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15 Benefits of Working with a Buyer's
Representative
We can save you time by:
1. Locating suitable properties.
2. Previewing properties.
3. Verifying the properties’ condition.
4. Suggesting necessary inspections.
5. Helping determine what you can afford.
6. Verifying property taxes and utilities.
7. Verifying the value of the property.
8. Advising clients on structuring an offer.
9. Presenting the offer to the seller.
10. Negotiating favorable contract terms.
11. Explaining legal documents needed.
12. Assisting in securing financing.
13. Assisting your attorney in clarifying
details for to settlement.
14. Referring buyers to qualified inspectors.
15. Analyzing the future salability of the property.
Sometimes Buyers need advice before making
a decision to purchase a property and sell the
one they currently own. Apex can help by
offering advice on:
Improve vs. move- Older homeowners may
want to age in place but need assistance in
deciding how and how much to change in their
home.
Review market value- Knowing the current
value of their home and pricing trends in the
area makes planning easier for homeowners
contemplating a move in the next year.
Remodeling to add value- Homeowners plan-
ning to remodel can benefit from advice on
what features are most in demand in their
areas and which costs are most likely to be
recouped during a sale.
1. Decide what you can afford. Generally,
you can afford a home equal in value to
between two and three times your gross income.
2. Develop your home wish list. Then,
prioritize the features on your list.
3. Select where you want to live. Compile a
list of three or four neighborhoods you’d like
to live in, taking into account items such as
schools, recreational facilities, area expansion
plans, and safety.
4. Start saving. Do you have enough money
saved to qualify for a mortgage and cover
your down payment? Ideally, you should have
20 percent of the purchase price saved as a
down payment. Also, don’t forget to factor in
closing costs. Closing costs — including taxes,
attorney’s fee, and transfer fees — average
between 2 and 7 percent of the home price.
5. Get your credit in order. Obtain a copy
of your credit report to make sure it is accurate
and to correct any errors immediately. A credit
report provides a history of your credit, bad
debts, and any late payments.
6. Determine your mortgage qualifications.
How large of mortgage do you qualify for?
Also, explore different loan options — such
as 30-year or 15-year fixed mortgages or ARMs
and decide what’s best for you.
7. Get preapproved. Organize all the docu-
mentation a lender will need to preapprove you
for a loan. You might need W-2 forms, copies
of at least one pay stub, account numbers,
and copies of two to four months of bank or
credit union statements.
8. Weigh other sources of help with a down
payment. Do you qualify for any special mort-
gage or down payment assistance programs?
Check with your state and local government
on down payment assistance programs for
first-time buyers. Or, if you have an IRA ac-
count, you can use the money you’ve saved
to buy your fist home without paying a penalty
for early withdrawal.
9. Calculate the costs of homeownership.
This should include property taxes, insurance
maintenance and utilities, and association fees,
if applicable.
10. Contact a REALTOR®. Find an experienced
REALTOR® who can help guide you through
the process.
Buying a home should be fun, not stressful.
As you look for your dream home, keep in mind
these tips for making the process as peaceful as possible.
1. Find a real estate agent who you connect
with. Home buying is not only a big financial
commitment, but also an emotional one. It’s
critical that the REALTOR® you chose is both
highly skilled and a good fit with your personality.
2. Remember, there’s no “right” time to buy,
just as there’s no perfect time to sell. If you
find a home now, don’t try to second-guess
interest rates or the housing market by waiting
longer — you risk losing out on the home of
your dreams. The housing market usually doesn’t
change fast enough to make that much dif-
ference in price, and a good home won’t stay
on the market long.
3. Don’t ask for too many opinions. It’s
natural to want reassurance for such a big
decision, but too many ideas from too many
people will make it much harder to make a decision.
Focus on the wants and needs of your immediate
family — the people who will be living in the home.
4. Accept that no house is ever perfect. If
it’s in the right location, the yard may be a bit
smaller than you had hoped. The kitchen may
be perfect, but the roof needs repair. Make a
list of your top priorities and focus in on things
that are most important to you. Let the minor
ones go.
5. Don’t try to be a killer negotiator. Nego-
tiation is definitely a part of the real estate
process, but trying to “win” by getting an extra
low price or by refusing to budge on your offer
may cost you the home you love. Negotiation
is give and take.
6. Remember your home doesn’t exist in a
vacuum. Don’t get so caught up in the physical
aspects of the house itself — room size, kitchen,
etc. — that you forget about important issues
as noise level, location to amenities, and other
aspects that also have a big impact on your
quality of life.
7. Plan ahead. Don’t wait until you’ve found a
home and made an offer to get approved for a
mortgage, investigate home insurance, and con-
sider a schedule for moving. Presenting an offer
contingent on a lot of unresolved issues will make
your bid much less attractive to sellers.
8. Factor in maintenance and repair costs in
your post-home buying budget. Even if you
buy a new home, there will be costs. Don’t leave
yourself short and let your home deteriorate.
9. Accept that a little buyer’s remorse is inevi-
table and will probably pass. Buying a home,
especially for the first time, is a big financial
commitment. But it also yields big benefits.
Don’t lose sight of why you wanted to buy a
home and what made you fall in love with the
property you purchased.
10. Choose a home first because you love it;
then think about appreciation. While U.S. homes
have appreciated an average of 5.4 percent
annually over from 1998 to 2002, a home’s
most important role is to serve as a comfortable,
safe place to live.
APEX REALTY GROUP
9154 WM PENN HWY
PO BOX 476
HUNTINGDON PA 16652
888-476-2739/814-641-2739
dan@apexrealtygroup.com
DAN GUYER, BROKER
PA LIC#RB060133
COPYRIGHT 1999-2009