Tag: First Time Home Buyers

Here are five things that home buyers often say that they may later regret. As an experienced real estate agent, I know that each and every buyer is different. However, it is amazing, how often home buyers will say the same things to me. Here’s a fun post of common, famous last words of buyers.

Five things you might say

1. “I know what I can afford.” I asked that the buyers that I work with get pre-approved before we start looking at homes. Some home buyers find this annoying and tell me that they know what they can afford. You may think that you know, but unless you are in the mortgage business, the odds of you knowing exactly where you stand and what you can afford is slim. Before you look at houses get pre-approved.
2. “I will never buy a _____ style house.” I know whenever I say never that it too often happens. It is best to leave the words always and never out of any conversation. Keep an open mind and your perfect home may be hiding behind a style of home that you would have never considered.
3. “I want to sleep on it.” Sometimes sleeping on it means that you miss out. There is a saying that I like to use: “if you sleep on it, you may not sleep in it.” Taking a night or a day to think about it seems reasonable, but depending on the market that you are shopping in, that hesitation could lead to heartbreak. Walking away for an hour to think about it probably will not cost you the house, and will give you a chance to clear your head and decide how you would like to proceed.
4. “I don’t want to get involved in a bidding war.” You have found the house that you love and you want to buy. When your agent calls, they find out that there are two offers on the home already. Are you going to walk away? More often that not you will have your agent write up your best offer to see if you can buy the home that you love. The fear that buyers have in this situation is that they will pay too much for the home.. Make sure that you have your agent guide you. Have your agent look at comparable properties that have recently sold, so you are making informed decisions.
5. “We can always increase our offer, but we can’t reduce it.” All buyers want to buy a home for the best price possible.In order to accomplish this some buyers want to write an offer that is unrealistically low. In doing this they risk insulting the seller. In this case you may not get a response. Sometimes even if the price is increase, the seller may not be willing to sell the home to you. Coming in too low may work against you.

As the buyer you are wanting to get the best deal. You also want to be able to find the house of your dreams. You want time to go through the process without the pressure of competing with other buyers. Make sure you connect with an agent to guide you through the process looking out for your best interest along the way. By doing this you can make wise decisions.

What kind of feelings might you have if you stopped renting and purchased a home now? I know you may be hearing that now is a bad time to buy. You may also be hearing that you should wait for interest rates to drop. May people feel like they just can’t buy a house because prices are too high, interest rates are high and the economy is not what it should be. Well, there may not be a better time to buy a home. All of the concerns that are listed above may apply to next year, and the year after that. It can always feel like buying a home is just too hard and out of reach.

It is not possible for everyone to buy a home. But in 2023, the last data available from Realtor.com shows that 32% of all buyers were first-time home buyers in 2023. In 2022 which was another tough year for home buying, 26% of all buyers were first time home buyers. It might be possible for you to buy a home. Here are some surprising feelings you may have ten years from now if you take the leap and buy a home now.

Glad

The first feeling that you may have is that you are GLAD, you got into the market when you did. The house you purchased is likely going to be worth a lot more money in ten years than it is today.

Wishful

Another feeling you may have is WISHFUL! It is hard to afford one house at any given hime, based on your salary and savings. But in the future, when you look back at the price that you paid for your home, you may be wishing you had purchased more than one home, when you did.

Relieved

RELIEVED is another feeling that you could feel in ten years. You will be feeling relieved because you will see how much more people are paying in rent, than you are paying in your mortgage. You have a pretty consistent monthly mortgage payment. It only adjusts annually if taxes or insurance go up. You are not having to worry about those rental increases.

Successful

Buying a home isn’t always easy, but you have done it. There may be struggles, particularly in the early years when the budget is tight. But you have gotten through it. You are building equity and you can take pride and feel SUCCESSFUL because you did it.

Nostalgia

Even if your first home is not your dream home, it more than likely will not be the house you live in for twenty years. You can pay down your mortgage and upgrade to a nicer home. Even if that first home was not the nicest home, you can look back at it with NOSTALGIA as you remember the memories that were made there.

Stop wondering if you can buy a home. Call Lestel and find out if you can! (970)310-8379

If you are a buyer, planning to buy a home, you have probably heard that there are changes coming coming in real estate. These changes are regarding how buyer’s agents get compensated. Some agents have been implementing the changes ahead of time, others are waiting until the deadline, 8/17/24. What will be required starting 8/17/24 is that all agents will need to sign a written agreement with a buyer prior to showing a home to a buyer. This agreement will include language that states how much compensation the agent will receive. Signing an agreement with an agent sounds like a new thing, but it really is not. There is no reason to be afraid of signing an agreement.

Let’s take a closer look at what must be included in the included in the agreement. There are four items included in the agreement between the agent and the buyer. The four requirements are:

The first requirement

The amount of compensation that the agent will be earning needs to be stated specifically and conspicuously. In the past the buyer may not have known what their agent was earning. Now the buyer has a say in how much their agent will earn and who will pay for that compensation.

The second requirement

The compensation cannot be open-ended and must be objective. For the most part, agents working for the seller have been paid whatever the seller decided to offer the buyer’s agent. It was usually a percentage of the sales price of the home. The seller still may pay the agent that sells their home, but the agreement between the buyer and their agent must state specifically what their agent will be paid. The agreement cannot say, “whatever the seller is willing to pay.” The buyer and the agent will agree what the agent will be compensated. They will also agree how the compensation will be earned. The agreement could be a percentage of the purchase price, a flat fee or an hourly rate, as an example.

The third requirement

The agreement between the buyer and their agent will include terms that limit your agent from being paid more than you’ve agreed upon. For example, the seller may be willing to pay the buyer’s agent compensation in the amount of “X” of the sales price, but if you have agreed upon less than that, the seller can only pay whatever amount you have agreed upon with your agent.

The final requirement of the agreement

The agreement must state that fees and compensation are negotiable. Many people incorrectly believe that there is and was a “standard” real estate compensation for agents. They have always been negotiable. Just because they are negotiable does not mean that your agent will be willing to work for whatever fee you offer them. Each agent will have fees they are willing to work for and may not work for less. You can shop around for agents who will charge the lowest rates. Make sure that you know what services you will be receiving. The level of service may be less than the agent that works for a higher compensation.

The changes were made to benefit the public and to make the process of working with a real estate agent more transparent.

Making a big step like buying a home, you want to avoid making mistake so your experience is as positive as possible. What are the costly mistakes that a home buyers should avoid? This is part two of this blog post.

Don’t forget to look at new construction

One mistake that buyers can make when purchasing a home is thinking that they cannot afford a new home. Did you know that approximately one in five homes on the market is new construction? New homes are often thought to be too pricey, but builders are responsive to market conditions and often offer incentives to buyers that can be very attractive. These incentives can include rate buy downs and closing costs credits, among others.

Use an experience realtor

Some buyers make the mistake of thinking that they do not need to use an experience realtor. They can do it on their own. Experience is important, particularly when you have someone that is guiding you to make such a major purchase. As a buyer, you should be looking for an agent with at least five years of experience, in the area that you are looking to purchase. You can interview agents to find one that you are most comfortable with. Remember that normally home sellers pay the buyer’s agents commission. This means that using an experienced, local real estate agent costs you nothing and includes their expertise.

Buy the house and the neighborhood

Another mistake buyers can make is falling in love with a house and not looking at or considering the neighborhood, where the home is located. When you look at a house, consider the neighborhood that the home is in. Also consider the schools, where the closest grocery store is and gas station. don’t forget to consider flight paths of airports, power lines, and train tracks. All of these things can affect the desirability and resale of the home.

Don’t wave inspections

Once you have your future home under contract, the next step, in the process, is inspection. Do not make the mistake of thinking, I can totally fix that, when you see the list of things that are wrong with the home. Do not let your excitement in buying your home, cloud your thinking. Ask your agent what is reasonable to have the seller fix, given the current market conditions. Follow your agents lead and understand the costs of what needs to be done.

When buying a home avoid making mistakes that can cost you money. Have a great agent guide you along the way and enjoy your home buying experience.

So you are wondering how to buy when interest rates are high? Don’t worry you have come to the right place. There are strategies that you can use that can make home ownership possible! Here are some tips to get you into a home that you can afford and enjoy. You may feel like you know exactly the neighborhood or town that you would like to live in. If you expand your search you may be able to find a home that you love somewhere that is more affordable and can work perfect for you.

How To Buy When Interest Rates Are High, Loan Types and Loan Options

• The favored loan, for most buyers is a fixed rate mortgage, but what would your payment look like if you were to get a variable rate mortgage? Have a frank discussion with your lender and ask for assistance exploring what is best for you.
• Remember that when you purchase a home you are not stuck with the loan and the interest rate on the loan. You can refinance when interest rates become more attractive in the future. Interest rates go up and they also come down.
• Look into grants and down payment assistance or gift funds. Not everyone has a rich uncle that they can call and get a chunk of change from. But do you know if you qualify for no interest down payment assistance? That does exist and you might be able to obtain it. Check with your lender and see if you might be able to qualify.

Home Ownership Equates to Building Wealth

Remember that buying a home to live in is a great way to build wealth. Owning your own place can protect you from ever rising rents. Having a place of your own you can paint the walls the colors you want and enjoy making the place yours. That is how to buy when interest rates are high. So, don’t be discouraged by what you hear in the news. Contact us today and get a recommendation for a lender. Explore whether now is the right time for you to buy!

Buying a home is an exciting, stressful, and can be a fun process.  What are some important things that all buyers should pay attention to and look out for while shopping for your home?  Here is a list of ten red flags to look for when buying a home. 

Too Much Scent

While looking at home you may walk into a home that smells like air freshener.  Every where you walk in the home you see another plug in or sent producing product.  This is a red flag and the owner of the home could be covering offensive odors.

Red Flags When Buying A Home: Poor Tile Work

Sometimes home owners take on projects that they know nothing about and they struggle to complete these projects.  Tiling can be a project that looks so easy on the home improvement shows.  Bad tiling can cost a lot to un do and re do.  Check grout lines, and tile alignment. Cracked grout can be a sign of major issues. It won’t be long before these tiles start coming loose. It may also be a sign of water damage underneath the tile. Misaligned tiles are indicative of a home owner completed job and should give you pause. Best case scenario the tile will always be crooked. Worst case, a much shorter life span for your tile.

Foundation and Maintenance Issues

These problems can show up through uneven floors, cracks in walls, sticking windows and doors and gaps that can be found around doors and windows. Poor maintenance in the home can indicate that the seller has ignored other issues.  Poor maintenance can also shorten the life of furnace and a/c units. 

Red Flags When Buying A Home: Beware of Water Nearby

Water front property is beautiful but can mean more expense to you as the buyer and additional problems.  Water front property can indicate that there is a higher chance of flooding. The property may also require flood insurance. 

Beware of Water Inside

Water can also cause problems inside. Mold is a four-letter word in real estate.  A small bit of mold can cost thousands of dollars to address.  Make sure that bathrooms are inspected for mold.  Check under sinks in kitchen and bath for small gray or black spots. Look for water damage. Musty odor can indicate that you should check further to ensure that the home that you would like to buy does not have water damage. Check ceilings for water damage and even make sure that your inspector checks the attic too.

Cosmetic updates can be the reason that you fell in love with the home.  Beware and make sure that those great updates are not hiding something that could be a deal breaker if you knew about it. Bad ventilation can allow moisture to stick around and create mold.  Make sure that bathrooms have working vent fans. 

Red Flags When Buying A Home: Wonky Windows

Another important thing to watch for is wonky windows.  What is a wonky window?  That is a window that does not open smoothly.  A wonky window can signal foundation issues.  Moreover, windows are pricy to fix and repair.  

Buying a home is exciting.  It is important to know what you are buying.  Watch out for these red flags when buying a home. Get the home inspected to ensure that you are not taking on more than you can handle. Some of the issues listed above are not quick or inexpensive fixes.  You should enjoy home ownership and not feel burdened with a problem that costs thousands to correct. Your inspector should be able to find issues like those listed above.  Then you can make an educated decision to buy.  Let us be your guide through the process. Contact us today.

How do agents get paid?

This is one of the most common home buyer frequently asked questions. The seller in a transaction will pay the agent who markets the home and a fee to the realtor that assists the buyer with the purchase of the home. Realtors that work with buyers are typically paid a success fee when the home closes. They buyer typically does NOT pay for the realtor’s services. I am free to you!

Home Buyer Frequently Asked Questions, Why should I use a buyer’s agent?

A buyer’s agent looks out for the best interest of the buyer. Wouldn’t you like a trained, knowledgeable
professional looking out for your best interest when making the biggest financial decision of your life?

Why Should I use an agent when buying new construction?

Have Lestel show you the new construction in the area that is in your price range. She can tell you about
the builder, their reputation and share with you about the neighborhood. She can also negotiate the offer for you. Lestel understands the complexities of the fine print in the builder’s contract and can help you make good decisions regarding options. A new construction representative is there to sell you more features and more house. Lestel can help you set limits and be your guide through the process. Lestel can step in, on your behalf if there is a problem. She is there for you!

Home Buyer Frequently Asked Questions, What are the costs of buying a home?

When you purchase a home you will need to pay for your inspection and appraisal up front as a part of the under contract period. When you close on your home you will need to pay your closing cost and your down payment. How much your closing costs and down payment will be depends on the type of loan that you get. You will need to talk to your mortgage lender to get more information.

What will my monthly payments be?

Your monthly payment will depend on several things. It will depend on how much you are borrowing, what
your interest rate is on your loan, what your real estate taxes are on the home and how much you are paying
in homeowners insurance. If you are paying private mortgage insurance that will also effect your monthly
payment. While you can estimate these figures with a mortgage calculator, your lender will be able to let you know what to expect before you close on your new home.

Home Buyer Frequently Asked Questions, What do I do when I find a home I want to see?

When you find a home that you would like to see, whether on the internet or driving around, call Lestel. If
you contact the agent that has the sign in the yard or the one that is mentioned on the website, you will be contacting the agent working for the seller and who is looking out for the sellers best interest. If you look at a home with another agent Lestel cannot represent you or negotiate the offer for you.

What are the benefits of working with Lestel?

Lestel Meade has been a full time Realtor since 1998. Real estate is her career. Put her Experience, Enthusiasm, Education and Energy to work for you! Contact her today.