Buyer's and Sellers!
If you're in Southern California...this post is for you!
Regardless of which category you fall into.....I have a system which will help you educate yourself on the real estate market you are actually IN! Unlike the major online search websites....this site will be geared to your specifications and give you real-time notifications of new listings, solds and pending sales. You no longer have to guess if a home price you see online is real! This comes directly from the MLS.
On this site...I will imput your search criteria. If you are a home seller...we will enter the comparable homes to the search. You can begin to watch home values....see all the homes that are currently listed and what the price is. You can see pictures and other important information as well. You can also go in and sort these listings, make comments, and even send them directly to me for more information.
This information comes directly from the Multiple Listing Service...the same system the realtors use...and so you will have the most current information available.
This is a link to a sample site...loaded with a Mission Viejo search. If you would like one for your specific needs....please email/call me and I'll set one up for you too!
http://socallistings.marketlinx.com/portal/?PID=1176885&MID=SPARSKAR
Karen
KarenFiddler@great-western-realty.com
www.great-western-realty.com
Showing posts with label Home Buying Process. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Home Buying Process. Show all posts
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
Open Letter to Home Buyers
Dear Future Home Buyer,Wow...interesting times out there! Short sales, foreclosures, changing loan programs....it's so hard to know what to do. Is this the right time to buy? Or should you wait? Where should you go to find answers.
If you are reading this, you already know there are many websites which are available to give you some insight. You can now find home listings, mortgage rates and even your credit report online. But what you still need to know is how to put all this information together to build a coherent plan of attack. A good buyer's agent can help you do this. And a buyer's agent represents you free of charge. Their commissions are paid by the seller.
A buyer's agent is not someone who necessarily rejects real estate listings, but in your case will be someone who is representing YOU and only YOU. This is not someone who is representing both buyer and seller in the same deal. That, in my opinion, is a recipe for trouble...and something I never do.
A buyer's agent will help bring a team of experts together to work with you depending on your needs. This might include a tax consultant, a mortgage broker, and/or a credit counselor. It will certainly involve a comprehensive discussion of your home needs. You will explore cities, size of home, community amenities, school districts, resale values...all the things that should go into an educated home purchase.
This can be done in various ways. I like to set up a custom website for each buyer and load it with a personal search. Using this site, you will receive all the listings directly from the MLS which suit your criteria. On this site, you can save, sort and make comments on the listings...and send them directly to me by email if you have specific questions....or see something you'd like to view. Once we develop a working list...we can go see them.
This is all the things you would expect a real estate agent to do for you....but do you know what happens after you find the perfect home?
During escrow...your buyer's agent is there for you too! We not only negotiate the price in the offer, but represent you during the escrow period too. You will have a home inspection. There might be repairs needed. Although most listings now say "as-is" even banks recognize that sometimes making repairs for a buyer ready to close is better than holding firm and risk starting from scratch with a new buyer. Especially if the problem is severe.
A good example is mold. Most banks, regardless of whether it's a short sale or foreclosure, will address a mold problem. Once they have been made aware of the existence of mold, they must disclose it to every new buyer...they might as well handle it with us. There are other major problems that can be addressed in a bank approval situation too. If we are working with a seller with equity...there is even more room to negotiate repairs, or credits, to handle problems with the home condition.
Other issues which might occur during escrow include insurance quotes, appraisal problems, title discrepancies. All situations your buyer's agent is prepared for, and experienced in solving. Can all problems be solved? of course not...but your agent will have the experience and resources to guide you during the entire process.
In short....if you are ready to buy a new home, or if you are ready to THINK about buying a new home. Start talking to a buyer's agent.
Good luck with your new home purchase and we are here to help when you are ready.
Karen
www.great-western-realty.com
If you are reading this, you already know there are many websites which are available to give you some insight. You can now find home listings, mortgage rates and even your credit report online. But what you still need to know is how to put all this information together to build a coherent plan of attack. A good buyer's agent can help you do this. And a buyer's agent represents you free of charge. Their commissions are paid by the seller.
A buyer's agent is not someone who necessarily rejects real estate listings, but in your case will be someone who is representing YOU and only YOU. This is not someone who is representing both buyer and seller in the same deal. That, in my opinion, is a recipe for trouble...and something I never do.
A buyer's agent will help bring a team of experts together to work with you depending on your needs. This might include a tax consultant, a mortgage broker, and/or a credit counselor. It will certainly involve a comprehensive discussion of your home needs. You will explore cities, size of home, community amenities, school districts, resale values...all the things that should go into an educated home purchase.
This can be done in various ways. I like to set up a custom website for each buyer and load it with a personal search. Using this site, you will receive all the listings directly from the MLS which suit your criteria. On this site, you can save, sort and make comments on the listings...and send them directly to me by email if you have specific questions....or see something you'd like to view. Once we develop a working list...we can go see them.
This is all the things you would expect a real estate agent to do for you....but do you know what happens after you find the perfect home?
During escrow...your buyer's agent is there for you too! We not only negotiate the price in the offer, but represent you during the escrow period too. You will have a home inspection. There might be repairs needed. Although most listings now say "as-is" even banks recognize that sometimes making repairs for a buyer ready to close is better than holding firm and risk starting from scratch with a new buyer. Especially if the problem is severe.
A good example is mold. Most banks, regardless of whether it's a short sale or foreclosure, will address a mold problem. Once they have been made aware of the existence of mold, they must disclose it to every new buyer...they might as well handle it with us. There are other major problems that can be addressed in a bank approval situation too. If we are working with a seller with equity...there is even more room to negotiate repairs, or credits, to handle problems with the home condition.
Other issues which might occur during escrow include insurance quotes, appraisal problems, title discrepancies. All situations your buyer's agent is prepared for, and experienced in solving. Can all problems be solved? of course not...but your agent will have the experience and resources to guide you during the entire process.
In short....if you are ready to buy a new home, or if you are ready to THINK about buying a new home. Start talking to a buyer's agent.
Good luck with your new home purchase and we are here to help when you are ready.
Karen
www.great-western-realty.com
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Home Buying Process, or home buying for dummies :)
I'm finding that many buyers are uneducated about the home buying process. Just look at the questions on Zillow or Trulia and read behind the lines....you see uncertainty and nervousness. I hold first-time home buyer workshops several times a year in my local area, but you don't have to be a first time home buyer to need information. This is the handout I use at that workshop about the steps we take to purchase a new home:
Home Buying Process
Step One: Indentify Properties of Interest and Go See Them
1)Preview properties online and on MLS Gateway Website
2)Identify properties that appear to fit criteria
3)Get Financial details and listing background
Step Two: Write Offers on One or More Possible Homes
1)Write offers with no deposit or obligation
2)Recieve counter offers and give them our response
3)Come to an agreement on one great home, or keep looking
Step Three: Open Escrow
1) We are assigned an escrow officer and number
2)Deposit check will be sent to escrow
Step Four: Contingency Period (17 Days) time to explore details of the home
1) Home Inspection
2)Loan Approval
3)Appraisal
4) Seller Disclosures
5) Home Owner Association CC & Rs and financial stability
****Important**** All contingencies are removed in writing!!!
Step Five: Coast to the Close
1) Review and sign loan documents
2) Transfer any funds necessary to close to escrow
3) Close Escrow and title is recorded
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! YOU HAVE A NEW HOME!!!!
I hope this is helpful to understand the process....obviously this is an overview....but it's really a simple process, and we take things in an orderly manner. One step at a time!
www.great-western-realty.com
Home Buying Process
Step One: Indentify Properties of Interest and Go See Them
1)Preview properties online and on MLS Gateway Website
2)Identify properties that appear to fit criteria
3)Get Financial details and listing background
Step Two: Write Offers on One or More Possible Homes
1)Write offers with no deposit or obligation
2)Recieve counter offers and give them our response
3)Come to an agreement on one great home, or keep looking
Step Three: Open Escrow
1) We are assigned an escrow officer and number
2)Deposit check will be sent to escrow
Step Four: Contingency Period (17 Days) time to explore details of the home
1) Home Inspection
2)Loan Approval
3)Appraisal
4) Seller Disclosures
5) Home Owner Association CC & Rs and financial stability
****Important**** All contingencies are removed in writing!!!
Step Five: Coast to the Close
1) Review and sign loan documents
2) Transfer any funds necessary to close to escrow
3) Close Escrow and title is recorded
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! YOU HAVE A NEW HOME!!!!
I hope this is helpful to understand the process....obviously this is an overview....but it's really a simple process, and we take things in an orderly manner. One step at a time!
www.great-western-realty.com
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