Buyers

First we’ll find out how much home you can buy

When you first start to look for a home, you should be free to concentrate on your search, with no doubts whether you can qualify for the mortgage to buy the home you find. I will be able to provide some idea of what you can afford, but the smartest thing to do is to discuss financing with an expert. I will introduce you to a mortgage lender who can go over your financial and credit situation and determine the financing options which best suit you.

There are more financing options available today than ever before. Many of these "products" allow buyers to purchase a home with relatively little or no down payment. Currently interest rates or at or near the lowest they have been in the last 30 years. This will allow you to buy more home than you otherwise could.

I highly recommend that you go a step further and "Apply before you Buy". Being "Pre-approved" for a mortgage may be very beneficial as in today’s market, we are seeing many cases of multiple contract offers on a home. If you have been "Pre-approved," your offer will definitely be looked upon more favorably, particularly by Sellers or listing agents who have had contracts fall through because Buyers were unable to obtain financing.

Then, I’ll help you narrow down your search.

I will spend time with you going over your needs and wants to help us both get a clear idea of what, when and where. We will discuss the type of home you would like including style, number of bed and bathrooms, other desired features, and whether you want a "turn-key" solution or if you are willing to do some fix up work yourself. Do you prefer a larger lot or a smaller low maintenance lot? How far are you willing to commute and what tradeoffs might be acceptable?

Before we actually go out to look, I will spend time at the computer and will show you pictures of the various homes available as well as printouts of the listings. This will enable us to eliminate physically looking at many homes. Once we have selected a reasonable number, we will start to actually visit the selected homes. I will make appointments as necessary and plan an itinerary. If we do not find the right home in our first outing(s), I will periodically review any new properties or price changes in the market which meet the agreed criteria and communicate these to you either face to face, verbally, by facsimile or via e-mail. In the meantime, if you should happen to find any home that interests you in a newspaper ad, on the internet, or just from driving around, call me right away, and I will arrange to obtain information and/or to show the home to you.


Then, I’ll help you prepare the right offer and negotiate until a contract is ratified.

Once you have found the "Right Home", I will assist you in developing the offer. I will research the MRIS data base for recent sales and active listings of similar properties in the community and to the extent possible make eyeball comparisons. Whether you offer full price, a "low ball" price or anywhere in between is up to you, but I will discuss the realities of the current market and the possible ramifications of any offer, as well as structuring the offer not only regarding the sales price, but any "Seller Contribution" towards your closing costs. My job is to present any offer you may wish to make. The Seller may accept, reject, or counter your offer. I will assist you in evaluating any such counter and in determining an appropriate response. Again after receiving the Seller’s counter offer, you are then free to accept, reject or counter as well. I will also assist you with the other terms of the contract including such items as the down payment, the deposit, financing, home inspection, radon inspection, and other contingencies.

Finally, I’ll help you prepare for the Settlement

I will coordinate with the lender, settlement company, appraiser, termite inspector, home inspector, surveyor, and with the listing agent and seller as needed to insure everything is completed and there are no hang-ups. I will go with you to the home inspection and assist in preparing a release of the home inspection contingency which provides that sellers complete any repairs that are necessary. I will assist in negotiation regarding such repairs if needed, and I will accompany you on the final walk-through just prior to settlement to check on completion of such repairs.

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