How to Buy a Home Online

Your next home search might be online. Here’s what you need to know.

Click to buy just took on a whole new meaning. Image: Wikimedia Commons.

DANIEL BORTZ writes,”When you buy a house, you need to tour it. So that’s what Cat and Bobby Boucher did before making an offer on a three-bedroom townhome in Alexandria, Va., earlier this month. The only difference: The Bouchers never set a foot inside — instead, Cat toured the home through a private video showing with the seller over Facebook.”

With Covid-19 making travel and indoor activity less advisable there are some ways you can make home buying from afar work.

Money Magazine shows you what to look for and how to protect yourself in How to Buy a Home When You Can’t See It in Person.

Some key points include protecting yourself with inspections and contingencies, so you can walk away or negotiate to your advantage if the video tour doesn’t reveal all there is to see. Having a trusted agent who can be your “boots on the ground” is essential.