Buyers / Compradores
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Buying a home is an exciting time in one's life. Making the smart move of choosing a Real Estate Agent is your first step to ensuring that your new home and community meets your needs. Our services and experience range from financial aid to helping you find the home that best suits you and your family. For your convenience, We also provide listings by email. We pride ourselves on repeat business and hope you'll come to understand why.
How I Can Help
Before you start looking
Closing Costs
10 Steps to Prepare for Home Ownership
- Decide how much home you can afford. Generally, you can afford a home equal in value to between 2 and 3 times your gross income.
- Develop a wish list of what you'd like your home to have. Then prioritize the features on your list.
- Select three or four neighborhoods you'd like to live in. Consider items such as schools, recreational facilities, area expansion plans, and safety.
- Determine if you have enough saved to cover your downpayment and closing costs. Closing costs, including taxes, attorney's fee, and transfer fees average between 2 and 7 percent of the home price.
- Get your credit in order. Obtain a copy of your credit report.
- Determine how large a mortgage you can qualify for. Also explore different loans options and decide what's best for you.
- Organize all the documentation a lender will need to preapprove you for a loan.
- Do research to determine if you qualify for any special mortgage or downpayment assistance programs.
- Calculate the costs of homeownership, including property taxes, insurance, maintenance, and association fees, if applicable.
- Find an experienced REALTOR® who can help you through the process.
As Your Agent, I Will:
- Assure that you see all the properties in the area that meet your criteria.
- Guide you through the entire home buying process, from finding homes to look at, to getting the best financing.
- Make sure you don't pay too much for your new home and help you avoid costly mistakes.
- Answer all of your questions about the local market area, including schools, neighborhoods, the local economy, and more.
Before You Start Looking For Your New Home:
- Check your credit rating. Straighten out any errors before it’s too late.
- Determine a comfortable monthly budget for your new purchase, including down payment and monthly payment.
- Find a loan program that meets your needs and get pre-qualified (preferably pre-approved).
- Choose a Real Estate Agent that you trust and who understands your needs.
- Determine what neighborhood best matches your needs.
- Identify important features you need your new home to have.
How Big a Mortgage Can I Afford?
Not only does owning a home give you a haven for yourself and your family, it makes great financial sense, too.
This calculation assumes a 28 percent income tax bracket. If your bracket is higher, your savings will be too.
Rent: _________________________
Multiplier: X 1.32
Mortgage payment:__________________
Because of tax deductions, you can make a mortgage payment-including taxes and insurance-that is approximately one-third larger than your current rent payment and end up with the same amount of income.
Closing Costs to Expect:
- Lender fees include charges for loan processing, underwriting, preparation and establishing an escrow account.
- Third-party fees include charges for insurance, title search, and other inspections such as termites.
- Government fees include deed recording and state & local mortgage taxes.
- Escrow and interest fees include homeowner's insurance, loan interest, real estate taxes, and occasionally private mortgage insurance.
10 Tips for First-Time Homebuyers: 
- Be picky, but don't be unrealistic. There is no perfect home.
- Do your homework before you start looking. Decide specifically what features you want in a home and which are most important to you.
- Get your finances in order. Review your credit report and be sure you have enough money to cover your downpayment and your closing costs
- Don't wait to get a loan. Talk to a lender and get prequalified for a mortgage before you start looking.
- Don't ask too many people for opinions. It will drive you crazy. Select one or two people to turn to if you feel you need a second opinion.
- Decide when you could move. When is your lease up? Are you allowed to sublet? How tight is the rental market in your area?
- Think long-term. Are you looking for a starter house with the idea of moving up in a few years or do you hope to stay in this home longer? This decision may dictate what type of home you'll buy as well as type of mortgage terms that suit you best.
- Don't let yourself be house poor. If you max yourself out to buy the biggest home you can afford, you'll have no money left for maintenance or decoration or to save money for other financial goals.
- Don't be naïve. Insist on a home inspection and if possible get a warranty from the seller to cover defects within one year.
- Get help. Consider hiring a REALTOR® as a buyer's representative. Unlike a listing agent, whose first duty is to the seller, a buyer's representative is working only for you. And often, buyer's reps are paid out of the seller's commission payment.
Find out how much your closing costs could be.
For loan information please visit these sites:
10 Tips for Coping and Competing in a Hot Market
Reports of a sizzling housing market in the Puget Sound region are prompting would-be owners to take shortcuts or act impulsively – steps that REALTORS® say could have costly consequences. To help prepare buyers for competing in today’s fast-moving real estate market, the Charlotte Regional Realtors Association® suggests 10 steps every prospective buyer should keep in mind as they search for their dream home.
1. Get Your Lender to "Pre-Approve" You as a Buyer.
When lenders make a real estate loan, two entities -- the buyer and the home -- must each qualify for the mortgage. (There are thousands of loan products, so take time to shop around.) Make your offer to the seller as strong as possible by being a "pre-approved" buyer. Sellers favor buyers who are preapproved (not just "pre-qualified") because it increases the likelihood of a successful transaction. You will need to be pre-approved sooner or later, so get it done before you even start looking at homes. That way, the remaining issues surrounding the mortgage are pretty much limited to “the home.” Is the home in good repair, and does the independent appraisal reflect a value equal to the purchase price?2. Use a “Team Approach”
Buyers who have a strong team lined up before starting to look at homes are more likely to have sellers accept their offers. A team approach can enhance the chances for a positive response. For example, in addition to providing a pre-approval letter, your lender can call the seller's Realtor the moment an offer is presented to let the seller know you're a strong buyer, and that you have a lender who is already working hard to assure a quick and successful transaction.Who's on your team? At a minimum, it's a good idea if your team includes your Realtor, along with your lender, your home inspector, your escrow/closing agent and your title insurance company representative.
Two things are very important about such teams: First, each member you select should have expertise and a demonstrated record of success in solving glitches effectively and promptly. In a hot market, there's no room for a "weak link" on your team, especially when you may be competing against multiple offers. And second, it helps if the team has worked together before. An experienced Realtor can help you not just with evaluating homes, negotiating offers, removing contingencies, and assisting in the escrow process, but also in assembling a winning team from the outset of your search.
3. Be Ready and Willing to Act Quickly!
A hot real estate market requires buyers to be prepared and willing to act on a moment's notice. This preparation involves logistics, along with an action-oriented mindset.In terms of logistics, when properties are selling within minutes or hours of coming onto the market, your Realtor® needs to be able to reach you 24/7, regardless of your other activities or commitments.
You’ll also need to be mentally ready for the hard reality of this market: You could end up losing the opportunity to buy the home that's "just right" for you by deciding to "sleep on it" overnight. In doing so, you risk losing out to another buyer strike a deal to move "their bed" into that home by the time you’ve snoozed and are ready to make a decision.
Adopting an action-oriented mindset can be especially challenging for individuals whose personal style (or professional work) involves taking plenty of time to ponder and process information. Your chances of succeeding will improve by making a conscious decision to stretch your comfort zone.
4. Make Your Offer As Strong As Possible
Within the limits of your financial ability, make your offer as strong as possible by including a significant earnest money deposit (“good faith money”) of up to five percent (5%) of the purchase price. Typically, if the seller selects your offer and you complete a successful purchase, your earnest money deposit will count towards your payment of the purchase price. An earnest money deposit of more than five percent could create complications in the event of a default by the buyer.Buyers also improve their chances for an winning offer by having a strong down payment, such as 20 percent or more of the purchase price. Doing so can yielded added benefits for the buyer. If the amount of the buyer's mortgage does not exceed 80 percent of the purchase price, buyers don't have to pay private mortgage insurance (or PMI), which may result in lower mortgage payments than if PMI is required.
5. Keep Some Of Your Powder Dry
If you've been pre-approved for a purchase price of $350,000, you may want to look at homes listed for $300,000 to $320,000. That way, when you get into a competitive bidding situation and are vying with multiple offers that exceed the full asking (or "list”) price, you still have the ability to compete for that house.Don't confuse this strategy (sometimes referred to as an “escalation clause”) with trying to write a "low-ball" offer for less than the full value of the home (in order to have some room to raise the amount of your offer later). This is a seller's market. Low-balling isn't likely to work, and it could be counterproductive. You could earn a reputation as a flaky buyer, especially if you're looking for a home in a relatively small geographic area or neighborhood where word gets around quickly.
6. Look "Farther Out"
In a frenzied market, you may have to look at homes farther from your workplace in order to find something you can afford. Realtors refer to this phenomenon as “drive until you qualify.”High prices occur when the demand for homes exceeds the supply. That's what's happening now. If you look farther out, you'll typically find less demand because fewer buyers are willing to accept longer commutes. As a result, prices tend to be lower the farther the homes are from job centers. For a growing number of buyers, the opportunity for the American Dream of “a home of our own” is definitely worth the tradeoff of a longer commute.
7. Be Flexible on Terms
There are two kinds of elements in your offer to the seller: price and terms. The concept of price is simple and straightforward, but many buyers fail to make their offer as strong as possible by thinking about the terms they’re able to offer. With equally priced offers from pre-approved buyers, the offer with the more favorable terms has a distinct advantage in being selected.As an example, consider the closing date and the possession date. “Closing” is the day the seller gets the cash and the buyer gets the deed (not necessarily the day documents are signed). “Possession” is the date the seller moves out so that the buyer can move in.
If the seller is buying another home, it may be helpful if that seller can "close" the sale with you a few days before the seller’s own closing date on the home being purchased. Additionally, the sellers may need a few days to move out after the home they are purchasing closes in escrow. So, if you can close early, but take possession 10-14 days later, the seller may prefer your offer. It can be done in less than 10 days, but the extra time may be especially attractive to both the seller and his or her Realtor. Why? Because if there's a glitch on the other transaction, it allows time to solve it so the seller doesn't lose the home he or she is purchasing.
Ask the sellers about the timing of their plans so you can write an offer with terms that will be viewed most favorably. (If taking this approach, be sure to contact your insurance company to confirm that your homeowner's insurance policy will cover you should any damage to the home occur between closing and possession.)
8. Have A Candid Discussion with Your REALTOR® About Risks
In a hot market, buyers may consider making their offer more attractive to the seller by waiving (or by not asking for) many of the protections that are typically included as part of an offer.For example, buyers may decide to waive the opportunity to have a home inspection, waive the homeowner's insurance contingency, waive review of the preliminary title commitment, or waive the seller's disclosures Each of these choices can carry a measure of risk. For most families, purchasing real estate is the largest financial decision they’ll ever make. Therefore, it's important to discuss with your REALTOR®, and even your attorney, the risks associated with waiving these protections. Have that discussion before you start looking at homes. Otherwise, you could experience buyer’s remorse and be stuck with a decision you’ll soon regret.
9. Know the Advantages of Using a REALTOR®.
Not every person in the State of North Carolinia who has a real estate license is a REALTOR®. There are distinct differences between a licensed real estate agent and a licensee who is a Realtor.The term REALTOR® is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of Realtors and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. Consumers may request a copy of this Code from any Realtor. Questions about a Realtor’s professional conduct are subject to a rigorous review process.
Along with maintaining a high level of knowledge about the process of buying and selling real estate, Realtors also have the opportunity to pursue continuing education and to earn special credentials and designations that signify specific skills and knowledge. Realtors may also join various institutes, societies and councils to enhance their expertise and networks with other professionals.
Only Realtors may use the distinctive block “R” on business cards, signs, advertising and other materials.
10. Take Advantage of Information on the REALTORS'® Web Sites
The Association of REALTORS® has lots of good information for buyers and sellers on their Websites. These sites include special resources for multicultural and first-time buyers. Visit the Charlotte Regional Realtors Association web site at www.carolinahome.com and click on “Consumer Information.”Useful information also appears on the Website for the National Association of REALTORS’® site at www.Realtor.com . By educating yourself you’ll be prepared to make rational, informed choices during situations that can be very emotional.
Comprar una casa es uno de los pasos más importantes en su vida. El escoger un buen agente de Bienes Raíces es su primer paso para asegurar que su casa le vaya a satisfacer sus necesidades. Mis servicios y experiencia le ayudaran a encontrar la mejor casa para usted y su familia. Para su conveniencia, le voy a proporcionar también inscripciones por correo electrónico.
Como su agente, le voy a asistir:
- Asegurar que usted vea todas las propiedades en el área que este interesado.
- Lo voy a guiar en el proceso de encontrar la casa y además de conseguir el mejor financiamiento.
- Asegurar que usted no pague demasiado por su casa y le ayudare a evitar errores costosos.
- Contestare todas sus preguntas sobre el área, incluso las escuelas, los barrios, la economía local, y demás.
Antes de empezar a buscar su casa:
- Verifique su evaluación de crédito. Corrija cualquier error antes de que sea demasiado tarde.
- Determine un cómodo presupuesto mensual para su nueva compra.
- Encuentre un programa del préstamo que satisfaga sus necesidades y sea PRE-calificado (preferiblemente PRE-aceptado).
- Escoja un agente que usted confíe y quién sepa sus necesidades.
- Determine qué ubicación sea la mejor para usted.
- Identifique los rasgos importantes que necesite en su casa.
Los costos de cierre:
- Las cuotas del prestamista incluyen los cargos para el proceso del préstamo.
- Las cuotas terciarias incluyen los cargos para seguro, búsqueda del título, y otras inspecciones como las de termitas.
- Las cuotas gubernamentales incluyen grabar el titulo en el estado y los impuestos locales de la hipoteca.
- Las cuotas de interés incluyen el seguro de propietario, el interés del préstamo y seguro de la hipoteca.
