Articles Tagged "there is no place like home"

If you're buying a home and have gotten the clear to close from your lender, then CONGRATULATIONS! - all of your efforts to purchase your dream home are about to become a reality!

What they don't tell you is that there are a few actions that can bring this process to a complete HALT.

I'm here to let you know what these mistakes are so that you DON'T make them before you reach the closing table!

All of the following items are RED FLAGS for your lender and they could decline the transaction because of one of the items below happening right before buying your home:

1. Don't purchase items such as a new car, new furniture or new appliances.
2. Don't open a new line of credit or close an existing line of credit.
3. Don't quit or switch jobs.
4. Don't make a late payment on a bill.
5. Don't ignore questions/requests from your lender and/or broker.
6. Don't authorize a credit check.
7. Don't make large deposits into your bank account outside of your normal paycheck amount.
8. Don't cosign a loan with ANYONE.
9. Don't change bank accounts.
10. Don't take out a payday loan.

Wishing you Every Success!

How Can I Balance Needs Versus Wants As I Home Shop?  That is a great question.

Here's the trick to buying your best house: know what you need. Really, you only need a solid roof, good floors and walls, plumbing, heating, and lighting. Everything else is preference.

Imagine your dream home. Review each item that makes it ideal. Ask which items you could live without and which ones you would pay extra to have. Embrace delayed gratification. Items you want are often those you can add later. You can change features such as light fixtures, countertops and paint. Answering these questions can help you determine budgets for the home purchase and future renovations.

Make a list. Think about a home's different features: bedrooms, bathrooms, lighting, landscaping. List characteristics of each. Determine which ones you need to have, would like to have and don't want. This will help you avoid looking at homes you know don't interest you.

• Know exactly what you want to a fault – Open kitchen, quiet street, backyard. Be flexible
• Realize that you will probably buy several homes during your lifetime and it may NOT be your forever home. Lifestyles change, you have kids, parents move in with you.  Your kids move out and the house is to big.  Job change.
• You think home improvement reality shows are actually realistic. While some things are easy fixes, others are not even though it looks EASY on HGTV.
• If you don't like the home, we don't need to look at every aspect of the home. Time is valuable and let's make the best use of our time.

 Buying a home is one of life's most important investments and exciting adventures. Whether you are a first-time or experienced buyer, it's important to spend some time preparing yourself before you start your search so you are aware of the potential pitfalls and stumbling blocks that may pop up during your path to homeownership success.[/caption]

Here are some things to keep in mind before and during your search:

• Do the math and establish your purchasing power. Meet with a lender who will help you determine which type of financing will work best for you and how much you qualify for with each type. Getting pre-approved can put you in a much stronger negotiating position because it shows the seller that you are a committed buyer, financially capable of buying the property and more likely to close on it.
• Commit to working with a strong buyer's agent like me who will look after your best interests and work with your schedule.
• Start surfing. One of the most important tools you'll need for your house hunt can be found right in your own home or office—the Internet. Nearly every home on the market is listed somewhere on the Internet because real estate agents know the majority of people turn to the Web first when looking for a new home. You can register for e-mail alerts from my website to have homes sent to you so you can investigate further.
• Location, location, location. Narrow your search before you start touring every house in town. Decide what neighborhoods work best for you and your family. Check out school districts, shopping and dining, public transportation, recreational areas and crime statistics.
• List your priorities and prepare to compromise. Make a list of the features you are looking for in a house and rate them on a scale of one to five, with five being a feature you can't live without. Then, bring your list with you as you tour homes to keep score.
• Would you like French doors with that? Once you've found a home you like, consider the costs of upgrades, repairs or remodels and factor those in to your short or long term budgets. Remember that any upgrades you make, will likely add value to your new home. So it may be worth the extra investment up front if you are planning on selling your home in the foreseeable future.

With this checklist and the right market conditions, you are well on the road to home happiness. For additional information on the opportunities in today's market or for expert representation, contact me today.

Buying a BRAND NEW home may seem daunting when you can get a resale for a couple hundred dollars less a month but let me tell ya, buying a new home can actually SAVE you money in the long run (plus a few other benefits!)

 The word NEW is the key here because everything in a new construction home is brand new.

 This includes a 1 year warranty on everything PLUS a 10 year structural  warranty. This comes in handy when appliances break or the foundation of the home starts to shift. If you don't buy NEW, then you will have to pay out of pocket for those items. New construction homes are VERY low maintenance in comparison to buying a resale home.

 When you buy a new construction home, you have the ability to have ALL or part of your closing costs paid, this saves you money INSTANTLY.

 New construction homes are also energy efficient which means you will be saving LOADS of money on your electricity bill whereas a resale home doesn't offer this same benefit.

 You can customize EVERYTHING when you build a new construction home - from flooring to backsplash to faucets and light fixtures. It will be custom tailored to YOUR liking and exactly how you want it.

 No need to worry about replacing that hideous tile flooring throughout the kitchen of a resale home or updating light fixtures that are outdated.

 Also - most new construction homes also come standard with SMART features which are very convenient in this day and age.

 New construction communities offer other benefits like superior drainage, which makes it much less likely to flood compared to an older community.

 Builders also don't sell to investors, so the newer community will retain its integrity for a longer period of time.

 Most people who purchase a new construction home plan to live in that home rather than rent it out every year or so. This means that you'll get to know your neighbors and your property value is protected.

 Ask me how we can get you into a new construction home today!