Buying a home is a big economic step. It does not matter whether it is a holiday home or a regular home, and where it is located, this procedure is an investment and one should go about it carefully and wisely.
Most people do not have the entire amount of money and need to get a loan. You may want to get your loan pre-approved so the seller will be able to accept your offer with no delay. This way all the background checks and financial verifications would be out of the way and you’d be eligible for purchasing.
The most important step in buying a house is the negotiation. When you purchase a home from a private seller you will be able to cut out the real estate agent’s percentage on the deal and save a little money. However this means that you will need to do the negotiating yourself and if you are not so good at it than maybe you are better off buying the property through the estate agent anyway.
The language barrier is also an issue. While a private seller is not obligated to know English or help you understand what you are about to sign, an estate agent will be able to answer any question you have.
Find out the values of other houses in the same area. Do not assume that just because a seller is asking for a certain price that it is a fair price to pay. Remember that he too wants to make a profit.
