So how do you start a search for the perfect home anyway?

How do you now where to start? You know the old adage Location, Location, Location? That is your starting point.

More important than what city do you want to live in, is what community do you want to live in? Did you envision neighborhood cookouts and block parties, waving to the neighbors on a cool spring night, or watching your children ride bikes with their neighborhood friends? Or did you want an upbeat, 20 something, hip young neighborhood?

Once you have decided that, you start your search. Ideally, driving around and seeing the neighborhoods in person is the best way. Take time to chat with a few people in the perspective neighborhood. Find out about the Home Owners Association, local schools, and other things that only an insider would know. Take note of any homes for sale in the area that appeal to you.

When you have narrowed your search down to 3 or 4 neighborhoods, it is time to call a licensed Realtor...but be prepared, they will have questions for you. How many bedrooms and bathrooms, square footage, large year or small, Budget, time frame, pool, floor plan preferences.

Just a note, many times, what a buyer thinks they are looking for is not what they end up with. Sometimes, priorities have to be rearranged because of budgets, or they simply find what they thought they wanted is just not important. Go into any viewing with an open mind.

Also, be sure to pay attention to the home, not the furnishings. Many times buyers see rooms as small or dark but do not take into consideration the easy changes that can be made. HGTV has many shows dedicated to helping sellers stage their homes for buyers. A little paint, some nice pieces of furniture, and a few pictures on the wall make all the difference. But it is still the same house and these are easy changes a buyer can make too.

Lastly, have fun!

Great tips for selling your house

In the last post I talked about tips for buying a home. Now I would like to focus on what you can do if you are on the other end of the deal.

1. Start by hiring a qualified agent. Make sure you are comfortable with working with the agent. You will be spending a lot of time together. Interview a few and listen to their proposals. How will they market your home to perspective buyers? How many open houses will they hold? Remember, the commission is not just money in their pockets. They have to split with the buyer's agent and their broker and also pay for all the marketing so if you are offered a lot commission rate, it could be at the expense of marketing.
   
2. A good agent will perform a walk through and make a list of items that may need to be repaired or updated to make your property more desirable. This might hurt a bit but remember, the agent is there to help you sell.
   
3. Price it to sell. What you want for your home and what the market shows it is worth may be 2 different things. One of the best ways to ensure your home is on the market long term is to overprice it in the first place. A good buyer's agent will do a CMA (comparative market analysis) for their clients and they may not be as willing to look at over priced properties.
4. Be flexible in the times that you can show your home. Keeping your home spotless may by one of the biggest pains in selling but having it ready to show at any time will ensure you can show it at any time. You never know when the right buyer will come.
   
5. Make sure you have great curb appeal. If they are turned off by the outside, you have already lost them.
6. Don't get offended by low ball offers. Instead, counter with a serious offer. You have nothing to lose after all.
7. Consider requiring potential buyers to be pre-qualified. This could save loads of headache and wasted time waiting.
   
8. Clean clean clean.
9. Remember, it will all be over soon.
   

10 Tips for buying a home

Buying a new home can be an exciting and scary time for anyone. These no nonsense tips can aid you in finding the right house for you...and keep you from pulling your hair out in the process!

1. Consider renting if you only intend to live in the home for a short time. Between loan closing costs and down payments, the initial cost for purchasing can be several thousand. If you intend to stay in the home for 2 years or less, it may not be worth it.
   
2. Make sure your credit is in the best shape it can be. A credit score of 600 or less will generally earn you a high interest rate. Sometimes, putting off buying a home for 6 months while you work on your credit is the best thing.
   
3. Don't buy more than you can really afford. Just because the bank says you are qualified for $250,000 does not mean you must spend that much. Remember, this is a multi year investment.
   
4. Consider your down payment. FHA allows you to put down anywhere from 3 to 3 1/2% whereas a conventional loan can be anywhere from 5 to 20%.
   
5. Think resale. Consider top selling points when you are looking. A great school district, large closets, or hardwood floors will always be desirable. Someday, you may be ready to move on and your buyers will look for these things.
   
6. Get professional help. Nowadays there are so many laws that apply to the buying and selling of a home that a professional, while costing some, will almost always pay off in the end. A Realtor or Lawyer can save money and headache when it comes to possible problems with any deal.
7. Get pre-approved. This step insures you know how much you qualify for so you know what price range to look at. It also shows sellers that you are serious. Offers coming from pre-qualified buyers hold more weight when there are multiple offers.
   
8. Hire a qualified home inspector and make your offer subject to his findings. This is well worth the $300 to $400 you will spend to avoid costly repairs in the near future.
9. Ask the sellers to pay your closing costs. This can save you a lot up front. Though not all sellers will agree to this, some do. And it never hurts to ask.
10. Love the house you are in and try to enjoy the process. Having a great Realtor to work with will help.