to sell or not. Buyer’s ultimately set prices not Seller’s or real estate agents amongst what Buyer’s and Seller’s may say or think otherwise. A face to face consultation with a real estate agent should not cost you anything and will give you a better idea to your next steps you want to take in the moving process. That way an expert real estate agent will be able to provide you with sound advice so that you can make a decision on if the timing is right? Buying and Selling at the same time can lead to even more questions regarding timing.

This is a question that I have received my entire real estate career and the answer is not always an easy one. A lot of the time it depends on the market and how fast listings are ultimately selling. In the kind of market we have been in I do not think many Seller’s have the concern in regards to selling their house however how much they are going to sell it for is the great unknown. If you purchase a house first most Seller’s are then left to accept the best offer that comes in with little other choice. If you do sell first and ideally set a longer closing date, then that will give you more time to find a house as well as you will know your exact buying budget. The smartest thing for a home owner to do is to call a real estate agent in for an initial meeting or consultation. This doesn't mean that you are obligated to move forward with a decision right away. What it will do is help you understand your options better so that you can make an educated decision on what you want to do next. As someone considering making the move you are going to want to know what your house is worth. Pros and cons to buy or sell first. Your motivation to make the move happen.

Before going out and shopping for houses it is super important that you get an idea to what you can spend. With houses selling relatively fast you have to know your budget. There is nothing more frustrating then looking for a house to purchase only to fall in love with one and find out after that you can not afford it because the necessary steps were not taken to safely secure a property. At this point the blame from the Buyer's may become directed at the real estate agent for not advising and suggesting next steps to make home ownership or move a reality. Not to mention the Buyer's may become discouraged with the whole process in general. Getting a pre-approval before house shopping will put you in a stronger position from a negotiating perspective as well as give you peace of mind knowing what you can truly afford. Based on your budget you will quickly be able to determine what you can afford in your budget. Bringing this reality to Buyer client's will be helpful for them and not detrimental. This will build trust with the Buyer's and will give them the security knowing that you are advocating for them and protecting their best interests.

In a perfect world you can put together a massive wish list as a Buyer outlining all of your must haves in your next house. Then reality sets in that those houses do exist but unfortunately not in the budget that you would like to see them exist in. This is a common theme amongst Buyer’s based on the soaring prices and ultra competitive real estate market. Many Buyer’s who are set up on searches have a difficult time seeing the properties that they truly desire to purchase. Then the reality of a difficult conversation sets in between the Realtor and the Buyer’s. That conversation is not easy to have but necessary. Most Buyer’s will have to make a decision based on their price point do they stay in the area and compromise on the house for their budget? Or do they move out further where prices are cheaper so they can acquire the house they want. The key in any good and successful working relationship is communication. When you have a real estate agent that is able to manage the client's expectations this is really important in the facilitating aspect of the Buyer experience and ultimately the transaction when it comes to purchasing.