At a certain point, it is time to consolidate. You can have all the money in the world, but it is all paper if you never turn it into anything real. This is something that the wealthy have always known, but anyone who is newly wealthy in 2022 is running out of time to learn it.

Across the board, the economy in the United States grew massively in 2021. There are a lot more people with money to own homes now than there were at the start of the pandemic. At the same time, a recession is coming as a consequence of that growth. And that means the people who have money right now need to turn it into something physical to hold onto its value.

But how do you do that? The information age has brought with it a forest of internet ads, scams, and paperwork to sort through. So, let’s talk about how to buy a house in 2022.

Step One: Find the House

This step almost seems like a joke, but it is far more complicated than you might think. Owning a home is about choosing the right home for your needs. Some people are going to buy homes so that they can live in them. Others are going to buy homes as a financial asset.

These are very different motivations requiring very different properties to consider.

If you are looking to buy a home to live in, consider buying something in a state with a relatively low population. It is always tempting to live on one of the coasts, but there are still big cities in the Midwest. A city of 70,000 people in Oklahoma, for instance, will cost far less to live in while providing equal convenience as a city of 70,000 people in New Hampshire.

If you are looking for an asset, then you are either looking for something to rent out as a residence or convert from one type of building to another (for instance, converting a business into an apartment). This is all a matter of closeness to transportation and utilities.

Step Two: Find a Conveyancer

Buying a home means dealing with contract after contract, each of them packed with lines of legal jargon that most people will never understand. On top of that, it also means evaluating the home you are looking to buy for damage and flaws that might reduce the price.

These are the jobs of a conveyancer. A conveyancer is a neutral third party that assists in resolving a business deal between two other parties. The neutrality of the conveyancer is critical. They are not looking to cheat one person in favor of another. Rather, their goal is to make sure that the deal between you and the seller of the house is as equitable as possible.

The easiest way to find a conveyancer is by getting online conveyancing quotes.

Step Three: Negotiate the Price

Once you find the home you want and get representation in purchasing it, you will begin the process of talking the price down. Some people are unsure about this. What if the seller pulls out due to pressure? What if your perfect home ends up back on the market?

That is unlikely to happen. Here is the thing you have to remember: The housing market is in trouble. They are caught between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, you have the rising costs of homes. The price tags on these things make them seem like easy money. But on the other hand, you have wages rising much more slowly, and the rising cost of living.

People who are selling homes are willing to cut a deal to make some amount of money in such a tight bind between financial forces. But you have to do it the right way.

All negotiation begins and ends with the state of the home. Does it have security? Does it have water damage? Is it near public transport? All of these things can be used as evidence as for why the price should be lower. And if the seller acts like they are not a big deal, remind them that if you walk away, the next person to make them an offer might not be so patient.

Conclusion

Buying a home is never easy, especially in 2022. But if you take the right steps and look in the right small town in the right state, backed up by the right representation, and negotiating with the right evidence, then you are sure to find something great.