Go ahead, write the offer

This article was originally published in The Galveston County Daily News on 2/2 as part of my weekly 2019 column.

If you feel you're being pushed by your agent to write an offer on a house, do consider this: someone can buy it out from under you while you are sleeping on it. You are not the only person with interest in buying in a desirable neighborhood close to the beach.

At a minimum, if you think you are really interested, you might want to get that offer written right away.
Your option period is there to give you a chance to change your mind, for whatever reason. The last thing you want to hear is that even though that house has been on the market for 87 days, another offer has just been accepted. So, how do you know you have found the right house?

You have to go inside it! Just pulling up in front, you already like it better than the house on the left or the house on the right. Curb appeal is working.

The house feels comfortable as soon as you walk in. Does it seem like home? Are you already comfortable?

You are possessive about the house. The agent may point out the damaged tile and you want to defend the flaw. If you even can see the flaw, as you might be falling in love.

You can already see your possessions and furniture in the house. I think it's a definite clue if you know exactly where the Christmas tree will go.

You can see yourself painting a wall a favorite color, or maybe an HGTV episode seems to have had just the idea you need to try in the house.

The house fits your basic needs. So, it doesn't have just everything on your list, but who else has a garage in the area? You could always build one if it becomes that important along the way, right? You love the porch, you like the neighbors, so maybe it's the right house if you start thinking about being a bit more flexible with your needs.

You really don't want to look at another house. You have already forgotten that one at the top of the list.

You are ready to send photos to all your friends and brag about this being your new house.

Every thought is that you want this house, even though you hate feeling impetuous and worry that you need to think it over more thoroughly.

Yeah. Write the offer. Get it under contract. Don't take the chance of losing the house over an option fee. Get that inspection scheduled. And then, when you know all there is to know about the house, you can either walk away or move forward.