Buyer's Guide

Let's turn your dream into reality!

Welcome to the exciting journey of buying a home!

I understand that embarking on this adventure can stir up a whirlwind of emotions: the thrill of starting a new chapter in your life, the anticipation of finding the perfect place to call home, the hope of creating lifelong memories, and perhaps a dash of nervousness about the complexity of the process.

That's exactly why we've compiled this comprehensive Home Buyer's Guide just for you!

My mission is to navigate you through this intricate process with as much ease and clarity as possible. Our goal is to ensure that your home- buying journey is not only successful but also enjoyable and stress-free. For us, this is more than just a transaction; it's about helping you realize your dream of homeownership.

Deciding to Buy

Ah, the allure of homeownership: the white picket fence, the garden gnome gracing the lawn, the Sunday barbecues in the backyard. It's the American dream, isn't it? But deciding to take the leap from renting to buying is a huge step. Let's dive into the intricacies of making that decision.

Why Do You Want to Buy?

Every journey begins with the "why." Is it because you're tired of paying rent to a landlord every month? Perhaps you're seeking a more permanent place to hang your hat, or maybe it's the freedom to paint your bedroom any shade of blue (or pink!) you desire. For many, it's the prospect of viewing a home as an investment, a place that, with time, grows in value.

Financial Fitness is Key

Budgeting: How much can you really afford without straining your monthly finances? Credit Check: That three-digit score will significantly impact the mortgage rates you're offered. A healthier score equates to more favorable terms. The Saving Game: Remember, the costs don't end with the down payment. Closing costs, inspection fees, and any immediate renovations can all tally up.

The Market Pulse

Get a feel for the market. In simpler terms: Are homes selling rapidly, or is it more of a slow dance? Knowing the market dynamics you're stepping into can inform your negotiation strategies and set expectations for pricing.

Your Future Plans

Look ahead: Do you envision yourself in this city for the next decade or so? If you're in a transient phase of life, discerning the right time to buy is crucial. Moreover, consider what you need from a home now and what you might need in the future.

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Comprehensive Real Estate Buyer's Guide

Home Buying Guide

Let’s turn your home-buying dream into reality! Start by exploring our Home Buyer’s Guide for clear steps, expert tips, and everything you need to make confident decisions.

Home buyer road-map

Want to learn more about the home-buying process? Kim Dove’s comprehensive Buyer’s Guide walks you through every step with clarity, confidence, and expert insight.
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The Essential Guide On
How To Buy Like A Pro

Have you ever wondered how real estate investors, real estate brokers and wholesalers manage to find so many great deals on properties so consistently? It has nothing to do with luck or a sixth sense. They’re able to do so because they know where to look and have the knowledge and savvy to upgrade a good deal into a great one. But don’t think that those amazing deals are out of your reach. If you’re in the market for a new home, check out these 11 tips on how to find the best possible real estate deals in your area.

Let's Dive In

Leverage the Power of the Internet

By using a combination of MLS searches, 3rd party property search sites, classified ad sites like Craigslist, and investing in Google and Facebook ads, we can help you hunt for real estate bargains from day one.

These property searches will also help you get your finances in order, and get a better idea of the size of the mortgage you’ll need to live in the neighborhood or area of your choice.

We can also run email marketing campaigns aimed directly at our network of contacts in order to help you find properties not publicly listed. These could reveal amazing deals impossible to find otherwise.

Find The Right Lender and Mortgage For You

Just like you would always get a second opinion from a doctor, you should always get a second (or third, or fourth) offer for a mortgage loan.Though interest rates from top lenders (major banks being some of the most popular ones) tend to be pretty similar, even a tenth of a percent in a fixed-rate loan makes a huge difference in the long run.

At the same time, the right lender will help you see if you qualify for a number of government-sponsored programs geared for first-time buyers.

As always, our team of real estate professionals can help you find the right lender and loan.

Be the first (or last) to make an offer

The phrase “You snooze, you lose” is especially relevant for real estate buyers.

That’s because the buyer that makes the highest offer doesn't always get the home. In many cases, it’s the one that makes the first offer.

If the seller is in a rush to sell, and the first offer is a good one, it’s quite possible the seller may simply accept the offer on the spot.

So when looking for a great deal, you must be ready to make the FIRST offer.

To make sure that happens, you MUST get your finances in order. Before you start making offers, make sure sure to have your pre-approved loan by the bank (and if you’re able to pay in cash, even better).

And once you’re pre-approved, don’t delay in making offers. Work with our team to establish the parameters for a good deal. And as soon as a deal that meets those requirements hits the market, make an offer in the same day.

Also, as you wait for a great deal to hit the market, we can keep an eye out for properties that have been stuck on the market for a long time. The owners of these homes could be more willing to sell at a discount, because they’ve been stuck paying a mortgage for the entire time it’s been listed.

Ask the Seller to pay closing costs

Though the buyer is typically expected to pay for a number of closing fees, (especially those related to the origination of the loan), it’s not a law written in stone. Like pretty much everything in real estate, closing costs are negotiable.

Of course, sellers don’t like to sell homes for less than their bottom line. Not just because they don’t want to lose more of their earnings, but also because there’s always an ego element attached to any home sale.

Home sellers are keenly aware of how much their neighbor's homes sold for, and would hate to sell their home for less.

If the sellers are adamant against bringing down their asking price, we can negotiate for the seller to cover the closing costs.

Not only does this allow the seller to save face and keep a larger final price, but it could also save you thousands of dollars.

Shop during the slow season

Even if you don’t live in a place with a harsh winter, most home buying and selling activities take place during late spring and summer.

As a result of that seasonal increase of activity, home prices go up.

So if you’re willing to brave the cold and wait until winter, you may be able to capitalize on some amazing deals. People who are willing to list their homes in the middle of the holidays are typically very motivated to sell. This, of course, could lead to amazing deals for you.

On the other hand, there’s a downside to shopping for homes during winter: you’ll have fewer homes to choose from. And when making offers, you’ll have fewer recently sold comparable properties to help you calibrate your offers

Look into bank-foreclosed properties

Banks are not in the business of homeownership. They are in the lending business. Homeownership comes with a lot of maintenance requirements, expenses, and taxes.

Which is why any time a bank ends up taking possession of a home by means of a foreclosure, the bank would want to sell it as quickly as possible. This usually translates into banks selling homes at a substantial discount.

On the other hand, not every foreclosed property is an amazing deal.

The foreclosure process is a lengthy one which could drag on for years. Many foreclosed homes are in serious disrepair. If you’re not careful, your bank-foreclosed property “deal” could turn into a nightmare scenario.

It’s extremely important to work with a professional real estate team that has plenty of knowledge and experience dealing with foreclosed properties.

But if you’re willing to spend the time and resources needed to sift through the foreclosed home inventory, you’re sure to find some valuable gems.

Get in touch with real estate wholesalers

Real estate wholesalers make a living in finding amazing deals, marking them up a bit, and reselling them to real estate investors.

Some of the homes they resell could still be fantastic deals. Meaning that with the right wholesaler, you could still find amazing deals without the need of doing all the work of finding the deal yourself.

Real Estate wholesalers can be found in local real estate clubs, google searches, and industry networking events. Once you get in touch with a real estate wholesaler or two, make sure you give them your contact information and tell them to add you to their buyers’ list.

Again, just like with tax-delinquent homes, many of these properties fall into fixer-upper territory. Make sure you keep that in mind.

Hire an Amazing Real Estate Agent!

As a home buyer, you have absolutely NO reason why you shouldn’t hire the best possible real estate agent in your hyperlocal area.

We bring a wealth of expertise, street smarts and knowledge to find you the right home at the right price. We can use those skills to help negotiate a far better price than you could get on your own.

Our services offer a buffer of protection. Thanks to our experience and expertise, we can see toxic deals a mile away and can warn you against them. We can also help you avoid common legal pitfalls in real estate which you could stumble into on your own.

Conclusion

Don’t believe the naysayers. It’s not just rich real estate investors and brokers that find the best real estate deals.

Though it may take effort and patience, if you work together with a knowledgeable and experienced real estate agent, and know where to look, you’ll also be able to find some of the best possible deals in the area.