Buyers & Sellers
Buying a home is a unique experience for each individual. The search can be very exciting while at the same time fraught with fear. Whether you’re a first time home buyer in your own community or relocating, there is a great deal to become informed about. You need to understand financing, the state of the market and learn about the community neighborhoods. In addition you need to take time to clarify your wants and needs. Trying to be an expert in all these areas at once can be daunting.
I'm thinking about buying a home. Where do I start?
The first step in the plan for potential home buyers is a credit check. It's best to keep an eye on your credit reports so you can spot any mistakes and dispute them. Also, avoid running up high credit card bills in the months prior to buying a home. These two things will help you in the next phase of your game plan, pre-approval on a mortgage. A full-service lender will be able to help you with this portion of the plan. Pre-approval includes analyzing your income, assets and present debt to estimate how much house you can afford. This means the lender has committed to loaning you the money subject to the house you choose to buy. Being pre-approved for a loan will make you attractive to sellers because the contract won't be tied up with financial issues.
After you know how much you can spend, you are in the homestretch. This is the time for you to become familiar with neighborhoods and the features of a home. Educate yourself by visiting local real estate websites and viewing the inventory of listings. This is also the time for you to decide what you want and need in a home. A solid game plan needs a good coach. A Realtor® can help you through all steps of the plan, prepare you for any unforeseen problems, and eventually help you to buy the home of your dreams.
Why do I need a Realtor® to help me find a home with all of the technology and advertising available?
The Internet and newspaper ads are good places to start researching the current housing market. You can also find information to help answer many of your financing questions. Once you have looked at what's available to you, it's time to get a professional involved. You might spend hours scanning newspaper ads and home magazines, driving through neighborhoods looking for "for sale" signs, phoning on individual listings, and still miss the opportunity to see some of the best homes available. A professional Realtor® will save you time, money and make a wealth of information resources available.
What should I consider when I start to look for a home?
First, put together a list of features and benefits you want in a home. Think of such things as pricing, location, size, and amenities. If you can't get a home at the price you want with all the features you are looking for, figure out what features are most important to you and rank them in priority so you know what you're willing to sacrifice. Would you rather have a large kitchen and smaller bedrooms? Also consider your needs in the future. Maybe now is the time to buy a larger home rather than expanding a smaller home in the future. Your Realtor® can help you compare the price of homes with the features you are looking for or suggest alternate uses of space.
How do I choose between renting or buying?
Owning a home offers tax benefits as well as the freedom to make decisions about your home. Homeowners, unlike renters, can secure a fixed-rate loan and lock in their monthly payments and make investment plans knowing these expenses won't change substantially. However, rent can go up each year without the renter's input. Renters are at the whim of their landlord.
What do all of those abbreviations in the property ads mean?
If you find yourself stumbling to understand a description of a property, the following list should help you out. We have composed a list of the most frequently used abbreviations.
| BA |
bath |
| FDR |
formal
dining room |
| BR |
bedroom |
| LR |
living
room |
| MBR |
master
bedroom |
| DR |
dining
room |
| FP,
frplc, fplc |
fireplace |
| FR |
family
room |
| WBFP |
woodburning
fireplace |
| LL |
lower
level |
| entr |
entrance |
| grmet
kit |
gourmet
kitchen |
| dk |
deck |
| pvt |
private |
| gar |
garage |
| pwdr
rm |
powder
room |
| brk |
brick |
| upr |
upper
floor |
| HDW,
HWF, Hdwd |
hardwood floors |
|
As a buyer, do I have the right to obtain past information about the property I am interested in purchasing?
Yes. Sellers are required to disclose all known defects associated with the property. With the help of your Realtor®, you can find out what has happened to the property in the past. You should make careful observations, examine the property and request or otherwise obtain any records important to you. These requests should be in writing. If you decide to put an offer on a home, it is important to have a professional inspection completed before closing.
If I am thinking about buying a newly-constructed house, why do I need a Realtor®?
Building a home often requires hours of research and decision-making. You must first decide where you want to build and which builder you want to work with. After these initial decisions, you still have many choices such as, floor plans, building materials, and fixtures. Personalization and freedom of choice are some of the benefits of building a home, but they can also be the stressful part. Using a Realtor® means you have a professional. Someone with experience to guide you through the process. You'll still get to make the choices on your own. A Realtor® will be there to help, with your best interests in mind. Buyer representation comes at no cost to you.
How can I prepare my house for sale?
The selling process usually starts months before a property is actually put on the market. It is a good idea to look at your home through the eyes of a potential buyer. This will help you decide what needs to be cleaned, painted, repaired or tossed out. Your Realtor® can help you make these decisions and list your home at a fair price when it's ready.
What is the MLS, and how does it benefit me?
A Multiple Listing Service, or MLS, is a database that makes it easier to reach a large number of buyers and increase your property's exposure. It is a system that entitles brokers to an agreed upon commission for settlement of a house. For example, if your house is listed with one broker and another finds the buyer who purchases it, they split the commission. You benefit because more people have an interest in selling your house and your home is exposed to more buyers since Realtor®s have access to MLS.
How can I find out what my home is worth?
Your Realtor® has thorough knowledge of the current real estate market and will prepare a professional market analysis of your home to help you set a competitive price. Your Realtor® will also help you "stage" your home for showing to buyers. It is extremely important to view your home as a potential buyer. Professional staging features your home in the best light, increasing it's marketability.
As a seller, what do I have to disclose about the condition of my property?
The best policy is truth when it comes to disclosing the condition of your property. You must disclose all known material defects of the property. Normally, these are noted on a Seller Disclosure Form (SDF). This is a form completed by the seller and Realtor®. If an item is not covered on the SDF, you must still make disclosures about known material defects. Even if a matter has been repaired, you should still disclose the previous defect and a report of the repairs completed. By disclosing all problems up front, you can avoid any surprises that many times provoke a lawsuit.
When is the best time to put my home on the market?
Peak selling seasons change from year to year and sometimes weather has a lot to do with it. Often early spring and early fall are the prime listing seasons because houses tend to show better in those months than they do in the heat of the summer or the cold of winter. Keep in mind there are more houses on the market during the prime seasons, so you'll have more competition. You shouldn't base your decision to sell on what season it is because each selling situation is unique.
| ABR |
Accredited
Buyer Representative |
| CCIM |
Certified
Commercial Investment Member |
| CNHS |
Certified
New Homes Specialist |
| CRB |
Certified
Real Estate Brokerage Manager |
| CRS |
Certified
Residential Specialist |
| GRI |
Graduate
Realtor® Institute |
| NAR |
National
Board of Realtor®s Member |
| RRS |
Residential
Relocation Specialist |
