Posts in category 'Buying A House'
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7
How to Be Prepared in a Competitive Housing Market
Real estate markets across the country are red hot. It is not uncommon for sellers to receive numerous offers within days of listing their property. Time and time again, our REALTORS® have seen homes sell for well above their listing price. If you have your eye on the perfect property for your next home, we recommend taking the time to get prepared before you jump into the pool of buyers eager to get their hands on your dream home.
- Preapproval
Start by getting preapproved for a loan. This is more rigorous than a prequalification process and shows you precisely where you stand and how much the lender will loan for your purchase. There are multiple advantages to this when searching for Mansfield or Ashland homes for sale. It helps narrow down your search to only those properties within your price range. This speeds up the process considerably. It also shows you how high you can go if a bidding war breaks out. Equally important, when multiple offers are submitted, sellers are more likely to accept offers from preapproved buyers than those who are merely pre-qualified.
In fact, be prepared to pay more than the listing price. This is especially true for well-maintained homes in desirable locations. It's not unheard of for homes to sell for 100-110% or more of the asking price. As you search, factor this into your calculations and search for homes that are 95% or less of your preapproval.
19
Buyers: This is Why Your FICO Score is So Important
At Haring Realty, our REALTORS® know that some aspects of the home-buying process can be confusing.
Even buyers who have been through it all before don't know everything. And it can be even more worrisome for first-time buyers, who wonder about all the things they aren't familiar with yet. That can put a damper on the fun of looking at Mansfield or Ashland homes for sale.
One subject comes up again and again: Financing. Where to find a mortgage and how to get the best deal.
Choosing the best mortgage for you can save you thousands of dollars across the life of your mortgage. But buyers often go into the process knowing little about one of the most important factors that can influence your mortgage terms: your FICO score.
15
Why You Shouldn't Bypass the Pre-Approval Process
Our REALTORS® at Haring Realty strive to make homebuying easier. When looking at Mansfield and Ashland homes for sale, clients often have lots of questions. It's no surprise concerns around financing are common. That's not just true for first-time homebuyers, either: Whether they're buying a first place or a place to retire, everyone wants the best deal.
But the process of getting a mortgage can be complex. It's easy to get confused, which is one reason why the right real estate pro is such a valuable ally. One question that often doesn't get asked – because buyers don't have all the information at first – is this: "How does pre-approval affect my home search?"
Pre-approval can have a positive impact on your finances and the whole buying process.
Here's what to know.
27
Buy a Home: Countdown to Moving Day
You've scouted Mansfield homes for sale, found the perfect match, and closed the deal. Now it's time to plan for moving day! There are so many details to cover when preparing for a move, so having a detailed plan will help you reduce stress while making sure that you cover every key step. Our REALTORS® have you covered, with our countdown of the final 30 days before moving day.
One Month Before Moving
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Create a Supply List and Gather Moving Supplies
Packing is so much easier when you have all the necessary supplies. You'll need shipping tape, scissors, plenty of labels, permanent markers, packing materials, and of course a ton of cardboard boxes.
10
How First-Time Homebuyers Can Beat the Odds
It's a competitive real estate market. For first-time homebuyers, the goal of homeownership can appear difficult to achieve. While it's true that there are obstacles in the path, it's not impossible to overcome them and beat the odds. Our REALTORS® know how to help first-time homebuyers position themselves in the market to purchase the home they desire.
Overcoming the Obstacles to Homeownership
- Strict Lending Requirements
This is often the most daunting obstacle first-time homebuyers need to tackle. Overcoming it requires a multi-prong approach that starts with trimming the budget. Eliminating unnecessary spending, paying off credit card debt, and consolidating existing loan obligations at a lower interest rate are essential steps. It pays big dividends. It will help first-time homebuyers save money for the down payment, and it reduces the debt-to-income ratio. It also helps boost the credit score a few points, which allows buyers to qualify for a lower interest rate.