First Time
Buyer Tips
Your first step as a first-time home buyer is to speak to a
Lender:
- 1. To determine what type of financing you should use.
- 2.
How much money you will need for a down-payment
- 3. How much you can spend
on a home.
An experienced mortgage lender will guide you on what type of financing would work best for your circumstances.
They will determine this through your credit score, the amount of down payment you have, along with a host of other things.
We have our favorite lenders. All of which have over 15 years in the mortgage industry,
seasoned to perfection! If you need a lender we will
certainly send you their information and you can begin shopping for a
loan-with competent professionals.
Once you know the amount you can comfortably afford, search
for a Realtor to represent you in your first-time home buyer
home purchase transaction.
Choose ONE
Realtor who clearly understands your goals and objectives and who will
represent only your interests. Hire that person as your buyer's agent.
It is a free service to you, the homebuyer.
If you call the Realtor who has the
property listed, (the one on the sign) they represent the Seller. While
this can be done, don’t you think you’d be better off with someone on
just your side?
Our site offers all listings, by all agents. We are able to show you all
listings by all agents, and offer you exclusive and personal,
Buyers agency representation. It is a free service offered by the listing agent through the
sellers agreement with them. So, this representation IS FREE to you.
There is no need to go it alone.
If you are not sure who to hire, hire us:)
Or, ask friends for referrals, interview Realtors and ask for
references. We take pride in our local area knowledge, housing
know how and negotiating skills. Ask for references and read some of our
testimonials....we have been selling Charlotte real estate full time since 1994!
Use a full-time Realtor and don't feel obligated into using your cousin who sells real estate part-time.
We can pay your cousin a referral fee, but if you use your cousin and the deal goes bad, so will your relationship with your cousin!
That's long term, the "deal" isn't.
Go ahead-get familiar with the market. Start shopping online. As your
Realtor, we can set up a customized search for you that is fine-tuned to
your needs. It gets rid of those homes you have no desire for and
is far
more accurate in its details.
If your home needs a master on the main, and a three car garage,
no problem; how about all four bedrooms and the laundry room
upstairs-less than two years old-no problem. Tell us what your specific
needs are, and we will set the search up for you.
It will be updated daily!
Do a little shopping from home and narrow down your possibilities before
you get in the car to actually visit homes.
Tips and Tricks for First-Time Home Buyers Start shopping in person.
Ask questions.
How long has it
been on the market? What is the age and number of layers of the roof?
Have any major components been updated (heat, air, electric, plumbing,
hot water heater) - these can be costly repairs down the road, so don’t
fall in love with a house and ignore the sagging roof!
Fall in love with your future home and write an offer.
Follow your Realtor’s advice as to how much to
offer, how much earnest money to put down, what to ask for in repairs
and Seller’s concessions.
Learn about the
components of an offer and how to get yours accepted. |
Don't By Shy! Call Us~704-975-1733
It's a fine time to buy Charlotte real estate. Call us and we will work with you to secure the home of your dreams!
We have been serving Charlotte since 1994-Hire experience and get a deal to boot!
Congratulations! It's a Contract!!!
Yes, it is truly exciting! Enjoy the moment!
Easy Trigger, we still have miles
to go before we sleep on this one. We are
still missing important links to a popped bottle of bubbly. Just because you have an accepted offer doesn’t mean the deal is done.
Here is why
I’m throwing a little rain on your parade.
You went for an aggressive loan
package based on your credit. Just because you can afford the payments
doesn’t automatically get you a loan.
There will be a
heightened look at your credit worthiness that mirrors a Top Secret
clearance ( sorry ..that’s how things are done in this new era of home
buying)
Secondly there is this thing that
requires you not to put “goo-on-your-shoe” during the underwriting
process.
Defined simply, don’t go crazy with any new credit
purchases.
Keep your credit stagnant until after you close on
your house.
NO new cars, TV's, furniture, or any big ticket items on
credit during this period.
Underwriters will slam your loan if this
happens and you may end up feeling solo at your new home parade of
excitement.
This is the “goo- on- the- shoe moment” that keeps you from
your property.
Wait for the inspection reports
on the property to come back from the Home inspector.
You don’t
know if the property has some major defect that could cost thousands of
dollars to fix, making it not the arrangement you thought you were
getting into.
And lastly remember to curb your
words.
Emotion can lead to unplanned statements that cause a
mole hill to turn into a mountain.
Caution all my sellers and buyers to
remember that until this property is officially closed, and the monies
have exchanged hands, all that exists is an agreement to do something.
This is nothing more than a holding pattern until all issues are washed out.
I know, I know, these are exciting times.
Just chill out with the bubbly and wait for a signal from your Realtor®
for high-fives and celebrations.
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