Home Buyers Guide
Why use a REALTOR®?
We know the local market and can quickly narrow down a few areas where you are likely to find your home at the price you want.
We can save you time by doing a lot of the legwork. By knowing your needs, we can eliminate homes that don’t meet your criteria.
We will make appointments to view homes with you and assist with determining the pros and cons of each home.
We have access to the multiple listing service (MLS), a service that provides access to literally thousands of homes on the market.
We can also provide information about, and set appointments to view, almost any property listed for sale. A home does not have to be listed by a REALTOR® in order to get detailed information or an appointment to view.
When you find the home you want to purchase, a REALTOR® will guide you through the negotiation, legalities and details of purchasing a home.
There are probably few things in life that are as exciting, or as nerve-racking, as the search for a home. All the good and bad emotions seem to coincide when the home searching begins. Don't worry, this is a normal reaction, and is found in first-time home buyers, as well as seasoned home buyers.
Should you use an Agent?
One of the first decisions you will need to make is whether you want
to do your house hunting on your own, or buy using a distinguished, REALTOR®.
From your home search to the closing table we will assist you through
the buying process. A REALTOR® assists buyers in the
following areas:
- Save time in your search
- Sales price negotiation
- Filing correct paperwork
- Obtaining title insurance
- Securing a trustworthy lender
- Ensuring a seamless closing process
- All this at no cost to the BUYER!
Why own a home?
- When you carefully choose a home that you can afford, the outcome can be significant: By paying your mortgage, you are building equity in a place of your own. Equity is the portion of the property that you actually own. Equity increases by making your monthly payments, and appreciation of your home's value over time.
- Tax Advantages: You may be entitled to a tax deduction as a benefit of home ownership. Check with your accountant for more information.
- Once an owner, always an owner: A first home often leads to a better second home. Owning and properly maintaining the property also offers a sense of accomplishment.
- Retirement Savings: Long-term home ownership can provide beneficial retirement security through the growth of equity.
How to find the right house
Once the decision to buy a home has been made, take the time to prepare before you go on your home search. For example, much of the information on this Web Site should be very familiar to you before you go looking for homes. Yes, it is very tempting to rush out and actually look at homes, but to do so without full preparation can be both disastrous and expensive.
- Get your financial house in order first! We can't stress this enough—it will save you an enormous amount of time, aggravation & heartache.
- Determine what your budget will comfortably allow and stick to it. Don't spend yourself into a "house poor" situation.
- Get pre-approved for a mortgage. This will give you a clear idea of the amount a lender will approve for you, make your home buying process easier and save a lot of time later.
- Get familiar with the variety of housing types available to narrow your search.
- Determine your minimum requirements as well as any additional features.
- Take note of any items that you would not prefer in a house.
- Determine the location (schools, work, public transportation, etc.)
- Familiarize yourself with the many different mortgage processes.
- Choose any REALTOR® that will make you feel comfortable and who will understand your needs and wants.
- Don't just buy a home for your current needs. Make sure to account for future considerations, like children.
- While you are looking, use a scorecard to compare the homes you have seen. A scorecard can be a great tool when it comes time for comparisons and for remembering which home had which features!
- Get familiar with the inspection process—especially the personal inspection aspect, making it easy to
- weed out unacceptable houses quickly.
- Maintain your perspective—and keep your cool! You may find an acceptable house on the first day--or the tenth. The important thing is to get the home that is best for your needs!
Information appearing on this site has been produced by or obtained primarily from WEICHERT, REALTORS® - First Tier and its representatives. Such information is deemed accurate, but not guaranteed. WEICHERT, REALTORS® - First Tier may provide links to other Internet sites only for the convenience of its web users. WEICHERT, REALTORS® - First Tier is not responsible for the availability or content of these external sites, nor does WEICHERT, REALTORS® - First Tier endorse, warrant or guarantee the products, services and/or information described and/or offered at these other Internet sites.