If you think you are prepared to take the leap from renter to homeowner, then it is important to take a financial inventory of your lifestyle, debts and assets. Are you gainfully and reliably employed? Lenders look for those who will pay their loans payments on time, and consistent income is a must to qualify. Do you have enough money saved to put up a down payment? The down payment should be a minimum of five to 10 percent of the real estate property purchase price. Your credit score should be in at least fair to good shape and only contain a few outstanding debts that can be easily resolved. Your payment history should show a good record of payments being made on time.
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Comparing buying and renting is no different than comparing apples to oranges. While they both have pros and cons, it simply comes down to what each person prefers when considering buying a house for sale. Renters have the advantage of management-provided maintenance and lawn care in most cases. When buying your own home, there is opportunity to build equity with the monthly payments, while also qualifying for tax incentives to help offset new homeowner expenses.
The lender’s formula is a complex configuration of debt-to-income ratio, available credit and score, credit history and the amount of available cash for the down payment and closing costs, as well a few other numbers.
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Under normal market conditions, the average time to complete the sale of a home is 30 to 45 days. Though, well-prepared home buyers have been known to purchase properties faster than the averages.
Market conditions are a major factor in how fast homes are sold. In hot markets with a lot of sales activity, buying a home may take a little longer than normal. That’s because several parties involved in the transaction get behind when business suddenly picks up. For example, a spike in home sales increases the demand for property appraisals and home inspections, yet there will be no increase in the number of appraisers and inspectors available to do the work. Lender turn-around times for loan underwriting can also slow down. If each party involved in a deal takes a day or two longer to get their work done, the entire process gets extended.
Is the home large enough to fit your needs, both now and in the future? Is the structure compromised in any way? Imagine the home throughout the seasons with all of your belongings inside. Ask questions of the homeowner. Are the appliances going to stay? What, if any, have been ongoing maintenance issues? What is the neighborhood like? What is the reputation of the local schools? Some of these details can only be found out by talking to the homeowners themselves, so don’t be afraid to ask.
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If the built-up equity in your current home will be applied to the down payment on the new home, naturally the former will need to be sold first.
Some home buyers decide to turn their current home into an investment property, renting it out. In that case, the current home will not need to be sold. However, your loan advisor will still need to evaluate your risk profile and credit history to determine whether making a loan on a new home is feasible while retaining title to the old home.
Buyers often have a short time frame to sell their current home when relocating to a new city because of a job transfer. If you are moving but taking a position with the same employer, check to see if they offer relocation assistance to help offset some of the costs.
A real estate agent is more than just a sales person. A real estate agent may act on your behalf, providing you with advice and guidance when buying or selling a home. Due to the constant changing of the market, the information available on listings is not always 100% accurate. There are times when you need the most current information about what has sold or is for sale, and the only way to get that is with a real estate agent.
Yes. If you’ve been pre-qualified, then a loan officer has helped you determine what price is affordable for your down payment, debts, and mortgage. If you’ve been pre-approved, then a lender has already approved your credit and employment funds.
The following should be evaluated before you agree to purchase a home: roofing, foundation, ventilation, insulation, heating / air conditioning, plumbing, electrical systems, septic tanks, sewer lines, wells, ceilings, walls, floors, and hazardous material concerns.
Homeowners association is a nonprofit association that manages the common areas of a condominium or “planned unit development” (PUD). Unit owners pay a fee to the association in order to maintain areas such as a pool or playground that are owned jointly.
Generally, real property never depreciates in value, or more so, it is not very common for property to depreciate. This is why it’s a great investment. Make sure you carefully consider location and community when choosing a home, it can effect the homes future value greatly.
If you are in a newly developed area, do some research on the construction of the surrounding areas being developed to determine if they may effect your homes value.
