Real Estate Tips for Buyers
Before you head out to buy your first, second, or tenth home or property, you might want a refresher course on some basics in real estate buying. Now is a great time to be buying if you can, but you will want to make sure you have all your ducks in a row first, in order to ensure a smooth and hassle-free transaction for yourself.
If you know you’re ready to begin the process of obtaining your dream property, read on. We have put together a list of excellent tips for all buyers.
Your Buyer’s Agent – Hartman Real Estate
Much confusion often exists about the role and goal of a buyer’s agent. Many buyers believe they are required to pay a buyer’s agent. This is simply not the case. The seller pays the buyer’s agent as well as the listing agent. That is, the two agents will split the commission earned from the sale. You, the buyer, do not pay for anything other than your new property. But don’t think this means that Hartman Real Estate will just try to push you into buying a property so that we can earn money. A large majority of our clientele comes from referrals and repeat customers. So we are going to do everything in our power to make sure you are 100% satisfied with the buying process and your purchase.
Get Pre-approved
Unless you are buying a home cash out, meaning you have actual cash you are bringing to closing for the entire cost of the home, you will need to borrow money and obtain a mortgage for the loan. Even if you are selling another home and buying a new one, you will need to become re-qualified to buy now. This entails sitting down with a lender, bank, mortgage broker, or private investor and going over all your finances to make sure you can actually afford a home and exactly how much you can afford. The lender will typically go over all your income, debts, credit scores, and anything else they may need to complete the preliminary financing. Once they have done this, they will usually issue you a pre-approval letter stating how much you can afford. This is a great tool to present to sellers during the offer period as it shows you have already done your homework and are a smart buyer.
First-Time Buyer? Those of who have not experienced this process before, do not be intimidated. We have experts who are eager to make this a memorable, exciting experience for you.
Buying With Zero Down Payment? For those people who may be seeking to purchase a home without making a down payment do not just assume that buying is not an option for you. Talk to one of our agents about your options today. We want to help you find what you’re looking for.
Have an Inspection
Even if you plan on asking for nothing from the sellers, this is still a great way to learn all you can about your new home, such as how long you have until the roof will need to be replaced. It helps determine the life of appliances like furnaces, water heaters, central A/C, or heat pumps. Basically, the inspection helps you learn all you can about the largest investment you are probably going to make in your life. We have expert inspectors in the Hermann real estate area that know the ins and outs of Missouri real estate.
Get Homeowners Insurance
If you are selling one home and buying another, then you will need to let your current homeowners insurance know of the move and find out if there are any changes to the policy. If you are brand new at owning, you will want to shop around and find a company you trust and get some quotes on homeowners insurance. This will financially protect you from fire, theft, weather damage, and any other issues you have agreed to on the policy.
As your broker, we will keep all documents and agreements in writing and make sure all we do is professional and straightforward; however, we may be initially unaware of some issues that could arise. For this reason, you will want to make sure you have every detail of your transaction and proceedings recorded in writing and keep in clear communication with us through the whole process.
With these tips, you should be in a good position for buying Hermann area homes and property. We are experts in this field and want to show you how fun and easy buying real estate can be! Start your online search here first or give us a call today for more information on Hermann area real estate.
Hartman Real Estate helps sellers and buyers come together over the right home and right price. With up-to-date listings, current market conditions, and local information, we are your full service source for all Hermann area real estate.
We want your real estate experience to be a stress-free and smooth transaction whether you are buying or selling Hermann area homes or properties. As your Hermann area realtor, our goal is your goal, and we make every effort to buy or sell your property on your terms and your price.
We service the entire Hermann area, including the counties of Gasconade, Franklin, Osage, Montgomery, Callaway and Warren. If you would like more information about our listing service or buyers agency, please do not hesitate to contact us anytime.
Call 573-486-2927 or email info@hartmanrealestate.com. We look forward to speaking with you about your specific Hermann real estate needs.