Thursday, January 29, 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.

Your real estate agent should be able to provide you with a report of recent market activity in your area. In order to find a home for the best price and value, it is important to compare new properties on the market with selling prices of other, similar homes.

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. Talk to your real estate agent about first offers and price negotiations. One of the reasons you want to find an experienced agent is to utilize his or her negotiation skills to get the best and fairest price on your new home.

7. Any legal documents you might sign need to be fully understood. If you are unsure of your rights and obligations, make sure you ask your real estate agent to explain them to you.

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

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