Shopping for a pre‑owned car and hunting for a home might feel like very different adventures, but they are more alike than you may think!

1. Budget first, shop second. In both cases you start by figuring out what you can really afford—total price, monthly payments, insurance, taxes, and upkeep. Just as a mortgage pre‑approval sets a ceiling for house hunting, knowing your financing (or cash limit) keeps car browsing realistic.
2. Location and history matter. A house’s neighborhood and a car’s previous environment tell you a lot about future headaches. When buying a home, you will dig into property records. With MATS, we look at a vehicles condition report — both reveal accidents, renovations, title issues, or flood damage that photos can’t.
3. Inspection is non‑negotiable. Homebuyers hire inspectors to crawl through attics and under foundations; smart car buyers use MATS car-buying experts to find cars in above average condition and our trusted technicians recondition the vehicle.
4. Budget matters. You trust a realtor to guide you through the housing market and help you understand what you can get for your money. There’s a big budget difference between a 1 story, 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom home with no garage and a 2 story home with a finished basement and 3 car garage right? You may want the extras, but does your budget allow for everything on your wishlist? The same is true when buying a car. Our experts will help guide you through the ever changing car-market, navigating your wish list to help you decide which items on your list are a top priority and which you can live without, so you can purchase a vehicle in good condition and lower your risk.
5. The good ones go quickly. The best used cars disappear from our trusted sources almost as fast as desirable homes vanish from the market: when something is well‑maintained, fairly priced, and meets most buyers’ wish‑lists, they are quickly snapped up. People often think cars in good condition are abundant. Unfortunately the opposite is actually true. So be ready to move quickly when your car-buying expert finds what you’re after. Good quality vehicles for a fair price can be difficult to replicate! 

Ultimately, buying a used car is a scaled‑down version of purchasing a house. Follow this playbook, contact MATS, and you’ll drive away with fewer surprises.