Buyers Resources
You are about to invest in your most valuable asset. Many home buying steps are standard yet there might be slight variations depending on the real estate laws and regulations where you live. Here are our top 5 recommendations to make you more confident as you embark on your home buying journey. Throughout these tips, it is never the wrong time to contact us to discuss your next steps. Janssen & Paula would be happy to help walk you through this process to make things easier for you.
Your Credit Rating
Getting your finances in order is probably the most important step you should take. Your credit reports are an ongoing look at how you manage your finances. You must know exactly what your credit reports say about your financial history before you apply for a mortgage, because the reports play an important role in the mortgage approval process and in determining the interest rate and other loan terms that a lender offers you.
Understanding How Mortgages Work
Get familiar with the mortgage laws, structure and options. That way, you will be able to decide on the right loan and lender — crucial to your home buying success. It’s up to you to determine which lender is best for your needs, and it’s always a good idea to have at least a bit of background about the loan process before you talk to a lender.
Getting a Mortgage Pre-Approval
Do you know how much house you can afford? Probably not, unless you’ve talked with a lender. Pre-approval helps you in other ways. Consider this scenario. A home seller gets two similar offers. One is accompanied by a letter from the buyer’s bank that states she is pre-approved for a mortgage in the amount of the offer. The other has no supporting documents. Which offer do you think the seller will consider first?
Sorting Out Your Needs and Wants
Buying a home isn’t as difficult as you might think, even if you’re short on funds. But the process will go a lot smoother if you get familiar with your real estate market and narrow down your wants and needs before you start looking at houses.
Preparing to Work with Team Janssen & Paula
Real estate agents represent buyers, sellers, or both — It’s extremely important that we get as much information on what you’re looking for when selling your property and/or the features of the property of what you’re buying. We at Team Janssen & Paula pride ourselves as a team that is committed to working with you and on the schedule you need. We have many resources available to us, and with our combined experience, we will most definitely meet and exceed your needs and expectations.
These are just the first 5 tips to help you on your home buying journey. Never hesitate to ask questions. Ask as many questions as necessary to help you understand the entire home buying process. You are making a long term commitment and spending a major amount of money–you’ll feel much better about the transaction if you stay informed and understand what’s happening every step along the way. Feel free to contact Team Janssen and Paula for a no-obligation consultation.