Finding the home you can afford

Early on in the process, we'll want to get you pre-qualified for a mortgage loan, which helps determine how much you can afford. It enables us to move swiftly when we find the right home, especially when there are other interested buyers. It also indicates to the seller that you are serious and can afford to buy the property. A pre-approval is a simple calculation done by a mortgage lender that tells you the amount you'll be able to finance through a loan and what your monthly payment will be. When we find a home to buy, a pre-approval also reassures the seller that you have the financial means to purchase his or her home. Property Search

Finding the right home

Before deciding which house to buy, think about your lifestyle, your current and anticipated housing needs, and your budget. It’s a good idea to create a prioritized list of features you want in your next home – you'll soon discover finding the right house involves striking a balance between your "must-haves" and your "nice-to-haves."

To start, consider your lifestyle. If you love to cook, you'll want a well-equipped kitchen. If you're into gardening, you'll want a yard. If you're planning your office at home, you may want a room for a separate library or work space. If you have several cars, you may require a larger garage. Use this list as your search guide.

Next, think about what you might need in the future. As you consider your housing needs, it's important to consider how long you may live in your home. If you're newly married, you might not be concerned with a school district right now, but you could be in a few years. If you have aging parents, you may want to look at homes that offer living arrangements for them as well as you.

It’s important to think about your new home’s location just as carefully as you do about a house’s features. Location is a huge part of any move. In addition to considering the distance to work, you need to evaluate the availability of shopping, police and fire protection, medical facilities, school and day-care, traffic and parking, trash and garbage collection, even recreational facilities.

Perhaps the most important decision is deciding on the type of home you want. Do you want a condominium or a co-op? A town house or a detached single-family home? Do you want brick, stone, stucco, wood, vinyl siding, or something else? Do you prefer a new home or an older one?

Through all of this, make sure to talk to me about where you want to live. While more buyers now use the Internet to gain access to listings, or available properties for sale, it is still a good idea to use my services. I'll bring value to the entire process: I'll be available to analyze data, answer questions, share my professional expertise, and handle all the paperwork and legwork that is involved in the real estate transaction. I'm a professional and have the expertise to help you narrow down your choices by sharing market trends and local information.

Making an offer on that perfect home

Once we’ve found your dream house, it’s time to get started with the financial and contractual side of the purchase. I'll guide you through this process. Purchase contracts vary in length and terms from state to state, and within a state, from locality to locality. Because you and the seller have different goals, rely on my experience and expertise. I can bring order and calm to the process and will know what questions you may not know to ask to help you reach a favorable outcome.

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