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Real Estate Tips For You!

Do These Real Estate Tips Really Apply to YOU? 

I've learned these tips through my experience as a REALTOR^®. But I know that your situation might be different. That's why I'm here. 

It's my job to personally advise homebuyers and sellers. Ask me if any tip that I've included here really applies to your situation.

Do any of these tips raise questions for you? Didn't find what you're looking for? Let me know! I am happy to answer ANY questions. It's my job! There's no obligation, and I promise to get back to you quickly... 

Affordable Real Estate

Are you still writing those checks every month to keep a roof over your head, but which don't gain you any equity? If you are still renting because you think you still need a fortune to get into your own home, you should investigate today's real estate market.

Interest rates are still low, which means very affordable payments, perhaps in the range of your current monthly rent. Qualifying for a loan was never easier, especially since lenders have increased in large numbers and are competing for your business. Even if you couldn't qualify to buy a home just a few years ago, you may be able to qualify today. Home prices today are relatively stable, so you might be surprised at the number of homes available in your price range. There are a number of government programs and mortgage packages which require small down payments, in the three to five percent range--and we haven't even started talking about the tax advantages! Think about it the next time you write a rent check.

Step 1, Get Your Finances in Order

Your credit reports are an ongoing look at how you manage your finances. You must know exactly what your credit reports say about your financial history before you apply for a home loan. Why? Because they play an important role in the mortgage approval process and in determining the interest rate and other loan terms that a lender offers you.

If you haven't looked at your credit reports, you might be surprised at their contents, because errors are common.

Step 2, Get Familiar with the Mortgage Industry

Finding the right loan and lender is crucial to your home buying success. It's up to you to determine which lender is best for your needs, and it's always a good idea to have at least a bit of background about the loan process before you talk to a lender.

Step 3, Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage

Do you know how much house you can afford? Probably not, unless you've talked with a lender.

Consider this scenario. A home seller gets two similar offers. One is accompanied by a letter from the buyer's bank that states she is pre-approved for a mortgage in the amount of the offer. The other has no supporting documents. Which offer do you think will considered first?

Step 4, Determine Your Wants and Needs

Buying a house isn't as difficult as you might think, even if you're short on funds, but the process will go a lot smoother if you get familiar with your real estate market and narrow down your wants and needs before you start looking at homes.

Step 5, Learn to Work with Real Estate Agents

Real estate agents represent buyers, sellers, or both--and in some states they can work as neutral facilitators for either party. It's essential to understand agent duties and loyalties before you make that first phone call.

Step 6, Start Searching for a Home

Your agent will give you multiple listing sheets to study. I'm sure you'll also pick up House For Sale magazines and read classified ads in your local newspapers. You'll probably spend time surfing the Internet for homes. You might even plan afternoon drives to preview neighborhoods. Those are all excellent ways to see what's available. Here are some tools to help you narrow your search.

Step 7, Handle Pre-Offer Tasks

Deciding whether or not you want to buy a house involves a look at its structure and its features, but there are many other topics that are every bit as important to your purchase.

Step 8, Make an Offer

There's no one set of instructions that can cover all the differences in real estate laws and customs that exist throughout the United States, so the mechanics of making an offer and its specific contingencies depend greatly on your location. However, there are some tips that can help you fine-tune your offer, no matter where you live.

Step 9, Home Inspections and Other Tests

In some states, home inspections are accomplished before the final offer to purchase; in other states, inspections take place after an offer is finalized. No matter when you do them, it's critical to decide which inspections and tests you want to perform.

Talk with your real estate agent or other advisor to find out when inspections should be handled and if additional types of testing are important for your specific area.

Step 10, Avoiding and Correcting Last Minute Problems

As your closing date nears, everyone involved in your real estate transaction should check its progress on a daily basis, because staying on top of things means you'll know immediately if there's a problem that must be dealt with. Here's a bit of information that focuses on a few common problems that home buyers must deal with before they close on a house.

Step 11, You're on the Way to Closing

Most of the problems are behind you now and you're on your way to closing, also called settlement, the event that transfers ownership of the property to you. Just a few more things to learn, a few more things to do, and you're there!

Ready?... Call me and let's find your dream home!

CENTURY 21 Beal, Inc.
404 H University Dr. E
College Station, TX 77840

 Equal housing opportunity.
"All information provided is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should be independently verified."