Harrisonburg Real Estate Guru

Recipe For Success When Buying a Home

April 8, 2009 on 3:44 pm | In Best Deals in Real Estate, Harrisonburg Virginia Real Estate, Hot Deals on Homes, Real Estate Advice From a Pro | No Comments

  

Assemble all of the ingredients

Whether you are cooking in the kitchen, or preparing to buy a home, you need to assemble the proper ingredients.

• Check your credit – call your bank or a mortgage professional, they can help you
• If your credit is good, set up an appointment to meet and discuss your mortgage needs
• Once you have an idea of the amount of money you can spend on a home, call a reputable Realtor and set an appointment with him/her and let them know what is important to you

Now you have all of the ingredients for a successful home search and a subsequent purchase.

Mix and allow to work

You have now assembled a team of professionals to work for you.  It is now time to allow them to use their tools and expertise to your advantage.  That does not mean that you sit back and wait for a home to fall in you lap. But now that you have these highly motivated individuals in place you can begin the search for that perfect home.

It is important that the Realtor you choose knows exactly what you want in your next home. Set up a folder that you take with you on every trip with your agent.  In the folder you will have a checklist that you will create that will list all of the important factors of your next home.  You’ll need to include items like:

• Neighborhood – (close to parks, close to shopping, close to work, etc.)
• Number of beds and baths
• Number of square feet needed
• Garage, parking, public transit etc.
• other important items

On the checklist keep track of each house you visit and take copious notes. These notes will be helpful if you have several houses that are in the running to be “your house”.  Use them after your visits to refresh your memory of the house later.  A good agent will want you to see as many houses as you need to make an informed decision.  If you get pressure from an agent to make a quick decision, run away as fast as you can.

Best served cool

Markets are different and knowing “the temperature” of your market will help you.  In a market where there is stiff competition between sellers you will have a better chance of getting a great deal.  This is where having a knowlegable and passionate agent working for you will be worth a lot when the negotiation for your new home begins.  Although you may begin to have an emotional attachment to a home you are considering, it is good to know that your agent is experienced with making offers and will assist you in preparing an attractive one.  Always remember, if you have asked an agent to assist you in purchasing a home, the agent works for you. You are her client and you can fire them if they are not working with your best interest in mind.

 Enjoy

Now that you have made a successful offer, closed the deal, and are living in your new home…..it is time to enjoy.

Call Barry Suttles – Realtor

540-437-3671

when you need an experienced real estate agent.

Housing is Getting More and More Affordable

April 7, 2009 on 8:27 pm | In Best Deals in Real Estate, Find Homes in Rockingham County Virginia, Harrisonburg Virginia Real Estate, Hot Deals on Homes, Investment Properties, Townhouses | No Comments

  

Fixed 30 year Interest Rates at 4%???

Who would have thought that we would see interst rates so low?  Certainly I did not.  I refinanced my home several years ago as I watched the rates slump to 5%. I locked in my rate and slyly grinned, “We’ll never see interest rates this low again”, I thought to myself.

Well believe it, or not, we are seeing what I sincerely believe are the lowest rates we will see.  Couple that with slightly lower home prices in our area and add in the $8000 tax credit for first time buyers and you get an affordability index that is hard to beat.  People who thought they could not afford a home are now in the game because of these factors.  That is the good news, but here’s the bad. 

Purchasers are now required to have more money down in many cases and your credit score must be good……really really good to get the best rates.  It makes sense.

If you are confused about these things, don’t be alarmed.  I can help.  I have been working with buyers and sellers for years and I can make your experience a great one.  I am a full service agent and I believe that hard work will result in happy clients.  Call me and we can chat. 

Barry Suttles – Realtor

540-437-3671