5 POWERFUL BUYING STRATEGIES

#1 DON'T'GET PRE-QUALIFIED, GET PRE-APPROVED

Do you want to get the best house you can for the least amount of money? Then make sure you are in the strongest negotiating position possible. Price is only one bargaining chip in the negotiating process. Often other terms such as the strength of the buyer or the closing time frame can be very important to the seller. In years past. I always recommend that Buyers get "pre-qualified" by a lender. This means you spend a few minutes on the phone with a lender who asks you a few questions. Based on the answers, the lender pronounces you "pre-qualified" and issues a certificate that you can show to a seller. Sellers are aware that such certificates are worthless and here's why. None of the information has been verified! Often times unknown problems surface such as glitches on the credit report due to any number of reasons both accurate and inaccurate. So the way to make a strong offer today is to get "pre-approved". This happens after all information has been verified. You are actually Approved for the loan and they only loose end is the appraisal of the property. This process takes anywhere from a few days to a few weeks depending your situation. It's very Powerful and a weapon I recommend to all my friends.

#2 SELL FIRST, THEN BUY

If you have a house to sell, sell it before selecting a house to buy! I haven't seen a contingent sale work in years. Let's pretend that we go out looking for the perfect house for you. We find it and you love it! Now you have to make an offer to the seller. You want the seller to reduce the price and wait until you sell yours. The seller naturally figures it's a risky deal since he might pass up a buyer who is ready, willing and able to purchase the property. If the seller were to accept your offer, he might do so at full or above full price. Not only might you pay more for the property, but now you have to sell your property in a hurry and perhaps for less than you would have had you had more time. See, this method may cost you thousands of dollars. It's almost like going shopping without money. As experienced realtors, we can help you by coordinating dates of the sale of your home to coincide with the purchase, as well as discussing other options that you may have available.

#3 SEPARATE WHAT YOU WANT IN A HOUSE FROM WHAT YOU NEED

In today's competitive market, it may be difficult to get everything you want in one home. It is crucial to determine your needs in order to decide if a property is right for you. You may desire certain things that are not consistent with your price range but perhaps can be added or remedied at a later time. When house hunting, keep in mind the difference between "SKIN and BONES". The Bones are things that cannot be changed such as the location, view, size of lot, noise in the area, school district and floor plan. The SKIN represents easily changed surface finishes like carpet, wallpaper, color and window coverings as well as bigger ticket items such as windows, roof or siding.. Buy the house with good BONES because the SKIN can always be changed to match your tastes as long as your budget allows it. I always recommend that you imagine each house as if it were vacant. Consider the house with your taste, not that of the sellers'.

#4 DON'T BE PUSHED INTO ANY HOUSE

Be sure that your agent is advising you of everything available in your criteria. Get logged onto their website if possible or go onto the MLS with your realtor to ensure you don't miss out on something that could be perfect for you. We are in a competitive market where houses are selling quickly. Don't let that scare you into buying any house. Be sure that the house is right for you. You will know when you see it! Partner with your realtor and your goals will be met.

#5 STOP CALLING ADS

A word of caution- It is in your best interest to work with a Buyer's Agent. When you call on an ad, that realtor is working for the seller, not you! You should make sure you have someone representing you and looking out for your best interests. Your own agent will critique the property keeping in mind how well it suits you. Your realtor will also make sure that the property is priced accordingly to market value as well as handle the negotiation of the offer to best suit your terms and needs. Pick an agent you feel comfortable with and enlist his/her services as a buyer's agent.

WHY CHOOSE US?
We Will Find the Right Home for You
We know the Real Estate market here like the back of our hand - and we know what it takes to help you find the perfect home or property.

We Listen
We'll discuss what you're looking for in your new home. We'll learn a little about your tastes, your lifestyle and your preferences before we start looking.

We Search
We'll use all of the search tools at our disposal to find homes for sale that match your criteria.

Expect Expertise
No matter what your goal is we specialize in virtually every area of real estate. From residential and commercial sales to land sales, investment properties and relocation, we can help you reach your goal while removing stress from the process.

We Research
We'll find out what a fair asking price is for any property you select by researching area home sales and the market-at-large.

We Verify
We review MLS and property data on every potential listing match and purchase to assure an accurate transaction.

We Advise
We can help you approach a seller to start the offer process. We'll also coordinate and help you find additional resources like appraisers, title companies, inspectors and more!

We Represent
We'll represent your best interests when dealing with the seller and their REALTORŪ so you can concentrate on other things. We'll be in touch throughout the entire stress-free process.

We Negotiate
Once we find the right home, we'll help you negotiate so you can also get the best price.

We Communicate
From the first day of our search until closing, we'll head the effort to find your new property - and to sell your existing property - and we'll keep you posted every step of the way.

We Satisfy
It's our job to find the right home for you - and to find it at the right price and the terms best suited for your needs. Our goal is to make that transaction as smooth as possible so that you can enjoy the experience of what lies ahead.

Buying Process Guide
You've decided to buy, now what??

Buying a home is one of the most important personal and financial decisions that you will make in your life. As your devoted real estate professionals, we are committed to guiding you step-by-step, answering all your questions along the way, to ensure that your experience is as pleasant and successful as possible. We are here to ensure you attain your dream of homeownership.

Your Real Estate Professional - Buyer Agent

As one of the most important decisions you will ever make, your decision to buy a home should not be taken lightly. This is why it is in your best interest to associate yourself with a good real estate agent who has experience, who works in the area where you would like to live, and with whom you feel comfortable. As your realtors, we are here to facilitate the process and answer any questions you may have throughout the process. As your buyer's agents, we represent you and look out for your best interests by ensuring that the property you are interested in is priced accordingly to its market value and avidly negotiating your offer. You wouldn't go to court without representation, so why buy a home without it? We will discuss the areas that you would like to focus on, price range, and all the features that are important to you in a home. As your devoted buyer's agents, we can also assist you in the process of talking with a mortgage representative to help you secure a mortgage pre-approval, which will help you determine your comfortable price range. Remember, it isn't only the price of the house you should consider, but the costs associated with home ownership. A pre-approval is a simple calculation that tells you the amount you'll be able to finance through a loan and what your monthly payment will be. A pre-approval also provides the "seller" some comfort that you have the financial means to purchase their home.

Potential out of pocket Costs

When purchasing a home, one should keep in mind the following expenses: Good faith down payment, *closing costs which include the attorney's fee, escrow for taxes and home owner's insurance, recording fees, mortgage application fees, etc. (can range between 2 to 5 % of the purchase price). Other costs may include home inspection fees, home owner's insurance binder and appraisal. How about a realtor fee you may ask? When selling a property, the seller typically offers a realtor compensation for procuring a buyer.

The Down Payment

A down payment is generally the money you pay up front toward your new home. Typically, the more cash you pay as a down payment, the less you will have to pay each month on the mortgage, and the lower the interest costs will be over the life of the mortgage. Many people make a down payment of 5, 10 or 20% of the sales price of the home, but the right percentage for you depends on many factors. There also are certain loans available for down payments of under 5%.
Securing your dream home
It's always good to ask yourself the following questions:
  • What features are most important to me? Number of bedrooms? Number of bathrooms?, Does it have special features like a garden, a fireplace, a yard or a garage?
  • Is it most important that the house be near a specific school, my job, or public transportation?
  • What is the school district like?
  • Are there kids in the neighborhood who are the same age as my own?
  • Does this house need a lot of repairs?

*(Note: Through negotiation, it can be possible to have the seller pay your closing costs. Rolling the closing costs into your mortgage may also be an option)
Sherry Levine
Voice Mail: 413.747.6067
Cell: 413.531.1691
Gwendolyn Rivera-Levine
Voice Mail: 413.263.3769
Cell: 413.427.3735
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