Published:
May 19, 2020
Last updated:
June 16, 2026
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Sammamish Mortgage
4 min read

Key Takeaways

  • Prioritize listings with self-paced 3D or 360-degree tours over guided videos or disconnected photos.
  • Ask about core structural features like foundation, framing, insulation, roof condition, window orientation, and signs of leaks.
  • Watch for red flags such as missing floor plans, limited interior views, unclear roof images, and vague terms like "cozy" or "quaint".
  • Mortgage closing timelines may exceed 60 days because low rates and heavy refinancing have slowed underwriting.
In This Article

These days, most homebuyer hopefuls begin their search for a new home online. The ability to visit and tour properties virtually makes it easier to narrow down their choices before making in-person visits.

As home viewings become increasingly virtual for the foreseeable future, there are a number of tips prospective buyers must consider when shopping for real estate online.

#1 – Find Listings that Offer Self-Guided Tour Features

Buyers should have the same control in touring a home online as they do when perusing a home in person. If there is a room or specific location that the buyer wants to navigate in greater depth, they should have the ability to do so.

A quality online home listing will offer a 3D or 360-degree virtual tour as the main medium for the buyer to explore the property, with the ability to pause and zoom in at high definition in those areas that need to be examined more carefully.

While the expertise and opinion of a realtor can certainly be helpful, the buyer needs to beware of tours that direct him or her along a specific path, such as:

  • Pre-recorded videos narrated by a realtor
  • Tours held over video conference software that follows a realtor through a home
  • Series of disconnected images that leave viewing gaps

These options should be secondary and take place only after the prospective buyer has had a chance to perform a thorough, self-paced 3D or 360-degree virtual tour.

#2 – Know the Appropriate Questions to Ask in Advance

Every prospective home buyer should strive to purchase a home with good bones–those essential features that are unfeasible or impossible to remodel.

Fortunately, good bones can be determined without ever seeing the house in person, if the buyer knows the right questions to ask:

  • What is the construction of the foundation and framing? Is it one of the sturdy, energy-efficient concrete block homes, or is it made from more traditional wood-frame structures?
  • How is the insulation? Is the roof lined with high-performance Polyiso panels?
  • What is the home’s orientation? Which direction do the windows face in the home’s main living areas?
  • What is the condition of the roof? What type of material is the roof made of?
  • Is there evidence of pipe leaks? Are there sinkholes in the sidewalk or driveways or unexplained lush foliage?

#3 – Have a Keen Eye for Red Flags

There are a number of red flags that online home listings can raise. The buyer should be concerned with any of the following scenarios:

  • Is the floor plan missing? This should be presented so that the buyer can compare to the rooms when doing a virtual tour.
  • Is more time spent showing the exterior than the interior? This may be a case of a pretty face trying to cover up “bad bones.”
  • Can you zoom in on the roof? A lot of roofing looks good from afar, with close-up views often necessary to confirm healthy roof shingles.
  • Is a bathroom view focused only on the sink? This is a likely indication of an extremely small bathroom.
  • Keywords such as “cozy,” “fixer-upper,” or “quaint” can have ambiguous meanings, so be sure to not take them at face value.

#4 – Be Ready to Wait on Closing

The global pandemic and accompanying financial crisis have seen mortgage interest rates plummet to historic lows.

As such, there has been a flood of homeowners rushing to refinance their current loans, causing the underwriting process to get backlogged for home buyers.

The typical closing period of 30 to 45 days has been stretched to in excess of 60 days in the current climate.

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Have Questions or Need a Mortgage Loan?

Do you have questions about home loans? Are you ready to apply for a mortgage to buy a home? If so, Sammamish Mortgage can help. We are a local mortgage company from Bellevue, WA serving borrowers across Washington, California, Oregon, Idaho, and Colorado. We’ve been offering many mortgage programs to buyers all over the Pacific Northwest since 1992. Visit our webiste to use our mortgage calculator or to get an instant rate quote. Contact us today with any questions you have about mortgages or to get pre-approved.

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