The Essential Buying Guide
Leverage the Power of the Internet
By using a combination of MLS searches and 3rd party property search sites, we can help you hunt for real estate deals from day one.
These property searches will also help you get a better idea of the size of the mortgage you’ll need to live in the neighborhood or area of your choice.
We can also run email marketing campaigns aimed directly at our network of contacts in order to help you find properties not publicly listed. These could reveal amazing deals impossible to find otherwise.
Find The Right Mortgage For You
You should always get a good understanding of the numbers, such as down payment, monthly payment, taxes and insurance.
Interest rates from top lenders tend to be pretty similar and even a tenth of a percent in a fixed-rate loan makes a huge difference in the long run.
The right lender will also help you better understand which financing programs are available to you as a buyer.
As always, our team of real estate professionals can help you find the right lender and loan.
Be the first to make an offer
The phrase “You snooze, you lose” is especially relevant for real estate buyers.
That’s because the buyer that makes the highest offer doesn't always get the home. In many cases, it’s the one that makes the first offer.
If the seller is in a rush to sell, and the first offer is a good one, it’s quite possible the seller may simply accept the offer on the spot.
So when looking for a great deal, you must be ready to make the FIRST offer.
To make sure that happens, you MUST get your finances in order. Before you start making offers, make sure to be pre-approved by the bank.
And once you’re pre-approved, don’t delay in making offers. Work with our team to establish the parameters for a good deal and as soon as a deal that meets those requirements hits the market, you'll be ready to make an offer.
Also, as you wait for a great deal to hit the market, we can keep an eye out for properties that have been sitting on the market for a long time. The owners of these homes may be more willing to sell at a discount, because they’ve been paying a mortgage for the entire time it’s been listed.
Seller to pay towards closing costs
The buyer is typically expected to pay for closing costs, (especially those related to the origination of the loan), although it’s not a law written in stone. Like pretty much everything in real estate, closing costs are negotiable.
Home sellers are keenly aware of how much their neighbor's homes sold for, and would hate to sell their home for less. Not just because they don’t want to lose more of their earnings, but also because there’s always an ego element attached to any home sale.
If the sellers are adamant against bringing down their asking price, we can negotiate for the seller to contribute towards the closing costs.
Not only does this allow the seller to save face and keep a larger final price, but it could also save you thousands of dollars.
Hire an Amazing Real Estate Agent!
As a home buyer, there is absolutely NO reason why you shouldn’t hire the best possible real estate agent in your hyperlocal area.
First of all, hiring a buyer’s agent won’t cost you a dime. That’s because the home seller is the one that pays compensation to both the agents.
Second, I bring a wealth of experience, knowledge and expertise, to find you the right home at the right price. I can use those skills to help negotiate a far better price.
Finally, my services offer a buffer of protection. Thanks to my experience and expertise, I can see toxic deals a mile away and can warn you against them. We can also help you avoid common pitfalls in real estate which you could stumble upon.
In Conclusion
Though it may take effort and patience, if you work together with a knowledgeable and experienced real estate agent, and know where to look, you’ll also be able to find some of the best possible deals in the area.