Do you have a real estate question? You can contact me at Brenda@BrendaPooler.com and I will get the answer for you! What do I do first now that I want to buy a home? The first thing that you need to do is to determine how much you can afford and whether or not you qualify for a mortgage. The easiest way to do this is to speak to a loan officer. It will not cost you anything to find out. The lender can determine if you are eligible for a home loan and how much you will qualify for. That way we will shop in the correct price range without getting you excited about a property that is over your budget. I have a page on my website with three different lenders that I would recommend. Click on Recommended Lenders link on the left. Call all three if you want different opinions. Do not let them pull your credit rating until you are truly ready because everytime your credit is hit it lowers your credit score. You should also ask the lenders about this. What should I do to my house before listing it? Realtors know what buyers will be looking for when they view your home. So they can help identify what’s necessary and what is not. First impressions are lasting ones, whether they’re good or bad, and it starts at the curb. Invite your realtor to come to your house a few weeks before you would like to have it on the market. They should be able to walk through your home and give their expert opinion on what you need to do in order to get it ready. Even if you feel like it’s not ready for anyone to see it, your realtor’s advice could save you time and money. You could also consider having a pre-inspection done of your home. You might not be aware of the true condition of your home’s structural, termite, electrical, mechanical and plumbing assessment. It’s much better to find these things out, good or bad, before you list, rather than after a contract has been negotiated. What if I'm working with a realtor and go into an open house? Few homebuyers know that when they walk into an open house without their own real estate agent they are forteiting their opportunity to have their own represetative at no additional cost. An agent who is holding an open house is working for the seller. It is their job to sell the house with the best terms and the best price for the home seller. What this means for you is that any advice you may get from the agent is coming from someone who does not have your best interest in mind. The price of real estate listed for sale contains a fee for you to have your own representative. This is why the MLS is such a powerful tool. It is more than just a site for advertising property, it is an agreement between brokers to pay each other when they sell another’s listing. Understanding this, every home buyer should have an agent to help them search for homes, negotiate, and help with closing. Homebuyers who think real estate agents just show houses have not experienced the assistance of a real professional Realtor. Put yourself above the common home purchase and employ the services of a real Realtor at no additional costs. Understand and exploit the system to work for you. |