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Buying Your First Home? Real Estate Agents Are Your Professional Guides. Make Sure You Choose Top Experts. Advice for First Time Homebuyers 
- Pre-Qualification: Meet with a mortgage broker and find out how much you can afford to pay for a home.
- Pre-Approval: While knowing how much you can afford is the first step, sellers will be much more receptive to potential buyers who have been pre-approved. You'll also avoid being disappointed when going after homes that are out of your price range. With Pre-Approval, the buyer actually applies for a mortgage and receives a commitment in writing from a lender. This way, assuming the home you're interested in is at or under the amount you are pre-qualified for, the seller knows immediately that you are a serious buyer for that property. Costs for pre-approval are generally nominal and lenders will usually permit you to pay them when you close your loan.
- List of Needs & Wants: Make 2 lists. The first should include items you must have (i.e., the number of bedrooms you need for the size of your family, a one-story house if accessibility is a factor, etc.). The second list is your wishes, things you would like to have (pool, den, etc.) but that are not absolutely necessary. Realistically for first-time buyers, you probably will not get everything on your wish list, but it will keep you on track for what you are looking for.
- Representation by a Professional: Consider hiring your own real estate agent, one who is working for you, the buyer, not the seller.
- Focus & Organization: In a convenient location, keep handy the items that will assist you in maximizing your home search efforts. Such items may include:
1. One or more detailed maps with your areas of interest highlighted.
2. A file of the properties that your agent has shown to you, along with ads you have cut out from the newspaper.
3. Paper and pen, for taking notes as you search.
4. Instant or video camera to help refresh your memory on individual properties, especially if you are attending a series of showings.
5. Location: Look at a potential property as if you are the seller. Would a prospective buyer find it attractive based on school district, crime rate, proximity to positive (shopping, parks, freeway access) and negative (abandoned properties, garbage dump, source of noise) features of the area?
- Visualize the house empty & with your decor: Are the rooms laid out to fit your needs? Is there enough light?
- Be Objective: Instead of thinking with your heart when you find a home, think with your head. Does this home really meet your needs? There are many houses on the market, so don't make a hurried decision that you may regret later.
- Be Thorough: A few extra dollars well spent now may save you big expenses in the long run. Don't forget such essentials as:
1. Include inspection & mortgage contingencies in your written offer.
2. Have the property inspected by a professional inspector.
3. Request a second walk-through to take place within 24 hours of closing.
4. You want to check to see that no changes have been made that were not agreed on (i.e., a nice chandelier that you assumed came with the sale having been replaced by a cheap ceiling light).
- All the above may seem rather overwhelming. That is why having a professional represent you and keep track of all the details for you is highly recommended. Please email me or call me directly to discuss any of these matters in further detail
 You might be a bit afraid or intimidated by the whole process of buying your first home. As top Wilmington, Greenville and New Castle County real estate experts, it's our job to guide you, from beginning to end. We will take the time to go through each and every step of the buying process. There are no dumb questions! Together, we will consider: - How much can you really afford? - How to qualify for a mortgage. - How much cash you should put down. - How to buy a home with little or nothing down. - What it takes to get approved for financing. What banks and other financial institutions are looking for. - How much your payments will be. - The tax advantages of buying. - Is renting or buying better for you? Tell us a bit about your situation below. We'll get right back to you. There is absolutely no charge, and we offer this to you with no strings attached. Be sure to request our Levy Wilson First-Time Home Buyers Kit. It's equipped with all the information you need to get started! New to the home buying process? Tell us your concerns. Ask us questions. It's our job to help! There's no obligation, and we promise to get back to you quickly...
Selling Your Home >Doing What Comes Unnaturally
The most inconvenient aspect of having your house on the market is the constant housekeeping required. Even if you are naturally neat, it requires a lot of hard work to constantly keep your home in top "showing" condition.
Do whatever it takes to make your home shine and to keep it looking beautiful. It may mean getting extra help from the children or hiring short-term professional help. The importance of making a good impression on the real estate agents and buyers who come through your home cannot be overstated. Many interested buyers may call for last-minute appointments to see your home. Buyers may associate a messy home with poor maintenance of the structure, systems and appliances, which can discourage offers or result in a lower offer than the house might otherwise bring.
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| Q |
What does "contingency" mean in real estate?
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| A |
A contingency is a specified event that must take place before a home purchase contract is binding; for example, a sale can be said to be "contingent upon the sale of the buyer's current residence." |
 See More Real Estate Trivia > |
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