Monday, January 5, 2009

Stop Renting!

By John Kron

It is a big step to consider, going from renting an apartment or house to purchasing your own condo or home. The rewards can be huge, including privacy and building your net worth. This quick list will give you a few pointers that hopefully will help you as you look for your new home.

1. A good real estate agent is an important ally in your search. The two important qualities you might look for are experience, and attitude. Find a real estate agent with experience in the type of property you are looking at, who also has a customer satisfaction mindset, and you are talking to the right person.

2.Get your real estate agent to prepare a Comparative Market Analysis of the property you have in mind. This will show what similar real estate has sold for recently, and show you how the asking and selling prices of various homes compared.

3.Have the home inspected. For this inspection you need a third party inspection company. This will let you know of any problems with foundation, roof, etc. Before you buy is the time to know the true condition a home is in.

4. Seek financing before you begin house shopping. While this is not always possible, getting pre approved for a mortgage lets you know what price range to shop in. It also avoids the disappointment of being denied after finding the 'perfect' house.

5.Dont let your eagerness and emotions get the better of you. It is easy to find a home that you just have to have. You need to talk to your real estate agent and weigh the pros and cons before you make any decisions.

6. Try to appreciate the position of the seller in any offers you might make. A really low offer on your part might upset the applecart and you might not get a good counter offer. This is a good area to trust your experienced real estate agent.

7. Understand all the documents before you sign. Get your agent to explain them to you, and make sure you know your rights and obligations.

Hopefully, this short article has given you food for thought on your new home. Good luck in your search!

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