Goldstar Premier Properties

1. Hire a professional agent. Not all agents are equal, so ensure that you’re working with someone who has a proven track record of success when it comes to navigating their clients to win in the end. Ask them to share past stories of what they’ve done to ensure their clients got their offers accepted. 2. Have your finances lined up. By that, I mean you should have your pre-approval ready, but some sellers have been asking buyers to present their credit scores, proofs of income, and bank statements—be sure to have those documents ready so you don’t have to spend time gathering them together. Time is of the essence when it comes to placing an offer. 3. Make your offer as clean as possible. Make sure that your offer has few or no contingencies. If you have any questions about the market or real estate in general, feel free to reach out to me. I’m always here to be of service.

Yes! It is a great chance to see what is out there… Just let the agent holding the open house know that you already have an agent that you are working with.

Technically, these are your costs. But, if you just have enough in the bank for the down payment, you can ask the seller to pay these, or you can up your interest rate to include them. Some sellers will cover closing costs, some will not- but it is common for buyers to ask for them to be covered.

Depending on price range, earnest money can be as little as 5% of purchase price. This will be paid in the form of a personal check written out to the attorney of the seller’s choice and held in on escrow account.

The seller pays for you to have an agent, and your agent only gets paid at closing. So, if your agent does not complete the job, they won’t get paid!

We will re-negotiate. If we cannot come to an agreement on price, we can void the contract and get the Earnest Money back. Remember though- that at this point the appraisal and any inspections would still have to be paid for out of pocket.

The amount of money you need to purchase a home depends on how much money you put down, and whether or not you receive any assistance in paying closing costs from the seller. Closing costs vary based on the home's purchase price, but your Realtor or lender can give you a rough estimate of typical closing costs in your price range. Down payment requirements depend on loan type. FHA loans require as little as 3.5% down, and convention as low as 5%. However, you may qualify for down payment assistance programs, Rural Development 0% down loans, or VA 0% down loans.

Closing day is essentially the transfer of ownership, but it’s not just a formality. It needs to go well. This is when you sign the final paperwork and get the keys to the house. One of the most important questions to ask a real estate agent is exactly what you need to bring for the big day. You’ll probably need your ID, a check for the closing costs, and proof of homeowner’s insurance. Asking in advance will keep you organized and help your first big real estate transaction run smoothly. You don’t want to get there and realize you forgot a key piece of paperwork that keeps the deal from closing. Fewer things are as disappointing than not going home from a closing with keys to your new house.

It’s easy to be dazzled by 12-foot ceilings, crown molding, and other aesthetic features, but you need to pay attention to the nuts and bolts of the house. We’re talking about things like the HVAC system, water heater, roof, electrical system, and plumbing. These items could have more impact on a home’s value than quartz countertops or hardwood floors, because it’s expensive when they malfunction. A leaking hot water heater can do thousands of dollars of damage. And replacing an aging HVAC system can start at more than $5,000, putting it in the major expense category.

Before you pick a real estate professional, ask them how many clients they’ve worked with to find a home. Your real estate agent is supposed to be an expert, so one with a lot of experience will be a big help to a newbie home buyer like you. That’s not to say a newly licensed agent can’t be a good one. But agents learn on the job. The more sales they’ve completed, and the more people they’ve helped buy a home, the more wisdom they have to share with you.