For Buyers
Buying a home is an exciting time in one's life. Making the smart move of choosing a REALTOR® is your first step to ensure that your new home and community meets your needs. My services and experience range from helping you obtain financial aid to helping you find the home that best suits you and your family. For your convenience, I also provide listings by email. I pride myself on repeat business and hope you'll come to understand why.
How I Can Help
Before you start looking
Closing Costs
- Provide a thorough initial consultation to identify your wants and needs.
- Outline a detailed plan of how we will set out to accomplish your goals.
- Assure that you see all the properties in the areas you are interested in, that meet your criteria.
- Guide you through the entire home buying process, from finding the best homes to look at, to getting the best financing.
- Make sure you don't pay too much for your new home and help you avoid costly mistakes.
- Answer all of your questions about the local market area, including schools, neighborhoods, the local economy, and more.
Before You Start Looking For Your New Home:
- Check your credit rating. Straighten out any errors before you begin the process.
- Determine a comfortable monthly budget for your new purchase, including your monthly payment, taxes, homeowner's insurance, utility costs, and possible new commuting costs. You should also factor in your down payment as well--3.5%, 5%, 10% or greater.
- Investigate the menu of loan programs available that meets your needs. Ask your lender to suggest which program meets your goals long term as well. Next, get pre-approved. This is different from pre-qualification. This invloves submitting all necessary documentation so you know the amount of purchase power you have.
- Choose a REALTOR® that you trust and who understands your needs.
- Determine what neighborhoods might be best matches your needs.
- Identify important features/criteria you need your new home to have.
- Lender fees include charges for loan processing, underwriting, preparation and establishing an escrow account. The lender will provide a copy of the fees in your "good faith estimate."
- Third-party fees include charges for title insurance, title search, and other inspections such as home, radon gas, lead paint, and pest.
- Government fees include deed recording/filing fees; and state & local mortgage taxes.
- Escrow and interest fees include homeowner's insurance, loan interest, real estate taxes, and private mortgage insurance (if your down payment is under approximately 20% of what you are borrowing)
Find out how much your closing costs could be. These will vary from lender to lender, depending on how many "points" you are charged, and by what loan program you choose.