No Comments

Breakdown of the Home-Buying Process

It is in your best interest to have buyer representation during the home-buying process, because it doesn’t cost you anything and will protect you from making costly mistakes. The Hunt Team is committed to ensuring your home-buying experience is exceptional and they way we do that is by educating you so you can make the best decision for yourself and your family.

Here is our simplified explanation of the home-buying process (we will discuss in detail at our first meeting):

  1. Meet with a Mortgage Broker and get Pre-Approved.
  2. Create your Dream Home Wishlist.
  3. Look at houses (and find your dream home).
  4. Preparing and submit a (winning) offer.
  5. Conduct Inspections & Appraisals.
  6. Prepare for Closing.
  7. I just bought a home, now what?

 

No Comments

Why Should I Use a Realtor When I Buy?

Whether or not you elect to have buyer representation, this commission has already been determined contractually and is still due to the seller’s agent.

This means that you should always opt to have your own representation during the home-buying process, because it doesn’t cost you anything and will protect you from making costly mistakes.

The seller’s agent will always have their client’s best interest at heart—which means you need an experienced and knowledgeable Realtor fighting for your best interests. Plus, buying or selling a home usually requires dozens of forms, reports, disclosures and other technical documents. Realtors have the expertise to help you prepare a killer deal—while avoiding delays or costly mistakes that can seriously mess you up.

There is no disadvantage to a choosing a buyer’s representative.


What does a Buyer’s Agent do?
  • They are an adviser and advocate for you during the entire home buying process.
  • A buyer’s agent will educate you on current market conditions.
  • Research homes in the area and sort through active listings to make suggestions after cross-referencing your needs (i.e. Which homes are located in areas that have retained home values? Which homes are located inside good school districts? Lower taxed areas? Easy work commutes? etc.).
  • Handle the ins and outs of the negotiation process including the preparation of all necessary forms when making an offer and/or counteroffer.
  • Provide oversight and follow up for any inspections deemed necessary.
  • Counsel buyers on how to handle any repairs needed on the property.
  • Be present at closing to ensure that all the buyer’s interests are protected.

The Hunt Team makes the commitment to bring all of these skills “to the table” on your behalf when you are our client.

Why should you choose Hunt Team to represent you?
  1. To have a professional representing your best interests.
  2. To receive thorough advice, keeping you educated and informed during the transaction.
  3. To work through strategies on pricing a home, writing offers, negotiation, repairs and other contingencies.
  4. To sell your home for the most amount in the shortest time OR to purchase a home for the best price with the least amount of hassle possible
No Comments

Meet with a Mortgage Broker First

 Meeting with a Mortgage Broker and obtaining a Pre-Approval Letter is a crucial step in getting started with the home-buying process.

Why do you need to be pre-approved before looking at homes?

  1. Neither you nor the Realtor want to waste time looking at properties that aren’t within your budget. You don’t want to assume you will be approved for a certain amount and find out later that your dream home is out of your budget.
  2. It is critical to have a pre-approval letter to negotiate effectively. A buyer who has a pre-approval has a distinct advantage over those buyers who decide to look at homes without a pre-approval.  If a seller receives multiple offers on their home, which is pretty common in a sellers market, they are going to select a purchase offer from the buyer who provides a pre-approval.
  3. You will eliminate frustration and stress by obtaining your pre-approval beforehand: giving you an upper-hand in today’s competitive market.

VERY IMPORTANT: What you are qualified to pay versus what you are comfortable paying for a monthly mortgage payment may be two different numbers. You can often be approved for a much larger monthly payment than what you will actually be comfortable paying each month- this is something to discuss with your lender or your Realtor. A good Realtor will respect those boundaries regardless of what the numbers say you can afford. Do not let anyone convince you to look “just a little bit higher”.