With spring time finally arriving, it’s a great time to finally buy your new house. It’s the time of year for renewal and change which also makes it a great time to get into a new house. Many people use this time of year for spring cleaning but it’s also a great time to clear up the clutter and find a new home for your family to settle in.

Perhaps you’re ready to move out of your starter home to something more permanent or you’re looking for change because you’re family size has changed. Whatever the reasons, buying a home in the spring can be the perfect time of year. Here is a look at what you need to know about buying a home during this time of the year.

Peak Buying Season

While it might be the perfect time for your family to buy a home, it’s also the prime time for other families to purchase. The competition will be steep which may mean higher home prices and offers may need to be made quickly. Don’t waste time or try to bargain too much because your competition is increased right now. Make an offer above the asking price or purchase a newly built home where you won’t have to deal with competition.

Prepare Yourself

It’s a good idea to increase your chances of getting the home of your dreams by preparing before you look. When the right house comes, you won’t have to worry about these tasks because you’ll already have completed them. First you’ll need to take a look at your finances to see how much you can afford. Work on any credit issues and start saving for a good down payment.

You can get pre-approved for a mortgage and start working on your “must-have” list for the home you need to have. Determine what features would be nice to have rather than things you need (i.e. number of bedrooms, pool, backyard, etc.). Determine what contingencies you can eliminate from your office and hire a relator to help you start locating, selecting and negotiating on homes.

Use these tips to get yourself prepared for buying a home this spring. It’s the perfect time of year to buy but everyone else is thinking the same thing so make sure you can stand out from the competition.