5 Tips for First-Time Home Buyers

T I P S F O R F I R S T -
5
I M E H O M E
T
B U Y E R S
Article Source:
entrepreneur.com
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https://artesiantitle.com/

1. Draw up a hard budget and
home, but you’re not sure it’s in
problem. Before you start
browsing, it’s crucial that you
afford? What is your ideal price
2. Make a short list of your
shopping, consider your
well-being? And what would
there, make a list of nonnegotiables,
says real estate
location, to square footage, to
want, but it's hard to find
to it. stick
say you're interested in a
Let’s
non-negotiables.
Before you start seriously
your price range. That’s a
lifestyle and values. What
features would enhance your
iron out important questions
make you miserable? From
such as, what is the most you can
range? To help you get started,
company Remax -- from
use an online mortgage
calculator to determine the
amenities -- that you must
maximum monthly payment you
have in your future home. This
can afford based on the price of
will also help guide your
realtor.
the home after you put down a
down payment and over a 30-
year-mortgage.
"There is nothing better than
knowing exactly what you
everything in one property,”
Fountoulakis says. “The best
way to gauge your options is
to visit open houses in the area
and get acquainted with the
local market. Visit apartments
that are both above and below
your budget to see how values
differ with features and
location.”

3. Use an experienced realtor who knows the area and the
Realtors. So start by asking friends, family or friends of friends
fails, real estate websites Streeteasy, Trulia and Zillow all have
Check out comparable apartments
4.
houses in the area to get an idea of
and
time home buyers should look at
First
homes in the area they want
comparable
live, according to Bankrate. Thanks to
to
estate sites such as Streeteasy, Trulia
real
Zillow, there’s no excuse not to
and
what homes in the area you’re
research
you’re looking in a particular apartment
If
get a sense of what other
building,
in the building have sold for or
properties
being sold for. This will give you an
are
for what your starting offer should be
idea
you’re ready to bid on your future
when
Ask the realtor about
5.
closing costs
expected
costs, which don’t
Closing
your personal
include
include the cost of
they
a real-estate attorney
hiring
look over your buyer-seller
to
and a home
agreement
to evaluate the
appraiser
before the sale, which
home
commission, that’s paid by
market.
Your realtor can make or break your home buying experience. If
you know where you want to live, try and get a realtor referral.
Fifty four percent of buyers found their agent from a personal
referral or had used an agent they’d worked with before,
according to 2014 figures from the National Association of
who live in your area of interest for recommendations. If that
ratings on local realtors.
“A good realtor has knowledge of the area -- a great time saver --
and more important is his or her ability to listen and execute
what you are looking for,” Fountoulakis says. “A good realtor will
be in your corner until the closing -- and, in some cases, beyond."
pricing.
and moving costs,
packing
vary widely. Typically,
can
looking at have sold for recently.
typically paid by the buyer.
is
for the realtor’s
As
the seller, not the buyer.