Six steps to buying a home

 

So, what are the steps to purchase a home? Today I’m going to guide you through the six basic steps. 

 

Step number one -Get Qualified. The first thing you need to determine in your home buying process is your budget . The best way to do this is by consulting an expert. Those online calculators don’t know everything. There is more to consider in a monthly payment than just the price of the home! Also, an online calculator can’t tell you all the ins and outs of a FHA loan vs. a conventional, or USDA loan. Some mortgage companies even have special programs for medical professionals that you may qualify for. A mortgage broker can sit down with you an analyze YOUR situation and determine what is best for YOU. And you…

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So, are you ready to buy a house? Let’s talk today about what you need to know and do to be prepared to buy when you find your dream home. There’s more to buying than falling in love with a home, and I’m here to guide you through every step of the process. 

 

Step one is to get pre qualified. You’ll want a reputable lender, preferably a local one. Listing agents like to see a pre qualification from a lender that they are familiar with. This letter says that you have done all your pre-home buying home work, and that your loan is looking good. You know your price range and your required downpayment. You are a Qualified Buyer.  

 

Just a quick side note here- with interest rates changing make sure that you know what your budget is according to…

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So, you think you're ready to sell but you don't know where to start?

 

Step one is an initial property review. Give me a call and we'll schedule a time for me to out and take a look at the entire property. We'll just do a quick review and talk about things that need to be done with the property and ways that you can improve it to get it ready for showings. Some of these suggestions may include basic repairs, decluttering, and maybe even refreshing your landscaping to increase curb appeal.

 

Stop two involves reviewing local market comps to come up with the fair market value of your home. At the same time, we’ll do some required paperwork  including a listing agreement and a property disclosure. The disclosure provides the…

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Today let’s take a few minutes to talk about ways to prepare to sell your home. You may think that “Yeah I know how to sell a house. I’ve done it before I get it!” In addition to just making a general punch list of things to do like painting touch-ups, repairs, cutting the grass, there are other things you can do to help you better prepare your home before it hits the market.

 

One of the main things that I see that sellers aren't thinking about is do I need to leave the house for showings?  A typical showing lasts from 30 to 60 minutes. Showings tend to be more successful if the sellers are not present. Also, if you have small children you may want to schedule showings around nap times. If you have pets, you’ll probably need to make arrangements to…

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One of the most challenging parts of buying a home can be choosing your agent. There has always been confusion about who can show which property. As a licensed real estate agent, I want you to assure you that I can show ANY other Realtor’s listing, and all Realtors can show my listings.

 

You don't have to call around to six different agents to see six different properties. You can decide who you want to work with and make one phone call and then that one person can show you all the properties that you're interested in.

 

So, can you call the name on the sign? Absolutely! The person that's on the sign is the Listing Agent. This means that they have been hired by the seller to represent them in the marketing and sell of their property. They can…

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Tennessee is growing in ways that are difficult to express. Ford is a large part of this, announcing the single largest industrial development in the history of Tennessee. Ford is building Blue Oval City in Stanton,TN - exit 42 on Interstate 40. The 3600 acre mega-site will be a $5.6 billion vehicle and battery manufacturing campus. Ford plans to build their next generation of electric vehicles in Tennessee, and partner with our local communities to create enormous opportunities for west Tennesseans.

 

This new historic manufacturing facility will allow Ford to undergo a transformation into new clean, carbon neutral manufacturing. Ford says, “Aspiring to have 100% renewable energy, zero waste to landfill and reusing water means we can help make sure…

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As the economy continues strengthening, people are looking for new ways to invest. And with interest rates being at all-time lows, borrowing money has never been more favorable. Why not invest in Real Estate? What to buy and where to buy it… Have you considered a vacation home? 

 

We all take annual pilgrimages with our family to various destinations for relaxing getaways. While there, you likely do the same thing we do - question why we haven’t bought something of our own. Whether it be your favorite beach spot in Florida, a gorgeous mountain retreat in the Smokey Mountains, or maybe something closer to home like a river cabin on the Tennessee River - all of these areas have a big demand for rental inventory. So if you found the right place for…

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It’s easy to stop doing exterior maintenance as the colder winter months come upon us. After all, we will be spending less time outdoors, so why worry with landscaping and yard chores?But it’s very important to not neglect your exterior in the Fall. Leaves, weeds, mildew, and poor lighting all cause some negative impacts on how your house appears. Here are a few ideas to consider:

 

As the days get shorter, consider adding landscape lighting to highlight your house as well as walkway lighting to welcome guests into your home during the darker days to come. 

 

Weeds grow in the Fall - don’t stop spraying and weeding your landscaping once summer leaves us (no pun). If you do, your beds will quickly look over run and once Spring rolls around, it…

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As the housing market continues to heat up, buyers are finding themselves competing aggressively over properties. When you find yourself in a multiple offer situation, you always want to figure out creative ways to make your offer stand out. Have you heard of an Escalation Clause? This nifty tool might be your next best friend when it comes to dealing with an aggressive seller’s market.

 

If you know you want a specific property and are willing to pay a premium to ensure you get it, let’s consider adding in an escalation clause. Here’s what that looks like. First off, we need to write the contract with a full set of attractive terms - Strong sales price, solid funding, minimal requests, quick closing timeline, etc… Then it’s time to add the icing to…

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