Category Archives: Buyer’s Resources

When you are ready to purchase a new home, you need to consider not only the appeal of potential homes, but also how those homes will appreciate or depreciate in value over the time that you own the home.  There are a number of factors to consider when evaluating the future worth of your dream home. Knowing what to look for in your home search will allow you to reap the benefits of your investment in the future. Investment may seem like the wrong word to use when talking about a home purchase, but anyone who has purchased a home… Read More »

Before you make an offer on a home, you obviously need to know what the home has to offer in terms of location, size, number of rooms and amenities.  If you are buying for the first time, you may not realize that you also need to pay close attention to the list of comparables provided by your realtor.  If you don’t have such a list, ask for one.  Also, find out how the homes in the same neighborhood are faring in terms of value and sales prices.  You can often find this information online,  and you can always ask your… Read More »

If you have decided that buying a rental property will help you improve your financial future, then you have already considered the pros and cons of becoming a landlord.  But are you adequately prepared to purchase your first investment property?  Do you know what to look for in an investment property? And do you know what features make an investment property as profitable as possible?  If not, don’t be alarmed. Many first-time investors find themselves asking the very same questions.  Fortunately, with a little thought and a lot of research, you can make a good decision and find the perfect… Read More »

When you decide that it is time to buy a home, there are dozens of things that you will need to take into consideration before you even start shopping around.  You need to know how much you can comfortably afford, and how much your lender is willing to let you borrow toward the purchase of a home.  You also need to know how much of a down payment you can have on hand when you find the home you would like to purchase.  Furthermore, you need to make sure that you are ready and willing to take on the many… Read More »

Shopping for a Home? Skip the Headaches! Many first-time buyers are unfamiliar with the process when they start looking for a home. Realtors know that the best clients are those who have done their research before starting the process of shopping for a home, because it makes the process much smoother and there are generally very few surprises.  Nothing is more critical for a buyer than being prepared for just about anything. This holds true whether you are planning to by a small one-bedroom home or a pricey gated home in a beachfront community.  Knowing how the buying process works… Read More »

Attention Renters: Are You Missing Out on More than Just Cash? Post this question to any homeowner who used to be a renter, and you’ll invariably get the response of “Yes!”  Sure, there is a time in nearly everyone’s life (college, newly married, etc.) when renting a home is much more cost-effective and convenient than owning a home.  But when you stop and think about how much money is wasted by people who consistently write large rent checks each month, you begin to see why long-term renting is generally a bad financial decision.  As with every rule of thumb, there… Read More »

Everything First-Time Home Buyers Need to Know As you consider buying your first home, you undoubtedly have hundreds of questions about the process. These questions begin as soon as you start thinking about moving and continue far beyond the closing. What should I expect? How can I prepare? Am I ready to own a home?  These questions are perfectly normal and are to be expected from first-time buyers.  In order to make the home-buying process as easy and smooth as possible, you need to know exactly what to expect .  By reviewing the following information, you will be well prepared… Read More »

How to Haggle When Buying a New Home In today’s busy world, most people are not willing to haggle over prices.  Automobile manufacturers are rising to the challenge by offering no-haggle pricing on their mid-range products.  “Give the consumer the ability to make a large purchase simply, and you both walk away happy” seems to be the attitude that the auto industry is adopting. Considering that a car dealership was one of the last places where a buyer could haggle over pricing and features, people are losing the ability to haggle – period. What does this mean in the world… Read More »

How to Minimize or Avoid Paying a Down-Payment Today’s homebuyers, particularly first-time buyers, are looking for mortgage programs that provide convenience and flexibility.  One of the most commonly sought programs is the 100% financing, zero-down loan.  Lenders offer these loan programs, but it is truly buyer beware in most cases, because the lender may require PMI (private mortgage insurance) or other security measure and fees. If your income and credit will be accepted by a rental agency for an apartment, then you can get approved to buy a home with no down payment.  The reason that many people choose to… Read More »

Making an Offer on a New Home It makes little difference whether you are a veteran home buyer or a first-timer.  When it comes time to make an offer on a home, how do you know that what you are offering is a fair price? And how do you know when the seller is asking too much? Realtors understand the frustration associated with determining the right amount for your offer.  There are many things to consider, and there really is no standard value calculation.  Consider that two identical homes on identical pieces of land, located on either end of a… Read More »

Shopping for a Home in the Winter Many potential home buyers decide to buy in the winter. This seems like a bad idea to many people, but sometimes it is very wise to look for your next home when the snow is falling. Why? Well, the top reason is that you face less competition among potential buyers.  Most people spend the winter preparing for the holidays, celebrating and staying inside where it is warm.  When you look for a home in the winter, there is no doubt that you will be shopping among fewer buyers than you would if you… Read More »

How to Find Your Next Home Whether you are a first-time homebuyer or a seasoned expert, buying a home is a huge commitment in terms of time and money.  But, much more than that, the process of finding a home that perfectly fits your lifestyle should be fun. Realtors know that buyers who get excited while looking for a home are more successful at finding the right home for their lifestyle and tend to enjoy the process almost as much as the realtors do. Simplify the process of finding your next home by heeding these tips that will help you… Read More »

Finding Bargains in Foreclosed Properties Bargain hunters and first-time home buyers alike almost always have questions about the value of buying foreclosed homes. Realtors have access to listings of foreclosed homes being sold at prices that are extremely competitive in today’s housing market.  When realtors show potential buyers foreclosed properties, they should make every effort to convey the difficulties that a new home owner may experience once the sale is complete.  If you are considering the purchase of a foreclosure property that may be too large of a commitment for your lifestyle, a good realtor will be honest and share… Read More »