Tips For Home Searching
3 Tips for Home Searching Online Now that you’ve got your wants vs. needs list in hand, the fun really begins! It’s time to talk about narrowing down those listings and deciding which ones to see in person. First up, let’s talk about best practices for searching online. No doubt you know the sites (Realtor.com, Zillow, Redfin, Trulia), but how can you get the results you want? A few tips: Use the search filters but not too much. You don’t want to restrict your search so tightly that you only have a handful of homes to view. Keeping your wants vs. needs list in mind, expand your geographic search, and add 25-50K to your max price since homes often sell under asking.If you find something that catches your eye, check out the Google street view. Online pictures can be deceiving so a virtual ‘walk down the street’ will give you a better sense of the house and surrounding area.Don’t shy away from a home because it is “pending” or “under contract.” Pending contracts do fall through, so keep it on your list especially if it checks all your boxes. As a side note for the third tip, please message me as quickly as possible with homes you like as in this market – homes are going under contract/pending faster than I can write offers! And while you don’t want to shy away from them when it comes to creating your list, don’t get your hopes up either. We have an incredibly fast moving market and inventory is not lasting these days. (Good news if you have a home to sell though!) After you’ve found a few homes you like, jot down the MLS number and address. Shoot the list to your agent and let him or her call the listing agents to gather pertinent info and gauge the seller’s motivation. At this point, it’s time to look at the calendar and find a chunk of time to tour the homes on your shortlist. Carve out more time than you think you’ll need since you don’t want to be rushed if you find a home that may be “the one.” Also you can do all your searching online right here on my website. It is accurate, easy to use and I’ll have all your information ready for when you are ready to start seeing homes. You can even create and account and save homes, as well as save and adjust your search criteria as needed! Have you been searching online for your next home? Find something you keep going back to? Send me a message and let’s go have a look! If you’ve been working through the 90 Day to Homeowner Challenge, way to go! You’re SO close to knowing all there is to know about the home buying process. And who knows? 2021 may be the year your homeownership dreams become your long-awaited reality. Have you been searching online for your next home? Find something you keep going back to? Shoot me a message, and let’s get you inside that home. Can’t wait to hear from you soon! If you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to email or simply text or call me at 907-232-2807. I’m always more than happy to help!
Wants vs Needs List
Wants vs Needs List To help focus your house hunting, we’re going to make a wants vs. needs list. Needs are the non-negotiable features; the features you simply must have in your next home. Wants are the ones you’d like to have, but you can add or change down the road. So grab a pen and paper or your phone and favorite note-taking app and don’t worry—I’m here to help keep the two categories straight. Or even better, feel free to join our 90 Days Homeowner Challenge and the 90 Days Homeowner Group to grab things just like this for FREE! Keep reading — I just might include the freebie for you at the end of this post. Needs might be things like: Enough square footage for you and your family Sufficient bedrooms and bathroomsFirst floor master bedroomClose proximity to work and schoolAttached two-car garageGrassy yard for children’s or pet’s play area Wants will look more like: Specific paint or exterior colorPool, jacuzzi, or other exterior water featureFenced-in backyardSpecific carpet, hardwood floors, or tileKitchen amenities like countertops and appliancesWalk-in shower or double bathroom vanity in master Don’t feel like your first draft has to be your final draft—and above all else, remember you can’t change the lot, the location, or the price you paid so spend a good amount of time thinking through those three before moving on. If you’ve been working through the 90 Day to Homeowner Challenge, be sure to fill out the page with your wants and needs in your home. This particular post is covering Week 4 of the Challenge. This will help us be strategic throughout your home search. What’s something on your list? Because I promised…here is the perfect checklist to help you out! Easy to print and download. Homebuying Wishlist If you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to email or simply text or call me at 907-232-2807. I’m always more than happy to help!
5 Questions to Ask Your Lender
5 questions to ask your lender when going through the pre-approval process. If homeownership is at the top of your 2021 to-dos, getting pre-approved is one of the first, and most important, steps. If you have signed up for the 90 Day Homeowner Challenge – this is what is covered in week three. While prospective lenders will have plenty of questions for you, don’t be afraid to find the right lender and loan by asking a host of questions all your own. Here are a few to get you started: What type of loan do you recommend for me? Why? There’s no one type of mortgage loan that’s superior to another—but whichever you choose, you need to know why it’s best and how it works.Will my down payment vary based on the loan I choose? If you’re tight on cash or don’t want to be cash poor, let your lender know. Different loans vary in their down payment requirements. What is the interest rate and the annual percentage rate (APR)? Everyone talks about the interest rate, but the APR is just as important. It combines the interest rate with the fees a lender charges to originate your loan.Can I lock-in an interest rate? If so, for how long? If you think rates will be moving up, ask if you can lock it in for a set period of time. What will my closing costs be? Are they a part of my loan or will I pay them in cash at closing? Remember, closing costs usually run 3-6% of your loan value so you need to know how they’ll be covered. Don’t understand something your lender says? Stop and ask for clarification. This is your homebuying journey and you deserve to understand the process every step of the way. Do NOT be afraid to ask any and all questions of your lender during this process! Keep in mind that since a pre-approval is only valid for 30-90 days depending on the lender, you’ll want to wait to meet with lenders until you’re ready to seriously search for a home. Have you talked to a lender about getting pre-approved for a loan? I’d love to help you get the ball rolling on this with my list of recommended lenders. Let me know if I can help! If you have any questions at all, don’t hesitate to email or simply text or call me at 907-232-2807. I’m always more than happy to help!
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