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Showing posts with the label Tips for First Time Home Buyers

5 Reasons You Should Hire a Realtor Before Buying

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Buying a home at the Lake of the Ozarks  for the first time will be one of the biggest decisions you'll make in your lifetime. While buying a home can be time-consuming and stressful if you don't understand the ins and outs of closing a real estate transaction, it doesn't have to be. Recruiting an  experienced real estate agent at the Lake of the Ozarks  can really make a difference in whether or not the closing process goes smoothly. Buyer's agents are knowledgeable and experienced in handling all aspects of closing on a transaction for their client. When you consider whether hiring a buyer's agent is right for you,  eXp Realty  wants you to consider the many things that they can do for you: 1. Considering All Variables There are a lot of things to consider when you're buying a house. Will the property meet your family's needs? Will you be able to tolerate your new commute to work? Is there a busy street just on the other side of those trees that'...

Tips for Buying a Home with Your Significant Other

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Engaged...check. Married...check. Honeymoon...check. Now you may be considering purchasing your first home together.   Buying your first home with your new spouse can be a complicated process.  Many couples have never actually lived together, one person might be carrying more debt or have bad credit, your tastes and expectations are worlds apart...these are just a few things that cause newlyweds to get frustrated early in the home-buying process. Here are a few tips to consider when purchasing your first home together. 1. Window Shop Together Go to home tours, review listings and discuss likes/dislikes, clip pictures out of magazines and determine what you can and cannot live without. Figure out which things you can compromise on so that you will BOTH be satisfied buyers. Keep in mind that most homebuyers will stay in their home for 9 years - you want those nine years to be enjoyable. 2. Consider Credit Issues for BOTH of You Your bills are always paid on time. You...

Why You Should Hire a Buyer's Agent When Buying Your First Home

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Buying a home at the Lake of the Ozarks  for the first time will be one of the biggest decisions you'll make in your lifetime. While buying a home can be time-consuming and stressful if you don't understand the ins and outs of closing a real estate transaction, it doesn't have to be. Recruiting an experienced real estate agent at the Lake of the Ozarks can really make a difference in whether or not the closing process goes smoothly. Buyer's agents are knowledgeable and experienced in handling all aspects of closing on a transaction for their client. When you consider whether hiring a buyer's agent is right for you, eXp Realty wants you to consider the many things that they can do for you: 1. Considering All Variables There are a lot of things to consider when you're buying a house. Will the property meet your family's needs? Will you be able to tolerate your new commute to work? Is there a busy street just on the other side of those trees that's ...

5 Things Your Buyer's Agent Should Do For You

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Buying your first home is (understandably) a rather daunting experience. How are you supposed to know how to successfully navigate all of the negotiations - or how to even begin the negotiations in the first place? Fortunately for you, you don't have to face these challenges alone! Your real estate agent at the Lake of the Ozarks . As your personal representative, your buyer's agent will have special responsibilities and obligations to fulfill during your home buying process. You will have help every step of the way! What Should Your Buyer's Agent Do For You? 1. Help You Discover Your Dream Home Choosing the home you want to buy is perhaps the most exciting part of real estate at the Lake of the Ozarks . There's nothing like walking into your dream home and knowing it's "the one." Of course, walking through every home on the market to try to find that one might not as much fun. Your buyer's agent will take your wish list and use it to sor...

How Much Do You Really Need For A Down Payment?

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Trying to decide if you're ready to buy a house at the Lake of the Ozarks ? It should come as no surprise that finances are major factor most people in your situation have to consider. Your house is likely the largest purchase you will ever make in your life, and you have to be sure that you are ready! The down payment is often the biggest obstacle that prospective home buyers have to face, so it should come as no surprise that finding out how much they need for a down payment is a top priority for most buyers. Unfortunately, there is no magic answer that indicates how much your down payment will be, as down payments vary according to several different factors and  different types of mortgage loans have different requirements. Here's a quick look at some of these various factors. What Is The Down Payment? First, let's start with a little background info on the down payment. Since the vast majority of people who purchase homes are unable to do so without a loan...

4 Steps To Take BEFORE Buying A Home

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The moment you very first think about buying a house at the Lake of the Ozarks , it's time to take action. Buying a home is a big step in life, and the process usually takes several months from start to finish. That said, you can never know when you will stumble across the home of your dreams, so it's a good idea to begin preparations sooner than later! Because a house is most likely the largest financial investment you will ever make in your lifetime, it's important to take time to prepare. If you are thinking about potentially searching for homes for sale at the Lake of the Ozarks in the next few months, it's time to start taking steps to set yourself up for success. STEP 1: Make A Budget A house is a huge investment. There are lots of costs associated with owning your own home, such as your mortgage payment, utilities, remodels, landscaping, and any necessary repairs. In order to be confident you're not biting off more than you can chew, it's imp...

Why Do You Need A Home Inspection?

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Would you... Purchase a vehicle without taking it for a test drive? Buy an expensive dress or suit without trying it on? Purchase a boat without making sure everything worked? Most of us would answer "no" to every single one of these questions. Most people tend to be fairly cautious with big purchases, and rightly so. When there are so many dollars at stake, it's important to make sure that you know exactly what you're getting and that you know it will work well for its intended purposes. Buying a home at the Lake of the Ozarks is the same way; you should not buy a home without first getting a professional home inspection. The inspection report will give you important insight on the current working conditions of everything in the home. A Home Inspection Will Examine Every Part Of The Home A professional, high-quality home inspection will carefully examine every single part of the home for sale at the Lake of the Ozarks , both interior and exterior. ...

What Is The Best Time Of the Month To Close?

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You may not realize it if this is your first time buying a home at the Lake of the Ozarks , but the time of month that you close on your home can have a significant impact on your finances. There is no "right" or "wrong" time of the month to close, but your desired closing date should match your financial needs. Our Lake of the Ozarks real estate agents are here to help you weigh the pros and cons. Reduced Closing Costs If you're looking to save as much money at closing as possible, closing at the end of the month will probably be your best bet. You won't be making your first mortgage payment at closing, but you will be required to pay interest for every day that you own the home. If you close on May 28th, you would only have to pay interest for four days (28th, 29th, 30th, and 31st). If you close in the beginning of the month, on the other hand, you will have to pay several more days' worth of interest.  Closing at the end of the month wi...

5 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Buying Your First Home

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Are you thinking about buying your first home at the Lake of the Ozarks ? Congratulations! Buying your first home is a big step, and it's incredibly exciting. As experienced real estate agents at the Lake , we have learned a few tricks that can make the process of buying your first home much easier. If you're getting ready to buy your first home, ask yourself these questions. Where do you see yourself in five years? This isn't just an interview question. Before you can find your perfect first home at the Lake, you have to understand what your long term homeownership goals are.  Will you raise children in that house?  Do you plan on moving again in a few years? The length of time you plan to spend in your first home will determine how big of a house you need and what type of mortgage loan you may want to try for, to just name a few factors. What factors are non-negotiable? The odds of finding a home that meets every single one of your desired criteria are slim, so...

5 Home Buying Mistakes To Avoid

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Buying a home is a very exciting event, but it unfortunately comes with its fair share of pitfalls. Inexperienced home buyers may fall victim to common mistakes that can create added stress and frustration down the road. If you're getting ready to buy your first home at the Lake of the Ozarks , the team at Gattermeir Davidson Real Estate can help you avoid these pitfalls. Mistake #1: Not Getting Preapproved It's very common for first time home buyers to want to jump straight into touring different homes, before talking to a mortgage lender. When they do this, though, home buyers can get their hearts set on a certain property before they know for sure if they will be able to afford it. Do yourself (and your agent) a favor by getting preapproved for a home loan first so you will only visit homes you know you will be able to realistically consider buying. Mistake #2: Spending Beyond Your Means There can be a big difference between the size of loan you can qualify for and...