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Be a Better Home Buyer

Buying a home is a great step for you and your family but also a large financial commitment. You may be wondering:

All of these thoughts and fears are normal — but it’s helpful to remember that you’re not alone in this. You have a team of individuals involved in the buying process.

Often, deals will include a closing agent, a real estate attorney, a real estate agent, and us, a mortgage loan officer. While it’s a team effort with everyone to make the deal happen, there are key things that you as a home buyer can keep in mind to give you an edge in the deal process as well.

Home Buying Tip #1: Be Open to Negotiation

It’s often said that “You won’t find out if you don’t ask.” 

This rule in life also applies to negotiating on your home price. If you accept the first price that the real estate agent listing the house offers, you probably are taking the high end.

When working with a real estate agent, keep in mind that they are motivated to get the house sold and off the market. Ensure your real estate agent is not too desperate, as that could be a red flag for the house as a whole. However, the housing market has so many homes available at any given moment, you could find another one.

Home Buying Tip #2: Follow Your Budget

While negotiation is recommended, it’s far more important to stick to the house that fits your budget at every step of the process. The price tag on the home paints a good picture, but not quite the full extent of costs. 

As you close on a home, there will be additional closing costs that must be factored. When moving in, there will be plenty of costs associated such as hiring movers, new furniture, appliances, and updating cosmetic aspects. Plus, even after moving in, there could be unexpected costs that arise such as a broken washing machine or oven and changes in property taxes.

Home Buying Tip #3: Know Your Programs & Resources

There are plenty of programs and resources available to assist home buyers. Some of the most popular home loan options include:

There are plenty of other loan types, like jumbo loans, USDA loans, and more to help you land in your dream home. Chris Doering Mortgage can help you locate the right loan from these many options.

Home Buying Tip #4: Secure Pre-Approval

Before you tour your dream house, you need to show that you have what it takes to purchase said house. This means coming to a mortgage lender, like our team at Chris Doering Mortgage, to work out the details. Our pre-approval process requires a formal credit check, review of financial documents and income, and underwriting the potential loan. 

With all of this information, you’ll walk away with a good sense of what’s the low, high, and comfortable zone of your house budget. Coming to an open house prequalified lets the real estate agent know that you’re serious about your shopping and that you are a real option for the house.

We’re Here to Help

It’s important that you feel well-equipped to take on the home buying process, but our team is here to help you every step of the way. Whether you need to be pre-qualified or want to discuss the best loan type for you, get in touch with us to learn more.

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