So many first-time home buyers have been contacting us, asking about what to do and not to do when starting the home buying process. Here are some answers to those first-time home buyer questions.
The first thing that every first-time home buyer needs to do is hire a buyer agent (that's us :). As Your buyer agent we're going to play an important role in the entire process. We will sit you down and explain the buying process to you and answer all of your questions. So, be prepared and have a list of questions ready. Running out to a property and meeting a Realtor for the first time is not the way to hire a buyer agent.
It is important to know that if you hire us as a buyer agent, you do not have to pay us. Traditionally, we will be paid out of the fee for service that the seller agreed to pay when they listed the home.
Get pre-approved. If you don't want to get pre-approved then you are not serious. You need to know how much you can afford before you look at homes. Don't worry, homes will be there. If you do not know of a reputable lender, We have names of some great mortgage consultants for you to talk with.
Don't get caught up in interest rates. You can't lock in on any rate until you have a signed Agreement of Sale so it doesn't matter if the mortgage consultant tells you that rates that day are 4%; they mean nothing to you until you find your home. It is extremely important that you understand this.
Make sure to get a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) from your mortgage consultant which lists all of the fees you can expect to pay at settlement.
Have money for a deposit, down payment and closing costs, some sales we are able to get the seller to pay all or most of your closing costs. If you do not have money saved, it's not time to be looking for a home.
Have patience and trust, we do this every day and will guide you.
Trust your instincts. Everyone will have opinions and advice but you have to listen to yourself. If you view one house and that home is the price you want and has everything you want, then do not be afraid to put an offer in on it. Remember, you are looking for a home and you only need one. Many people will tell you not to buy the first home you see. But what generally happens is that when you listen to other people and go against your feelings and view many other homes only to figure out that the first home was the home for you, that home usually is not available and then you missed out on exactly what you set out to find in the first place.
Don't low ball every home. As your Realtor we know how much homes are selling for. Yes, it is a buyer's market and you can get a great deal but if you expect to put in ridiculous offers on every home no matter what, you lose the home and you will be wasting your time .
Know what you want before you go look at homes. Have a list of what you need first, then list what you would want but could live without.
Know the style of home you want. Do you know the difference between a cape cod, a townhouse or a site condo ? If not, you need to find out so ask us what the differences are. This way we're are not showing you homes that you do not like.
If you are interested in a condo, there are important things you need to know about them before you go out and look at them. You may find out that a condo is not for you.
Bring a notebook with you when you view homes to take notes and document concerns. Ask: how far is the home from your job, how much are taxes? The price may be right but in the long run, it may wind up costing you much more just to get to work.
Always bring the person or persons who will be helping you make the decision on the home. You may think that you know what the other person wants but trust us, it's best to view every home with whomever else will be buying the home with you. The last thing you want to do is fall in love with a home only to bring back your husband/girlfriend/partner and find out that they do not like it like you do
We attribute our success to a number of things; the number one thing is having fun doing our job. It also takes a thorough understanding of our clients' needs, good communication, and a true desire to help our clients! People rarely succeed at anything unless they really have fun doing it.
* Over Ten years as a realtor in the lake area
* Award winning Realtor
* Ranked in the top 5% of all real estate Professionals in the Nation
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I'm proud to say that we have achieved success through relentless prospecting and providing our clients and customers with the same quality service that we would want if our own family or loved ones were buying or selling a home. Making the client or customer a part of the transaction from the very start and then following through and maintaining consistent communication are business strategies that have contributed to our success. We believe there is a direct correlation between service and success:
The commission is only the by-product of the service you render. Though success is measured in many different ways, what success we have had can be directly related to consistent and quality follow-up. In our opinion, follow-up is the basis and sets the tone for a smooth transaction. our desire to help individuals find a home and sell their home is a motivating force to which we also attribute the success I have had.
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