Purchasing a home is one of the most important decisions in a person’s life and deciding on a particular house comes with many options. Forty-five percent of recent buyers used open houses as a way to narrow down their choices and find their dream home. Buyers on Long Island will have the opportunity to do just that on April 5th and 6th as Realtors® hold open houses all weekend long as part of the 5th Annual Long Island and Queens Realtor® Open House Weekend, hosted by the Long Island Board of REALTORS® (LIBOR).
“Spring is typically a busy season when it comes to home buying especially after the extreme weather conditions that this winter brought. To celebrate spring and kick-off the season, Realtors® throughout Long Island and Queens are taking part in Realtor® Open House Weekend,” said Bettie Meinel, LIBOR President. “This event is a great way for buyers to get an idea of what they can afford and what kinds of homes are available in the local market. It’s also a chance for sellers to market their home and attract potential buyers.”
Realtors® will be present at the open houses to offer expert insight into the local housing market and answer questions from consumers concerning the home buying and selling process. There will be thousands of open houses for you to attend, throughout Nassau, Suffolk, and Queens Counties. Visit www.lirealtor.com/hom for a list of participating offices in your local area.
According to data from the National Association of REALTORS® the typical recently purchased home was 1,900 square feet and was built in 1992. The typical buyer purchased a home with three bedrooms and two full bathrooms, while slightly half of the homes purchased were on a single level. Eighty percent of home buyers purchased a detached single-family home. When it comes to home features, heating and cooling costs were at least somewhat important to 85 percent of buyers. The two most common rooms buyers were willing to spend more for were a laundry room and a den/home office.
“Buyers need to have a clear idea of what features are important to them and know where they are willing to compromise;” said Meinel. “That is where visiting open houses can be helpful. Also, working with a Realtor® can be a real asset. Realtors® visit hundreds of homes with buyers each year, and have a unique understanding of what buyers value in their local markets. Their expertise and knowledge can help you achieve the dream of homeownership.”
For a list of participating NOHW offices, weekend open houses, and the sweepstake form, please visit: www.lirealtor.com/hom.