Basking Ridge is the perfect spot to live in New Jersey. Located only 35 miles west of New York City, Basking Ridge is a serene suburban oasis. It’s calm and cozy and has plenty of green space to enjoy, including parks, playgrounds, and country clubs. In addition to beautiful outdoor spaces, single-family homes are situated on large lots with stunning interiors. Homes are updated and spacious, with open layouts, large windows with plenty of natural light, and lots of privacy between neighbors.
Basking Ridge is always a favorite place to live for families due to the amazing school systems in the area, boasting both public and private options. There’s a great sense of community, with family-friendly events, including holiday celebrations and live music.
If you’re thinking of looking for Basking Ridge homes for sale, you might be wondering how to get started. The Borcherding + Borcherding Team home buying guide will walk you through the major steps needed to take you from searching for a home to owning one of your own.
Take a look at your finances
The first step when searching for Basking Ridge real estate is to figure out your finances. You’ll want a thorough understanding of your monthly budget as well as how much money you have on hand for a down payment. Having a larger down payment will help you create a more competitive offer and also reduce any financing you might need. If you do need financing, you’ll want to understand your monthly budget to estimate how much of a mortgage payment you can afford. You’ll also want to ensure that you have enough cash on hand to cover the closing costs and have a fund for emergency repairs and any cosmetic maintenance you might want for your home.
Once you fully understand your budget and what’s feasible, it's important to determine if you’ll need financing to help buy your home. If you do, getting pre-approved from a lender is an important step in showing buyers that you are ready for next steps. It will also enable you to quickly make an offer when you do find the home you want.
Work with a great realtor
Once you’ve figured out your budget, you’ll want to connect with a great realtor. Realtors are licensed real estate professionals that completely understand the process of buying a home and can help you every step of the way. They will assist you in finding the perfect listings and sometimes have access to exclusive listings that aren’t available to the public yet. They can also help you understand what to look for at open houses, and they understand market dynamics in order to advise you on the best offer price. Working with a realtor is an essential step in securing the best deal possible on your dream home.
Decide on your priorities
It can be easy when looking at homes to feel like you want it all, especially in an area like Basking Ridge, which has so much to offer. But in reality, it’s important to understand your priorities as a home buyer. Each home buyer is unique and will have a unique set of desires and parameters for their home. For example, one buyer might like to live closer to the city to be near the nightlife, whereas someone else might enjoy living in a more quiet part of town to relax and unwind in their home.
When considering your own priorities, think about what is most important to you. Do you need ample space for a growing family? Do you want privacy and seclusion, or to be conveniently located to shops and restaurants? Do you want a large outdoor space, or do you need a large garage for repairs and projects? Each person’s answer to these questions will be completely unique and will help guide your home search.
Scope out the neighborhood
One of the most important aspects of your home is where it is located. This is the one feature you cannot change. You can add on, update your home, and landscape the yard, but you can’t change the location of the house. This is why choosing the right neighborhood for you is essential. You should learn about each neighborhood and what the atmosphere is like. Is it upbeat and vibrant? Relaxing and serene? Are neighbors quiet, or is there a collective community?
You’ll also have to consider what type of neighborhood you want to live in. Consider your interests and current lifestyle, as well as the life you plan to grow into in your new home. A home is a long-term investment, so it's important to think about what type of home and neighborhood you’ll need in the years to come, not just right now.
Visit open houses
Your realtor will help you find the perfect listings that fit your priorities and your budget in the neighborhoods you love. Once you’ve found some homes you’re interested in, it’s time to visit open houses to explore them and learn more. When visiting an open house, it's important to collect information and investigate the home. You should be looking at the condition of the house, the physical space, as well as storage space, and asking about any repairs or maintenance that has been done.
Put down an offer
Once you’ve found a fantastic home that you love, it's time to put down an offer. Your real estate agent will help you with the entire process and work hard to get your offer accepted. Once your offer is accepted, the closing procedures and paperwork can be completed, and you’ll be ready to move into your new home.
If you’re thinking about buying a home in the Basking Ridge area, there’s no better real estate team than the
Borcherding & Borcherding Team. The
dynamic team is a mother-daughter duo that has extensive experience in the luxury market in Basking Ridge. They are here to help you every step of the way through the home-buying process and make the entire experience a breeze for you. Reach out to them when you’re ready to begin your search.
