What are 5 things first time home buyers must know?

What are Five Things First-Time Home Buyers MUST know?

Most important: Don’t leave purchasing your first home up to chance! Use a Realtor that will help you every step of the way. There are many layers to purchasing a home, and you need to be informed. Here are my top tips for first-time home buyers.

1. Be choosy, but realistic
Your price point will dictate what options and features are realistic in the home you are looking for. A Realtor who looks at several houses in different price points each week is a great resource to help you decide what is realistic within your budget and the area where you want to live.

2. Do your homework
Take the time to really know what you are looking for in a house, including location and house features that are most important to you.

3. Get pre-approved for a mortgage
There are a lot of mortgage options right now. Meet with a mortgage lender who will take the time to explain the options and help you determine a comfortable price point for you and your family. If you would like to speak to a mortgage lender, I would be happy to make a referral!

4. Think long term
Don’t buy house that you will outgrow in 2 years. You want to make sure you see yourself living in this house long term.

5. Get a home inspection
I recommend this to every client, regardless of price point, location, or apparent visible state of the house (i.e., even if the house looks perfect). Having a professional inspect the home before you buy it can save you thousands of dollars down the road.

If you are a planning to buy your first home this year, give me a call! It is never too early to start planning and preparing. Please share this with anyone you know looking to purchase a home.

What are the four factors that will sell your property fast?

What are the four factors that will sell your property fast?

1. Price
2. Condition of Property
3. Your Agent
4. Location

You control three of these: price, property condition, and your agent.

Pricing your home correctly is the number one factor in getting your home sold quickly. . A good Realtor will provide you with a market analysis that gives you an honest and realistic view of what your home is worth. A house that’s priced right can grab a buyer’s attention immediately, and a fast sale of your home means saving and making the most of your time and money. I have had many years of experience pricing homes in almost every neighborhood in Omaha and its surrounding areas. Pricing a home to get you the most profit and buyer interest is one of my greatest strengths in real estate.

To appeal to the most buyers possible, you must present your home looking its best. You only get one chance to make an impression on potential buyers, which is why I follow a specific strategy to make your house look as fantastic as it can to buyers online and in person. To start, I will help you make thoughtful and informed decisions about how to de-clutter and depersonalize your living space. Next, I call on my team’s professional photographer, Paula Moser, to capture and best show off all the love, time, and work you have put into your home. I provide this service to you free, because I understand the impact of great online photos of your home. Go to paulamoser.com or any of my current listings to check out some of her amazing photos!

The agent you select is a key part of the process. You need a top agent to get your home sold in today’s market. Top agents know what it takes to get your home sold and have the connections to make it happen. I am currently ranked in the top 5% of all Realtors in the Omaha area. I will keep you informed and have frequent contact with you as we work together to sell your house.

Location is the one variable you cannot control. It will slow down the process or speed it up, depending on where your home is located. If you feel that your home may be in an undesirable location, don’t be discouraged. Using my years of experience in real estate, I will help you price your home correctly and make your house look its best to potential buyers.

I want to sell your house as much as you want it to sell, so call me today or refer a friend to me. The perfect time to sell is right now!

Why use a Realtor when buying a home?

Why Use a Realtor When Buying a Home?

People think it costs a fortune to use a Realtor when buying a home. This is simply not true. Commission on the sale is paid by the seller and split between the buying agent and selling agent in the transaction. This means as the buyer, you have a professional working with you, on what is most likely the largest investment of your life, every step of the way without having to pay for it!

Your Realtor plays many roles in the buying process. When you first talk to your Realtor, she will ask you for a list of your wants and needs, which helps her understand what you are looking for in your new home. When you are ready, she will guide you through the mortgage loan pre-approval process. As you decide on location, use your Realtor’s expertise to help you choose the perfect area. Realtors have vast knowledge about the different neighborhoods in your city and can help you determine which one will best suit your needs.

Then the shopping begins. When you and your Realtor start finding potential houses, she will set up showing appointments to look at those homes. She has access to details on the listings that may not be public knowledge. Once you decide on a house, she will prepare a comparative market analysis and help you determine the best offer price. Then she will prepare all the necessary paperwork and present your offer. Hire a realtor who is a strong negotiator! This can save you thousands of dollars.

All Realtors must adhere to strict code of ethics and standards of business practice. We have a duty to be responsible for our actions, and must be competent and loyal to our clients. We take this code very seriously, which means that you are working with an absolute professional who will act in your best interest for the entire transaction.

My advice is, don’t buy a house without a Realtor. If you or someone you know is looking to buy or sell in the next few months, let me know. I would love to help!

Should I buy a short sale?

Should I buy a short sale?

Let’s start with a basic explanation of what is a short sale is. A short sale occurs when the seller of a house owes more on the house than what it is worth, and the seller is not able to pay the lender what he owes. This means the lender now becomes part of the transaction. The seller must get the lender’s approval to sell his house for a lesser amount than what the seller owes to the lender.

What does all that mean to you the buyer? It means the transaction is more complicated. You may get a good deal on the house because of the lowered price, but there is also a chance that the transaction may take longer or not happen at all. The lender does not have to agree to accept the short sale and often times does not agree to accept a buyer’s initial offer. In addition, the seller has to qualify for the short sale. The transaction may not go because the seller does not meet the lenders requirements for a short sale. Many real estate agents will make sure the seller does qualify before they list a property as a short sale, but not always. As a buyer, be sure you work with an agent who understands short sales and knows to ask these questions up front before you make an offer.

Most, if not all, short sales are sold as is. You can have a home inspection, but repairs will need to be made by you, the buyer. Also, most short sale homes will need some TLC before moving in.

When you understand the process of purchasing a short-sale property, it is much more likely to work for you. Although it can be more complicated and time consuming, you can frequently purchase a home with a fair amount of equity built into it. I encourage you to fully discuss the process with your agent before deciding if it’s right for you.

Please share this with someone you know thinking about a new home purchase or have them give me a call at 402-305-4335. I am never too busy to help!

When is Spring in Real Estate?

When is spring in Real Estate?

When you think of spring, you think of April Showers and May Flowers. In real estate, the spring market is half over by then. Will you have missed your buyer if you list your house in April or May? Are you still going to get the best traffic? When is the best time to put your house on the market?

Buyers are out now! There are some major FHA financing changes coming April 1, 2013. Buyers using this type of financing are looking to purchase before then. In addition to that, interest rates are still really low. No one knows when they will start to go up. Buyers want to make sure they take advantage of the current rates.

In May and June real estate inventory is at its peak. This gives buyers lots to pick from. Listing before then puts your house in a smaller group. Increasing your odds of the buyers looking at your house and writing an offer.

The best time to put your house on market is when it is ready. You only get one shot to make the best impression possible to buyers. Presenting your house the best way possible is a must in today’s market. If it is ready to go, list it now!

Spring in Real Estate is now! Get your house ready and get it on the market ASAP. Not thinking of selling your house? Please pass this on to someone you know who is.

Frequently Asked Real Estate Question-#37

Who do I call?

If you have ever bought or sold a house before, you know there are a lot of moving parts. You need to know what to do and who to call along the way. This process is what sometimes scares off first time home buyers. They can feel it is too much and get overwhelmed by the process in general. What do you do to manage all this? How do people sell a house and move into another one in 30 days or less with all that needs to be done?

Your AGENT will know who to call. I have a list of service providers to call for any need that will come up during a home purchase. And not just names from the phone book. Providers my past clients have worked with before and been happy with their service. As your agent, I am with you every step of the way to ensure you ALWAYS know who to call.

This does not change after closing. I also have a list of Non-House related service providers to share with you. Networking and meeting new people is part of my daily life. I have met lots of great people that I would love to share with you.

So think of your agent as your “one stop shop”. I will connect you with you who you need to call during the process or after.
Please share my Frequently Asked Real Estate questions with someone you know who is in the market to buy, sell, build or invest in real estate in the next few months.

Frequently Asked Real Estate Questions-Ep. 36

Does it still make sense to buy a home?

In November of 1981 the average interest rate was 15.8%. Rates like that made home loans extremely expensive. Today, the picture is totally different. Interest rates are 4% or lower! The current economy understandably leaves homeowners reluctant to make such a big financial commitment. Some people even suggest that since home values are not appreciating like they once were, the investment no longer makes sense. That is a short-sighted point of view. Here are 5 very sound reasons to buy a home in out current market;

1. Homes are affordable.
2. Home loan rates are at historic lows!
3. Tax break on interest payments.
4. You’ll own it!
5. You’ll build equity.

Low rates combined with affordable home prices is too good to pass up! The next step is to meet with a Realtor and discuss how to get started shopping for that new home. Don’t wait! No one knows how much longer these rates will stay this low. If you or someone you know is considering moving in the next few months, call me!