6 Tips for First-time Home Buyers

Looking to purchase your first home? Here are 6 tips for first-time homebuyers:

1. Start saving early. Here are the main costs to consider when saving for a home:

Down payment: Your down payment requirement will depend on the type of mortgage you choose and the lender.

Closing costs: These are the fees and expenses you pay to finalize your mortgage.

Move-in expenses: You’ll need some cash after the home purchase. Set some money aside for immediate home repairs, upgrades, and furnishings.

2. Decide how much home you can afford. Figure out how much you can safely spend on a house before starting to shop.

3. Check and strengthen your credit. Your credit score will determine whether you qualify for a mortgage and affect the interest rate lenders will offer.

4. Explore mortgage options. A variety of mortgages are available with varying down payment and eligibility requirements.

5. Research a first-time homebuyer assistance program.

6. Get pre-approval. A mortgage preapproval is a lender’s offer to loan you a certain amount under specific terms. Having a preapproval letter shows home sellers and real estate agents that you’re a serious buyer, and can give you an edge over home shoppers who haven’t taken this step yet.

Tips to Prepare Your Home For Sale

First impressions make a significant impact on a buyer’s decision-making process!

Once your home goes on the market, it becomes a product. Home Styling or Staging simply allows you to highlight the best of your home and de-emphasize its flaws. It’s not about decorating, but actually turning your home into a model, to appeal to the broadest range of prospective buyers. The goal is to make people feel like they could live there, and the best way to do this is to “neutralize” the surroundings.

Try out these helpful styling tips taken from Setting the Stage – REALTOR® Magazine Online. They’ve compiled the best tips from stagers and real estate pros—things you can do for little or no expense—to put a home in prime showing shape.

• Clear out closets and clutter—sellers can give away or pack up toys, linens, and small kitchen appliances to store offsite. Buyers are also forgiving of storage boxes neatly tucked away in a garage or basement.

• Focus most on the most visible areas—the foyer, kitchen, living room, master bedroom, and family room.

• De-personalize the home by removing photos, mementos, and dated items.

• Use plants in colorful pots or inexpensive wicker baskets to fill in empty spaces.

• Look to home catalogs for little details on beautifying the home. For instance, group books, pictures, and objets d’art appealingly on bookcases.

• Try angling one or two pieces of furniture slightly and move furniture 4 inches to 6 inches from the wall to create more interesting room spaces.

• Put away large collections— porcelains, plates, and so on.

• Remove valuables, prescription medicine, collectibles, and breakables.

• Trim trees, prune shrubs and make sure the lawn is mowed and watered regularly.

• In summer, turn on the sprinklers for five minutes, 30 minutes before the open house. It makes the lawn and driveway sparkle.

• Refrain from cooking anything that leaves a distinctive odor, such as fish, garlic, or cabbage.

• Hire a professional service to clean the home, including the carpets and the windows.

• Set the dining room table with attractive linens, dishes, and stemware.

• Arrange fresh or silk flowers throughout the home.

• Light a fire in the fireplace in fall and winter.

• A mirror in a pretty frame can make a small room feel more open.

• Use as much natural light as possible. Add extra lamps in dark rooms or corners.

• Make functional repairs—fix dripping faucets, sticking doors, and broken fences.

• Bring in another pair of eyes—even if it’s not a professional stylist. The person may see problems you and have missed.

Top 5 Reasons to Hiring a Selling Agent

If you’re getting ready to buy or sell a house, you might be weighing the pros and cons of hiring a real estate agent. Some people will avoid working with agents or realtors because they think real estate agent fees are too high. Others wouldn’t hire one because they’ve had bad experiences in the past. However, this only emphasizes the importance of having a good agent to work with. In addition, if the only reason you’re not working with an agent is to save money by not paying fees and commissions, then you’re overlooking the main benefits of hiring a real estate agent. What does a real estate agent do and how do they make your transaction easier? Here are the top 10 reasons why you need a real estate agent whether you’re a seller, buyer, or property investor.

1. Ensures that you get proper representation

2. Benefit from current and historical market experience.

3. Consult on improving the salability and value of your home

4. Skill in marketing your property to the right buyer

5. Understands the legal requirements and documentation process which protects you.