Buying or selling a home is a huge financial decision. Being an informed Buyer is critical to your success.
Did you know that unless you have an Exclusive Buyer Agency relationship with a Realtor, that Realtor is (by law) working for the Seller? AND, if you call the listing/seller agent to see the property, they, too are working for the seller.
As your Buyer Agent, I will educate you, guiding you through the entire process, saving you time, stress and allowing you to feel secure in the process.
- Should I rent or buy?
- How much can I afford?
- What is the benefit of having my own Buyer Agent?
- What first-time buyer programs are available?
- What protection do I have after I put in the offer but before I close?
- When can I move in?
Preparing for Home Ownership
Budgeting is the best way to prepare for the costs of home ownership. A budget will help you manage your cash flow and judge how much debt you can assume. Your goal is to make sure that your total monthly expenses and savings do not exceed your income.
- Figure out your monthly take-home pay (your income after all taxes and deductions are taken out).
- Subtract your fixed expenses (rent or mortgage payment, utilities, credit cards, car loans, etc).
- Subtract flexible expenses -- the expenses you can control each month (groceries, clothing, transportation, entertainment, etc).
- Subtract monthly savings. Make savings a fixed expense. Include an amount in your budget to put away for savings and stick to it!
Pre-Qualification should be done before you start looking for houses. This will prevent you from the hearbreak of falling in love with a home only to find out you can't afford it! Supplying the Seller with a copy of your prequalification letter will show them that you are a serious buyer, ready to make a serious offer. I can provide you with a choice of lenders to select from, or perhaps you have your own.
Selling Your Home
If no one knows about your home, how can you sell it? That is my #1 mission -- to market/expose your home to the market place. Technology is used extensively to expose your home to Today's Buyer because that is what they are made of -- websites, blogs, eCards . . . Studies show that >90% of the buyers use the internet both to educate themselves and find their next home.
What Does Today's Buyer Look Like?
Today's home buyer -- numbering 51 million -- was born between 1965 and 1977. They are optomistic, pragmatic, self-reliant individuals who reject tradition and mistrust institutions. They assume technology as they turn to the Internet to find 'their own answers.' They love multi-tasking as they are extensively reliant upon technology.
The $8000 first-time buyer tax credit (defined as anyone who has not purchased or owned a home in the past 3 years has acted as a catalyst to the market. Prospective buyers are no longer hesitating as they try to time the 'bottom of the market.' You shouldn't either!
Contact me today for a complimentary and indepth discussion of your own personal situation.
