At Home with Tammy Real Estate Magazine Summer 2018 | Page 6

1 . START BY PLANNING , THEN START THE COUNTDOWN ! Don ’ t get carried away with your enthusiasm . This is probably one of the biggest purchases you will ever make , so instead of being impulsive ( like those shoes you just bought ), do some research . Spend some time making a plan ( including a time-line ). It can make the difference between loving your new home and regret .

2 . FIND THE RIGHT REALTOR . Set up a meeting to discuss your vision and start forming a relationship ! Of course , we want you to call Tammy Mitchell Hines & Company . We will do everything we can to make your buying experience enjoyable . Your agent is your insider into the world of home buying and can be a priceless asset when buying a home . You want someone you can trust to give you quality advice when you need it . Home buyers have as much to gain from an experienced agent as home sellers do . You have the right to your own representation when buying a home . They can help you find properties listed with them , listed with other agencies , for sale by owner and even builders . Your agent should work closely with you and build a relationship where they truly understand what your priorities are . Their success is directly tied to your success in finding that perfect home .

3 . CAN YOU AFFORD IT ? Making sure you can pay your bills is one of the most important parts of buying a home . Falling in love with a home you can ’ t possibly afford ( and still have a life ) could set you up for disappointment . Take a serious look at your monthly budget . Figure out what you have left after you take care of everything you are doing now . That ’ s what you will have to spend on your new mortgage and home expenses . You also have to factor in related expenses such as insurance , increased utilities , taxes and repairs . If those numbers aren ’ t adding up , then buckle down and change your spending ways until you get where you need to be .

4 . MAKE A LIST OF YOUR WANTS AND NEEDS . Create a checklist and prioritize . How important is the neighborhood , school district , proximity to recreation and entertainment ? These things can be just as important as square footage and how many bathrooms the house has . Take your list with you when you look at houses and make notes . Knowing what you really need can help narrow your home options and make it easier to make decisions .

5 . EXPLORE MORTGAGE OPTIONS . Since most people aren ’ t going to pay for a house with cash , you will probably need some kind of loan . A mortgage is a loan that uses property ( like your new house ) as collateral . If you never plan to buy another home , you might be interested in a 30 year fixed rate mortgage . But if it is a starter home , you might want an adjustable rate mortgage . You may also qualify for special financing , grants , programs or even First Time Home Buyer programs that your mortgage advisor can help you explore . If you don ’ t know where to find a mortgage advisor , we can give you the names of some we work with on a regular basis .

6 . GET PRE-APPROVED . This is KEY for a good home search . Your lender will help you understand how much you can expect to borrow and even give you ideas to improve your borrowing power . Pre-approval can will also give sellers a little more confidence in your seriousness when making an offer . There is no worse feeling than falling in love with a new property , only to find out it is financially out of reach . Getting pre-approved will take the guess work out of your home search and make the process move much more quickly when you find that perfect home .

7 . EXPECT TO NEGOTIATE . It is usually a part of the offer process . Your agent will help you understand what is realistic in terms of offers . Knowing how long the house has been on the market , the asking price position related to comparable properties in the area and even the number of houses in the neighborhood can make a difference . Make sure your offer includes contingencies such as financing and property inspection . You don ’ t want to be bound to a home if you don ’ t have enough money to pay for it . You also don ’ t want to purchase a home that has a structural defect or some other deal breaker without having the option to go back to the negotiation table .

8 . GET A HOME INSPECTION . to make you aware of what might be hiding in the walls or underneath the floors before you finalize the sale . If the home inspector finds a major problem , you ’ ll be very excited you spent the money to have the inspection performed . And if not , you ’ ll be even more confident in your investment . Finding a good home inspector is important . We have a list of accredited home inspectors that we can provide to our clients , or you can check with inspection trade associations ( like the American Society of Home Inspectors ), that require members to abide by certain standards and a set of ethics .

9 . KNOW WHAT YOU ’ LL SIGN BEFORE CLOSING . You are almost home ! Only a few papers stand between you and the keys . You might want to request a draft copy of any documents to preview before the actual closing date . This will take away the emotional jitters and give you a little more time to make sense of what you are signing . If you don ’ t understand something , then ask your personal team of professionals to explain further . Be careful with any numbers that might be on the forms . A typo could mean trouble down the road .

10 . PLAN MOVING DAY WELL IN ADVANCE . You ’ ve got this ! You have taken the time to do your homework , look for homes , analyze your finances , form relationships , sign documents and now you have the keys . It ’ s moving day ! All that ’ s left is packing , moving and enjoying your new home .

BUY OR SELL WITH TAMMY MITCHELL HINES & CO . AND USE ONE OF OUR THREE MOVING TRUCKS FOR FREE !

AMERICAN NAILS 618.939.5155 Mon . - Fri .: 9:30 am – 8:00 pm / Sat : 9:00 am – 7:00 pm / Sun : 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm 937 State Route 3 , Waterloo , IL 62298

COUPON

Full Set Fill In Pedicure Brow Wax

$ 20 $ 15 $ 20 $ 12

$ 18 $ 13 $ 18

$ 10

Exp . 07 / 30 / 18

SAVE $ 2.00