Well by now you have checked all 3 of your credit reports and gotten them cleaned up, obtained Pre-Approval from a lender of your choice, set a price range, and found a knowledgeable Buyer’s Agent to guide you through the process. Now for the fun (?) part – finding your new home!

Your Agent will begin by asking you the basics – area, price range, bedrooms/bathrooms, type of home – single family, condo/townhome, subdivision or acreage. You probably already know the answers to the question and think it will be a matter of looking at a few houses before you find the right one, right? There a few other things to consider that will help you in finding your new home -

What is priority #! ?

Is finding a home close to schools more important than finding the lowest price? Or is finding a home with the most square footage and yard size more important than location and price combined?

Will you take a home that needs some cosmetic updating if the price is right, or must it be up to date and move in ready?

Knowing your priorities before you begin looking at homes will help you sort the top contenders from the rest of the bunch- and will certainly save you some headache when it comes time to make a decision. If you are in a buyer’s market then you will probably look at 10-15 homes which meet your search parameter, and out of these 3-5 may be contenders. A good Agent will assist you in making your decision by compiling Comparative Market Analysis reports, or CMA’s – which will allow you to compare the homes side by side and compare and contrast the features and sales price of each one. When it comes down to it – you are the one who will be living in the house so go with your gut feeling. Don’t get too hung up on “getting the best deal” or the “rock bottom price” and let the perfect home slip through your fingers.

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By now you have reviewed your credit reports and fixed any errors/negative entries, obtained a “Pre-Qualification” letter from at least one lender, identified your price range, and are getting your finances in order. So what’s next? Jump in the car or on the Internet and find your dream home, right? Not so fast……

“One of the most common mistakes when searching for that new home occurs when you see a potential property while out driving around or surfing the ‘net. The first thing most potential home buyers do is call the Agent that is listed on the “For Sale” sign, eager to see the inside of the home and all it has to offer. What most people don’t know is that the Listing Agent – the name on the sign – works strictly for the seller, and is obligated to them at all times. This means getting the maximum price for the house and all other terms that have been set by the seller.”

By selecting a Realtor as your “Buyer’s Agent” you will have a professional who has only your best interests in mind. A Buyer’s Agent  will monitor the market daily according to your specifications, preview the homes, set up all showing appointments at a time that is convenient to you, and negotiate the best deal possible for you. This process makes homebuying easy and painless for you. The best thing is that having a Buyer’s Agent comes at absolutely no cost to you!

Imagine, having a professional in the industry working for you – for free! Someone who will be searching the market every day for your new home, comparing price data, and using their inside knowledge to successfully negotiate the best deal for you. Once you employ your Buyer’s Agent, you will be dealing with the same person throughout the entire transaction – from search to close. This will be someone that you trust, can communicate with, and know that they have only your best interests in mind. Most people look at an average of 10-15 homes before making an offer, can you imagine working with 10-15 different REALTORS®? I can’t!

But can’t I just do this on my own, you ask? I can find plenty of homes both on the Internet and driving around the neighborhoods I like – why do I need a Buyer’s Agent?

Many people do not realize the amount of negotiating that goes into each home purchase – it’s much more than haggling over the price. Closing cost contributions, inspections, repairs or repair allowances, leasebacks, appraisal issues, earnest monies, and the closing date are typical negotiations that take place between the Listing and Buyer’s Agent – do you really want to try to do this on your own? In addition, contracts for the purchase of real property are legal documents, and typically lengthy and extremely wordy. One mistake could end up costing you thousands of dollars and plenty of headaches.

Before you begin looking for your Buyer’s Agent remember this – All Real Estate Agents are licensed to sell real estate as an agent in their State – but not all real estate agents are REALTORS®. Only REALTORS® can display the REALTORS® logo. REALTORS® belong to the National Association of REALTORS ®and pledge to follow the Code of Ethics, a comprehensive list containing 17 articles and underlying standards of practice, which establish levels of conduct that are higher than ordinary business practices or those required by law. Less than half of all licensees are REALTORS®.

Buying a Home in Brazoria County?

Call Kenzie today!