THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO BUYING A HOME - Amazon Web Services

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THE ULTIMATE GUIDETO BUYING A HOME

The average home buyerin 2014 searched forlistings for 10 weeks andultimately visited 10listings.Despite all of the technology available to buyers these days, their searchfor their dream home still takes time and careful research — regardlessof whether they’re a first-time home buyer or a veteran who’s purchasedmultiple residences over the years.Use this guide to help navigate your home search, become even moreknowledgeable about what to look for in your ideal home, and, in the end,find the right property to purchase in 2015.Data: The National Association of Realtors 2014 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers

PREPARING YOUR FINANCESBUILD UPYOUR SAVINGSIMPROVEYOUR CREDITSCOREGET MORTGAGEPRE-APPROVALBEGIN THEHOME SEARCHPrior to hitting the market and checking out listings, you need to take careof some necessary tasks, including saving up plenty of money for a new home,enhancing your credit score, and getting pre-approved for a home loan.3

BUILD UP YOUR SAVINGSThough America’s financial crisis is nowin the rearview mirror, lenders nationwidecontinue to have stringent lendingstandards, meaning it takes significantamounts of capital for prospectiveborrowers to secure home loans.Focus on building wealth before evenconsidering your home purchase toensure you have more than enough toconvince lenders you’re ready to becomea homeowner and handle the subsequentmortgage payments with ease.4

IMPROVE YOUR CREDIT SCOREAnother factor lenders strongly take intoconsideration is the strength of potentialborrowers’ credit scores. The math hereis simple: The higher your score, thebetter you look in the eyes of lenders.outstanding debts, and avoiding takingon new lines of credit can bolster yourcredit score and enhance your odds ofsecuring not only a home loan, but alsofavorable loan terms.Doing things like paying all of your billson time and in full, eliminating5

GET MORTGAGE PRE-APPROVALAfter getting all of your finances in order,it’s time to head to lenders to get preapproved for a home loan. Whereas prequalification is an estimate of how muchhouse you can afford, pre-approval isgetting lenders to deem you worthy ofreceiving a mortgage.Once you’ve been pre-approved, you cansearch online to find the most favorablemortgage rates and terms from variouslenders and, ultimately, choose the onethat’s best for you and your finances inthe long term.6

BEGIN THE HOME SEARCHYou’ve completed all of the dirty work,and now, it’s your turn to actually beginthe home search in earnest by checkingout what listings are available in the areain which you intend to purchase a home.local real estate market well and has aproven track record of getting their clientsin the right home that fits their budget andpreferences.Having said that, it’s in your best interestto find a buyer’s agent who knows the7

Real estate agentswere considereduseful to 98% ofhome buyers in2014.It’s hard to argue with all of thequality traits experienced real estateagents bring to the table for theirclients: savvy negotiating skills, arich understanding of the localhousing landscape, legalknowledge, and in-depth advice forhome buyers on how to approachthe entire process.Here’s exactly what you can (andshould) expect when hiring a realestate agent Data: The National Association of Realtors 2014 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers

WHY WORK WITH AN AGENT?Market ExpertiseEverything from where home values are rising the most tothe best ice cream shops and concert venues: That’s thekind of intricate knowledge real estate agents have aboutthe markets in which they work.Sure, anyone can Google housing statistics and localcommunity information, but agents are constantly in theknow and building their networks so they can providebuyers with every last detail they need to know about theirmarket.9

WHY WORK WITH AN AGENT?Negotiation SkillsWith a veteran real estate agent comes veteran salestechniques. Put your trust in an experienced buyer’sagent who has proven to get great prices and the bestterms possible for their past clients.The best place to find out about the local agents? Headonline to examine real estate agent websites and theirsocial media presence. This is where you’ll find reviewsand testimonials that can guide your decision-making.10

WHY WORK WITH AN AGENT?Legal KnowledgeLegalese is not something the average home buyer knows agreat deal about — but then again, they don’t have to, solong as they employ a real estate agent.Agents are well-versed in the language of home purchaseagreements and other legal documents, meaning you don’thave to study up on real estate law and, in turn, avoidheadaches during the home buying process.11

WHY WORK WITH AN AGENT?Referral NetworksBuying a home entails a lot more than attending listingshowings and making bids. It involves dealing with lenders,title insurers, appraisers, and other real estate professionalswho have a necessary hand in sale agreements.Real estate agents work tirelessly to grow their vendornetworks and build relationships with reputable pros andfirms who know how to conduct business correctly andefficiently.12

HOME SEARCH FACTORSCONDITIONIt’s vital to discoverwhich homes forsale are in primecondition andwhich will requiresome investmentto fix.SIZE & TYPEDetermining sizeand stylepreferences isessential whenhitting the marketto check out realestate listings.PRICELOCATIONNarrow down yoursearch by pricepoint first so youonly view homesfor sale you canactually afford anddon’t waste yourtime.Identify specificregions, towns, orevenneighborhoodswhere you wouldbe happy to laydown a foundation.13

CONDITIONWhether you’re interested in properties built in the lastcouple of years or residences constructed at the turn of the20th century, chances are there are some blemishes — andperhaps even some major issues — that require attentionand action. Here are the main home problems to look for 14

CONDITIONIssuesFoundation: Any cracks, breaks, mold,and pests discovered near a home’sfoundation are big red flags that indicateyou may want to head to the next listingon your list.Power and Heat: Faulty switches, poorwiring and insulation, low-performing airand heating systems, and window leaksare telltale signs of a residence that’s indire need of some serious updates.Exterior: Closely inspect panel siding,roofing, window shutters, and holes andcracks in walls and take a close lookaround the yard, like driveways, pools,sheds, and other outdoor areas for anypotential defects.Odors: Smell doesn’t lie. If something inor around a real estate listing causes aphysical reaction — whether it’s generalair quality or a specific problem area withmold — it may not be an ideal choice.15

SIZE & TYPEIt doesn’t matter if you’re a growingfamily in need of an upgrade or acouple looking for a cozy retirementproperty, it’s imperative to considerwhat residence size and type is bothacceptable and desired.shape, size, and style, so it’s importantto know what you want in your home,what you can live with, and how muchspace you actually need.Each listing your real estate agentshows you will have its own unique16

SIZE & TYPETypeThe type of residence you want to buy likelyisn’t available in every community. Forinstance, townhomes are more prevalent incities, whereas ranches are more commonin suburban and rural areas.Regardless of your home style preference,each on comes with its own benefits. Livingin a condo in an urban area, for example,means you have just about everything youneed within walking distance: grocerystores, gyms, theaters, etc.Conversely, if you plan to purchase astandalone, single-family property in the‘burbs, you’ll have more privacy and spacefor your kids to enjoy the outdoors.Another consideration for home type is howmany previous owners a specific home hashad. Pre-owned listings tend to sell farcheaper than newly built properties, so ifyou have your heart set on a brand newhome, realize that it will likely mean a largerdown payment than previously ownedresidences.17

PRICENow that you have a specific budget for your propertypurchase, you now have a crystal clear idea abouthow to conduct your home search. Having said that,there are still other financial considerations to take intoaccount with any listing you plan to bid on.18

PRICEPrice FactorsPrior to touring a single property youragent wants to show you, figure outwhat the maximum monthly mortgagepayment is that you can easily handlepaying off in full. There are countlessmortgage calculators online, so findone, enter in the figures representingyour financial situation — currentincome, projected income, savings,etc. — to help you determine what afeasible monthly home loan paymentwould look like.payments for things like homeinsurance, property taxes, and,depending on where you buy,homeowners/condo association fees orflood insurance.The silver lining to taking on thesepayments is you may be eligible forsome tax deductions for items likemortgage interest, so consider thatextra money coming back to you aswell.Aside from your finances, also factor in19

LOCATIONWhat kind of businesses are nearby?What’s the quality of the area’s schoolsystem? Where’s the closest publictransportation? It’s these questions— andseemingly innumerable ones just likethem — that prospective homeownerssuch as yourself need to ask during thehome search.Though you may fall in love with a home’sliving area, backyard, or roof deck, youalso need to take into account what thecommunity can offer you and your family— not only to ensure you live near greatand useful amenities, but also to makecertain you’re paying the appropriateprice for a listing.20

LOCATIONLocation FactorsWork Commute: Make sure youconsider whether it’s easy for you andany other adults you intend to live withto get to and from work when touringlistings. Ask about local bus and trainschedules and the nearest highways.Child Care Services: Are there anyreputable day care centers nearby? It’simportant for parents with youngchildren to find quality care for theirkids.School System: It doesn’t matter if youhave kids or not — the quality of aschool system greatly impacts homevalues and how a community evolves.Public Services: Discover all you canabout nearby hospitals, local policeand fire departments, and generalmunicipal services to get a feel for thecommunity in which the listings youcheck out reside.21

LOCATIONLocation Factors Cont’dCrime: The rate and total number of crimecommitted in an area can have a drasticimpact on home values in the long run.Shopping and Attractions: Where are thebest clothing stores? Are there are greatnightlife spots around? Knowing you haveplenty to do and enjoy near your new homeis just as important as finding a suitableresidence.Water and Power: Knowing that all of theplumbing and electrical work done in ahome and its surrounding neighborhood isessential. Also, ensure there’s no history ofpipe breaks and power outages in yourarea, as that could spell trouble.Ownership Situation: What are the mostcommon types of properties in the area?Mostly real-estate owned residences?Newly built homes? This, too, can impacthome values and neighborhood growth.22

OFFER AND CLOSINGDETERMINE THERIGHT BIDGET A HOMEINSPECTIONIT’S CLOSINGTIMEHANDLE THELOGISTICSAfter you’ve completed a comprehensive search across the localmarket and zeroed in one the home for sale you want, it’s time to getthe purchase process in full gear. Of course, bidding on a listing isjust one step in the buying a home. There’s plenty to do once thepaperwork gets going and after all of the t’s have been crossed andi’s have been dotted.23

DETERMINE THE RIGHT BIDWhile those selling the listing you bid on have aspecific list price, that doesn’t necessarily meanyour first (or second or third) bid needs to meettheir pricing requirement. Rather, work with yourreal estate agent to develop a price point thatyou’re comfortable with and leaves room fornegotiation with the sellers. One major factor inyour bid should be what other homes near thelisting have sold for in recent months and years,what types of residences those that sold are, howlong they sat on the market, and any otherrelevant details you and your agent can secure.A Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) conductedby your agent can provide you with anunderstanding of all of this information. Fromthere, you can figure out what you’re willing tooffer for a home for sale. Just remember that theremay be one or more other buyers willing to makea better offer than yours.24

GET A HOME INSPECTIONOnce a seller has tentatively accepted youroffer to purchase their property, it’s time tobring in a home inspector to comb over theresidence and surrounding yard to ensureeverything is up to snuff. Any serious issuesthat pop up — whether it’s old wiring or fragileroofing — should be brought to the attention ofthe seller so you two can determine whoshould take care of fixing them.Consult with your agent to figure out how tonegotiate who should take care of problems inand around the home.After the inspector has confirmed everythingelse looks in order and you and the seller arestill intent on moving forward, it’s time to startsigning the paperwork and moving the dealalong.25

IT’S CLOSING TIMEYou’re on the cusp of closing the deal and owningyour very own home but it’s important to payattention to all of the minor details that need to behandled in order to make the purchase official.Thankfully, your real estate agent can help youwith these tasks, like facilitating paperworkbetween your mortgage lender and signing therequisite forms.Of all times during the home search process, thisis the one when it’s absolutely vital to double-check every document and agreement to makesure you and the seller are on the same page.Many deals fall through at the last minute due tomiscommunication, so work with your agentdiligently to get the deal past the finish line in atimely and efficient manner.26

HANDLE THE LOGISTICSThe deal is done. You’ve started moving yourthings into your new residence. The one finalhurdle to leap? Setting up all of your utilities,getting your mail sent to your new address,and, more generally speaking, settling in toyour new abode. As with the closing process,though, this isn’t something you have to (orshould) go through alone. A top-notch realestate agent sticks around for his clients tomake sure the transition to their new propertiesis a smooth, headache-free one.Moreover, a quality agent keeps in touch withtheir clients and checks in to see theirprogress made with their homes and how theirfamilies are doing.27

FOR MORE INFORMATIONCall Elevate Realty Group at the numberbelow and we can help! We have over30 agents with years of experience inresidential, commercial and land realestate sales.Randall@elevaterelatygroup.com817-736-575728

feasible monthly home loan payment would look like. Aside from your finances, also factor in payments for things like home insurance, property taxes, and, depending on where you buy, homeowners/condo association fees or flood insurance. The silver lining to taking on these payments is you may be eligible for some tax deductions for items like

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