Buying real estate? At first glance, this process is complex and daunting. However, armed with the right knowledge, the process of buying real estate can be an enjoyable and rewarding experience. Don’t be afraid. The information here can keep this from happening to you.
Make sure you know who your real estate agent represents in a property purchase. It is legal in many cases for a realtor to represent both parties in a real estate purchase. This means you need to know exactly who is dealing with who, so you know whose interests are being protected in the deal.
You will want to get pre-qualified for a mortgage loan before you start shopping for a house, to help you determine the price range in which you should be shopping. It will give you an amount that you will be able to afford so you know how expensive of a home you should look for.
When looking for financing, don’t be afraid to shop around. Different lenders may offer you different interest rates, or have other perks for specific buyers. Local credit unions especially may be able to offer you better rates than a national bank, if you already live or work in the area.
Your real estate agent has advised you to go through the process of getting pre-qualified for a home mortgage loan and you are wondering why this suggestion has been made. There are several good reasons to follow this advice. By being pre-approved for a loan, you know what price range you can afford and will not waste time looking at properties outside of your budget. Being pre-qualified also lets the seller know that not only are you serious about purchasing a home, you can afford it too.
When purchasing a home, put down at least twenty percent of the house’s selling price as your down payment. If you put down less than this amount, you will usually be need to purchase private mortgage insurance (PMI). This fee is around half of a percent, which would be about $1000 a year on a $200,000 house.
Whether you are buying or selling a home, don’t underestimate how long a sale actually takes to go through. Just because an offer has been made doesn’t mean that the ball is rolling yet. The seller may hesitate on accepting the offer. The buyer may have trouble selling his current home. Either party may have trouble with financing. The buyer may request that repairs are made and the seller may disagree. However long you may think the process is going to take, add another two or three months to be safe.
Get a home protection plan before you close on your property. Particularly if the residence is a little older, this plan will help in the event that an air conditioner, stove, oven or water heater breaks. It typically lasts for a year and covers most types of mechanical breakdowns.
If there are outdoor power lines in the backyard or very close by to a home that you are looking into, pass up on this home. You do not want there to be thunderstorm or hurricane and have the power lines fall into your yard. That can cause a lot of damage and even hurt someone.
Determine how often you will be spending time in your vacation home, if you want to buy vacation real estate. If you are planning on renting it out, as well, calculate when you will rent and how much you are going to charge for rent. Always budget the annual cost of a vacation home and consider a different area or a smaller vacation property, if the annual costs will put you over your family budget.
Consider paying for the buyer’s post-move expenses. For example, you could hire a lawn service to cut the grass for a few months or hire someone to take care of the pool through the summer. Providing these services won’t be extremely expensive, and it could make the difference if someone is deciding between your property and another one.
If you are going to buy a home that needs remodeling, make sure that you do not need a permit. People do not realize that some areas require a homeowner to get a permit, before they are able to make home changes and repairs. You could get fined for doing these repairs without a permit.
Plan ahead when buying a house and purchase according to your needs and not just your wants. Do you plan on starting a family? Are there certain needs for family members? Take these into consideration before you buy.
When deciding if you can afford to buy a house or not, you have to keep in mind taxes and closing costs. Some property taxes are quite steep and range from around two hundred dollars or more a month. So even if the mortgage itself is in your budget, the added expenses might not be.
Do you know how long it should take to buy your first home? There are some buyers that look for years, but they generally aren’t motivated enough to buy. Typically, a motivated buyer will find a home within two weeks or even a few days. It depends on your agent.
Remember that foreclosure won’t stop you from buying another house in the future. If you have lost your home to foreclosure, it doesn’t mean that you will never be able to buy another home. While the foreclosure will remain on your credit report for seven years, the government-backed mortgage lenders may be prepared to offer you another home loan after three years. That being said, you have to be able to prove that your foreclosure was due to something such as illness or job loss.
As you can now tell, buying real estate can be easier than it seems. It does require you to do research and ask questions, but ultimately, it is all worthwhile. With these tips, you will be smarter when buying real estate.
