Seller Step 1

So you are ready to sell your home.. What should your do?
Step 1:
Getting Yourself ready to sell your home!
As a seller you have to start thinking that you are now the caretaker of your current home. By that I mean, you must care for the home but, not be attached to the home. Seller's need to remember that buyers are not buying your memories, just your 2 by 4's. You get to take all your memories with you.
If you have any special items that trigger these memories and you want to be able to take them with you, you need to take them down before the home is placed for sale. For example if you measured your kids growth on the frame of the door, take that piece of frame down and replace with a new piece. If you do not wish to remove the frame piece be prepared to paint over it.
If you have a special light fixture, take it down now and replace. The same goes for any other items, door knobs,pot racks,curtains,plants,trees and outside items as well.
This can seem over whelming and irritating. A lot of people do not want to see these items packed away until they are ready to move. If a buyer sees these items and they are attached to the walls or ground and there is nothing stating that they are reserved you can have problems at closing. You can also have problems selling the house if the buyer really wants the pot rack and light fixtures that they saw when they viewed the home.
Doing these things ahead of time just makes everything go smoother.

Buyers Steps 5 and 6

So you have your GOOD FAITH ESTIMATES. You have an idea what it is going to cost you, loan wise to purchase a home.

Here are the other cost in buying a home.

You will need a deposit usually 500-1500, depending on the price of the home. This is something that can be negotiated.

You need to have 300-500 dollars for inspections

ALL BUYERS SHOULD HAVE A HOME INSPECTION AND A PEST INSPECTION! IT IS VERY IMPORTANT. Realtors can tell you what is pretty and tell you about resale, but they usually can not tell you if the plumbing is working or if the attic has termites.

YOU ALSO MUST REMEMBER THAT YOU CAN NOT BUY ANYTHING MAJOR WHILE SHOPPING FOR A NEW HOME: NO NEW CARS, NO NEW TVS, NO NEW CHARGES ON CREDIT CARDS and NO NEW FURNITURE!

Step 6

Make a list of what you want. This will be an ideal list. You may not get everything on the list. If you are buying a home with someone have them make a seperate list and number them by most important on each list, then compare. Share each list with your Realtor, this list can change as time goes and as you see what you can get in your price range. Always remember that you have to start some where. This might not be your perfect home for the rest of your life, but as time goes by and you save more and as you create equity you can work your way to the perfect home. NEVER GO OVER YOUR BUDGET!! If you can not afford your ideal house and your are not willing to compromise then just save more money and wait until you feel you can afford exactly what you want.

Buyers Step 3 and 4.

So you made your budget and you where able to see how much you could spend on your New home. You have been saving for awhile and now you know the money in savings won't push your limits every month. You can stilll have heat in the winter and air conditioning in the summer.

Step 3 is to call you local bank.

You need to tell them how much of a note you want. Banks and lenders sometimes approve people for more than they can afford. Banks and lenders do not budget for toliet paper nor heat:)

Talk to the lender about different options. Ask alot of questions.. Never assume that you understand, if you are not clear ask again and again until you understand.

I reccommend to my clients that they go with a fixed rate, that way there are no surprises in a year or 2. It will be the same note every month. The only items that change would be out of the lenders control. Taxes and Insurances can go up and when they go up it will increase your note...

After you ask questions to your bank and you feel understand most of what is going on ask for a copy of your GOOD FAITH ESTIMATE. This is one of the most important documents, in my opinion, in buying a home. You should get a GOOD FAITH ESTIMATE for every loan option that the lender has discussed with you. This documents allows you to do a couple of things:

1. It shows you or should show you in black and white ALL the cost in buying your home. It will also show how much your new house note is going to be. This estimate should only be off by a little bit, not much. The estimate should only flexuate by the new homes taxes and insurance. You should share this document with your Realtor. They can negioate different items for you in the contract to buy the house based on your good faith. Step 4. Is to call another lender ( a brokerage). They can look at some different options through different lenders that some banks can not. You need to ask the same questions. the answer should be the same. make sure you get a GOOD FAITH ESTIMATE from them as well.

This GOOD FAITH ESTIMATE will also help you compare your bank's estimate to the other lenders.

Buyers Steps 1 and 2

So are you thinking about buying a home or has the media scared you from buying one? This blog will guide you through buying a home in this market or any market...

Owning a home is one of the greatest priviledges that an American has, but it is a lot of responsibility!

If you want to own a home and not a BILL now or in the future here is a list of items you should do and consider before you even begin looking for a home.

1. 
   
   
   
   Make a budget and be realistic

Include all the money you spend-- even extra money for fun--

Here is a sample work sheet.

Rent

Car Note

Gas

Car Insurance

Food

Fun

Credit Card Debit

Savings

Health Insurance

Utility bills

Daycare

education

2.Think about how much of a house note you can fit into your budget with out lossing the fun catogory
A good example is: If your rent is 600 and you feel you can pay 1200 in a house note then start placing 600 in a savings account. NEVER TOUCH THIS EXTRA 600 IN SAVINGS. Also include what you would normally but into savings each month
If you can do this then when you find the home you are looking for you will not be in house note shock.