If you’re planning a trip to Tacoma to look at homes, here’s something I want you to know before you book your flight: you don’t have to find your house that weekend for the trip to be a success.
Kelsey and I have worked with many out-of-town buyers. Some come for a long weekend, some have more time, and some never fly here during the buying process. We work with their schedules and continue the search via FaceTime, videos, phone calls, and emails when they’re back home.
A house-hunting trip is often most helpful for figuring out which areas you enjoy and what different types of homes feel like in person. That gives the rest of your search direction, even if you leave without writing an offer.
Start with a Zoom meeting before you fly to Tacoma
One of the first things we do after you reach out is set up a Zoom meeting. You’re able to ask us questions, and we’ll talk through your wish list, your financing , and the factors that matter to you when choosing a home and area. What does your everyday life look like? Do you need to get to a particular workplace? Are you looking for a yard, space for guests, or a home with fewer projects?
It helps to separate your must-haves from the things you would enjoy but could live without. You don’t need to have every answer yet. Part of our job is helping you work through those questions before we spend your limited time touring.
Talk with two or three lenders
If you haven’t connected with a lender, we can help with introductions. We recommend speaking with two, if not three. Different lenders can offer different programs, and you want to understand which lender and loan fit your situation.
Compare more than an advertised interest rate. Ask about estimated monthly payments, closing costs, available programs, and how the lender communicates. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Loan Estimate comparison guide is a useful place to start when you have written loan offers to compare.
Availability matters, too. If we’re writing an offer on a weekend and there are other buyers competing, we want a lender who can respond when it’s go-time. That might mean preparing an approval letter for the amount of your offer and calling the listing agent, with your permission, to explain your financing strength. That conversation can help a seller understand how prepared you are, although it never guarantees that your offer will be selected. Preapproval also isn’t final loan approval.
If you can visit, aim for at least a long weekend
We’re flexible and can make different schedules work. If you can spend more time here, great. If your time is limited, we recommend at least a long weekend so we can arrange a few tours each day and give you room to explore between them.
Seeing different neighborhoods and varying types of homes can help you refine your search. A layout you thought you wanted might feel different in person. You might discover that a smaller yard works better for you, or that you’re more interested in an older home than you expected. Those are useful things to learn before buying.
We’ll plan around your priorities and the homes available during your visit. Listings and showing availability can change, so it helps to leave some flexibility rather than treating the itinerary as set in stone.
Leave time to experience everyday life in Tacoma
Drive around and check out the city! Home tours are only one part of understanding a place. If you have friends or family nearby, ask what they enjoy doing and where they spend their time.
Think about your own favorite activities, too. Maybe you want to check out gyms, take a yoga class, visit parks, walk the waterfront, or explore options for hiking nearby. Fit a few of those things into your visit. Kelsey and I can make recommendations around Tacoma and neighboring communities based on what you enjoy.
If you’ll commute, try the route at a time that resembles your actual schedule. Pay attention to the practical things you’ll use regularly, such as grocery shopping, parking, transit, and getting to your activities. Your experience matters more than someone else’s list of the “best” neighborhoods.
What if you fly home without finding a house?
That’s not a problem. Finding the exact home in two days isn’t something we expect buyers to accomplish. If the trip helps you identify a few areas you love and understand your priorities more clearly, it has done its job.
We can keep moving forward through FaceTime tours, videos, calls, and emails. You’ll have a better frame of reference for the homes we’re discussing because you’ve already spent time here. For a closer look at that process, read what buying a Tacoma home from another state looks like.
Plan your visit around learning, not pressure
You don’t need to make a purchase to justify the flight. Our role is to share what we know, help you understand your options, and give you the information to make the right decision for you.
I’m a born-and-raised Tacoma local, and Kelsey and I have helped over 100 buyers throughout Tacoma and Pierce County. If you’re relocating to Tacoma and planning a house-hunting trip, reach out before you book your tours. We can start with a Zoom, talk through your goals, and help you make the most of your time here.
