4 Tips for First-Time Homebuyers

These four tips can help first-time home buyers purchase their home at the best price and rate possible.

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Today, I have some tips to help first-time homebuyers purchase a home. 

1. Find a great real estate consultant. The way I differentiate between a real estate consultant and an agent is that a consultant will sit down with you and identify your needs and what you’re looking for. An agent, in my mind, is more reactionary; they’ll show you the houses that you ask to see.
2. Dig into the market conditions. There are many different markets throughout the country. Here in Birmingham, we’re in a low inventory market and interest rates are spiking. The differences between markets will affect the price of the home you’re trying to buy. A great consultant will help you navigate the market conditions and structure the best deal for your situation.
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First-time homebuyers have many different options in today’s market.


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3. Work to make sure you’re fully pre-approved. This will require working with a lender. Sit down with them and let them coach you through the various financing options that are available in this rising interest rate climate in order to reduce your payment. It could be an interest rate buydown, negotiating with the seller to have them pay closing costs, or possibly having the lender pay some closing costs.
4. Look at homes that need renovations. Work with your agent and lender to do a 203(k) renovation loan and renovate a house.

First-time homebuyers have many different options in today’s market. Discuss these with your consultant to get the best deal at the best price with the best terms for you and your family’s goals. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. We’d be glad to help you any way we can.

Is Now the Right Time to Buy in Our Market?

Interest rates are on the rise in our market, so if you’re a homebuyer, you should definitely consider buying sooner rather than later.

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How are market conditions and interest rates affecting homebuyers out there?

We’ve talked to a lot of people contemplating buying a home lately, and one of the common trends we’re seeing from homebuyers is wanting to wait 90 or 120 days before entering the market. If you feel the same way, you might want to reevaluate that strategy with a real estate consultant. In the last four months, we’ve seen interest rates go from 4.09% to 4.38%, and all indications are that they will continue to rise over the next 90 days. 

Experts at the FMOC expect interest rates to be raised three times in 2018. Historically, interest rates have risen entering the spring markets even without the conditions we’re experiencing right now. Home prices tend to rise as well through this season. 

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In the last four months, we’ve seen interest rates go from 4.09% to 4.38%.

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This is why, if you’re thinking about buying a home, meet with a real estate consultant, review your goals, and think about whether now is the time to dive into the market. If you meet with us, we can perhaps create a strategy to purchase a home later in the year all while accomplishing the same goals. 

If you’re on the fence, we’d love to give you a free consultation and examine the effects of waiting to enter the market. If you like to sit down with us or you have any other questions about our market, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We look forward to hearing from you.

3 Things You Can Do to Prepare for Your 2018 Home Search

What can you do now to prepare for your 2018 home search? I have three steps to help you be a strong buyer in the new year.

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As we head into the new year, people are talking about resolutions and their future plans. Some of you may be planning on buying your first home or selling your current home to move into a new one. 

As we look forward to your 2018 real estate goals, there are a few things you can do now in order to get your home search off to a great start. 

1. Get connected with a local lender. They will help you find out what your credit score is and what your buying power will be. They’ll also help you better position yourself in the market and start the pre-approval process. Being pre-approved makes you a strong buyer. 

2. Sit down with a real estate consultant who’s going to take the time to identify your needs and match you with the right mortgage consultant. They will make sure that you don’t miss out on any opportunities in the market. It’s a great time to purchase a home. It’s a little busy because of the holidays, but sellers who are on the market now are highly motivated to sell. They are taking advantage of the low inventory to make their house jump out to you, and there are a lot of ways to approach that.

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Don’t do anything that would negatively impact your ability to purchase a home.

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3. Make sure that you don’t do anything to negatively affect your purchasing power, especially during the holidays. Don’t take out new credit lines or new credit cards. Be careful how much you spend on frivolous things, and try not to overspend on gifts. Don’t do anything that would affect your ability to purchase a home. 

These three steps will put you in a strong position to purchase a home. If you have any other questions about buying a home in 2018, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

The Best Way to Win in a Competitive Market

How can you beat out other buyers in a competitive market? Today, I’ve got some key tips that can help.

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How can you beat out other buyers in a competitive market?

Today, I’d like to give you some information on how you can get the edge. What my team and I have found is that many buyers rely on websites like Zillow and Trulia to find their homes.

What I want to tell you now is to avoid making this mistake. Looking on third-party websites is not a good strategy. If you’ve ever found a property online, you may have had the unfortunate experience of calling your agent only to discover that the home has already gone under contract. 

My team and I have a different approach. We ask all of our buyers to come in so that we can really dig into what you’re looking for and set you up with a service that we pay for. This service will give you instant access to home listings before most other buyers even become aware of them.  

One of the agents on our team recently helped a buyer get under contract before the property they were interested in even hit Zillow. We are able to do this because we have a team of agents who are always looking for properties. 

Ultimately, this is the secret to beating out the competition. To win in a competitive market, you have to get to properties before anyone else. You’ll also need to be backed by a team of agents who can help you in the process.

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To win in a competitive market, you have to get to properties first before anyone else.

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If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Why Consider Buying Early in 2017?

Buying a home should be on your list of New Year’s resolutions. Here’s why.

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If you haven’t already, you should make buying a home one of your New Year’s resolutions based on what we are seeing in the Birmingham market.

2017 is shaping up to be a great year in real estate. If your goal is to buy a home, you should start the process as soon as possible. We don’t want you to postpone your goals for a few reasons, such as:

• Consumer confidence is at an all-time high.
• Unemployment is as low as it has been since August 2007. 
• Most major markets have completely recovered from the mortgage and economic crisis.

It’s a perfect storm for buyers.

Based on this information alone, it’s a great time to buy this year. However, there are two key factors that will make you want to move sooner rather than later:

1. Mortgage interest rates. The Federal Reserve recently upped their base interest rate, and all signs point to even more increases in 2017. When rates go up, it impacts your buying power significantly. We can get you in touch with some great mortgage lenders if you need a recommendation.

2. Inventory. Our supply of homes is getting lower than ever. We are sinking to record lows in desirable markets.

Even with those potential problems, we still think 2017 is a great time to make your resolution of buying a home a reality. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.

How Do You Find the Right Inspector?

You shouldn’t overlook the importance of a home inspector when buying a house. How do you find the right one for you?

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When you hire a home inspector, there are few distinct things you need to know.

First and foremost, the answer to the question “Should we hire a home inspector?” is absolutely yes. You also get to choose the home inspector. We will recommend a list of home inspectors to you if you want, because you need to hire a professional, not your uncle or cousin.

A professional inspector will give you pictures that we can use to negotiate repairs on the house. If we don’t have that official formalized report, it’s much harder to do these negotiations on your behalf.

Not all inspectors are created equal.

So how do you choose an inspector and what questions should you ask? The one you hire will be based on conversations you have and how comfortable you are with them in helping you protect the future of your investment. You want to ask things like whether they actually get up on the roof or if they just take photos. Do they actually go up and find out what’s going on in the attic? Also, ask them how they test things like electrical systems and heating and AC. 

Finally, realize that not all home inspectors are created equal. As you talk with them, compare costs to the value they present to you. An inspector may charge less, but they might not get in the attic or up on the roof, for example.

If you need a recommendation for a good inspector or you’re thinking of buying or selling a home in the Birmingham market, give us a call or send us an email. We’d be happy to help you!

Why You Need a Buyer’s Agent in Birmingham

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I started out my real estate career working with buyers. Even today, I still see buyers making the same mistake. They approach the buying process without proper representation. Why is it so important to hire a buyer’s agent in Birmingham?

1. A buyer’s agent represents you. They don’t have any other interests other than your own. You have to compete with the listing agent, who serves as representation for the sellers.
2. A buyer’s agent knows what homes are available. They’re familiar with the MLS, especially which homes are newly listed. They interact with a real estate network you wouldn't otherwise have without their help.




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You need someone to help you stay focused!

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3. A buyer’s agent has connections in the industry. Beyond other agents, they know home inspectors, loan officers, and other professionals involved with the real estate process.
4. A buyer’s agent helps you stay on track with your goals. There is so much involved with the buying process and it’s easy to lose track of your progress. You need someone to help you stay focused!

These are only four of many reasons why buyer’s agents are crucial in our marketplace. Don’t make the mistake and not hire one!

If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home in the surrounding Birmingham area, give me a call or send me an email. I’d be happy to help you!

Don't Forget to Research the Neighborhood that You're Looking to Buy a Home In

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If you're looking to buy a home in a particular neighborhood, it's important to do some research before you buy. Planning ahead is important, and so is making sure that you're going to fit in and appreciate the community that you belong to. This is why I urge you to do some research on the neighborhood that you're planning to buy a home in.

You never want to assume anything, and part of our job here is to drive through communities at different times of the day. We want to make sure that you're buying a home in a quality neighborhood, and we spend a lot of time out in the community. We may be able to tell you some specifics about certain neighborhoods, so please reach out to us.

One other thing that you should consider doing is to call the school boards and make sure that the school you planned on sending your kids to is actually in the right area. You may have moved somewhere specifically for the schools, so this is an important part of the process. Nothing should be left to chance when it comes to the future of your family.

If you have any questions about certain parts of town, please don't hesitate to contact us. We would love to hear from you!

Don't Forget About Hidden Fees When Buying a Home in Birmingham

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A lot of my buyers don't realize the amount and extent of hidden fees when they're purchasing a home. There are taxes, insurance, HOA fees, title search fees, and more.

One thing that you can do in order to prepare for these fees is ask your Realtor to help you prepare for them. Do your research and ask whether or not there are any additional community fees.

It's also a good idea to have some extra cash lying around because you will inevitably spend more than you think you will, no matter how much planning you've done. Things will break, and expenses will be incurred. It's best to prepare for the worst and hope for the best.

As always, if you need any assistance buying or selling real estate in Birmingham, please don't hesitate to contact me. I would be very happy to help you!

Can You Avoid These Common Real Estate Mistakes?

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 With the busy spring real estate season in full swing, there is no better time to discuss common home buying mistakes you should be aware of! Here are a few of the mistakes unwitting home buyers make:

1. Relying on information found online: A lot of times, the information you find on the Internet is outdated or flat out inaccurate. If you want reliable real estate information, your best resource is a real estate professional.
2. Failing to get pre-approved: If you submit an offer on a home that has garnered offers from other buyers, your offer will likely be rejected if it doesn't have a pre-approval letter from a lender along with it. If you have a pre-approval from a reputable lender, you offer is almost as good as a cash offer.
3. Not knowing the market shifts frequently: Market conditions are constantly changing and are location dependent. About 24 months ago, it was a strong buyer's market; prospective buyers could make various requests that the seller would likely fulfill. Now, there are a ton of buyers out there looking for a home! To get good information so you make informed decisions, you need to speak with a real estate professional!
4. Getting Picky: If you get picky about paying a few extra dollars on a home, you're giving up the lifestyle that you and your family deserve. Keep in mind that in a few years you'll probably not mind paying the extra money for the home because you and your family deserve it.

Avoiding these mistakes is crucial if you want the buying process to go smoothly. Give us a call or shoot us an email if you need real estate assistance of any kind. We would love to give you a hand!

What Real Estate Agents Do to Keep Protected

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Recently there have been some unsettling things in the news that involve the safety of real estate agents, so I just wanted to take a moment to explain how we take precautions to safeguard ourselves in this line of work. What we do is inherently dangerous, but we can take steps to avoid bad situations.

One of the things we avoid doing is meeting a prospective client at a house before we've met them. We always insist that you come speak with us at our office before we take you to a listing. We just ask that you consider how you'd feel if your wife, daughter or son were being asked to meet a stranger in a vacant house. It's just not a safe situation at all. 

This is why we like to screen our potential buyers, so we can ensure that they're serious about buying and do not have any other intentions. Other than safety concerns, we think the experience you have with us is always much better when you come in and meet us, because that gives us the opportunity to cater to all of your individual needs. Almost all of the problems that arise in a real estate transaction will come from a lack of communication, and this can be avoided with a consultation at the beginning of a home search.

If you ever need any help buying or selling homes in Birmingham, please don't hesitate to contact me. I'm always willing to help you!

How Can You Make the Most of Buying in Birmingham This Spring?

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 The spring real estate season is right around the corner! To prepare all our first-time home buyers, we thought we would share some tips today to help ease the process for you! 

1. Learn about the process: Sit down with a real estate expert so you can find out what it's going to cost you out of pocket for things like home inspections and other common steps in the process.
2. Contact a great lender: Knowing what you can afford is crucial to the home search. Closing costs and unexpected fees are only a few of the many things that could surprise you in a real estate transaction. 
3. Purchasing will cost less: If you're still thinking about renting to save money, you may be mistaken. In many instances, we've been able to find a home that buyers love and that is cheaper than renting.

We hope you found some of this information helpful. If you would like some more detailed tips on how you can make informed decisions when buying in the spring market, give us a call or shoot us a quick email. We would love to give you a hand!

What Are the Benefits of Using an Agent?

There are many great Birmingham area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Value Report so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at 205-536-9194 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

We know what you're thinking: "You're an agent, OF COURSE you think it's a great idea to hire one." However, it's not that simple - there are a number of reasons working with an agent is in your best interests.

• Safety: We ensure that you only work with qualified buyers. You don't want to invite a stranger to your home who has not proved they're serious about purchasing your home.

• Every buyer wants a deal: Buyers and their agents are going to do everything in their power to beat you down and get the best deal possible. Having a listing agent on your side makes all the difference.

• Your best interests are represented: If the buyer is working with an agent and you're not, they will have the upper hand in negotiations. An agent will help you negotiate and will keep your wants and needs in mind.

• Experience: An agent will ensure that all the "i's" are dotted and "t's" are crossed. They will oversee all the details of the transactions and work to complete the sale successfully so you can move on to your next venture.

These are just a few of the reasons working with agent is beneficial. If you're still not sold, give us a call or shoot us an email - we would be happy to show you everything we can do for you!

Looking for a Safe Investment Opportunity?

There are many great Birmingham area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Value Report so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at 205-536-9194 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

There are a lot of places where you can invest your hard-earned money - but not all of them are guaranteed to make you money. Purchasing real estate, however, is a pretty safe bet for a few reasons. Here are 4 reasons why becoming a home owner is one of the best financial decisions you can make:

1. You're going to pay to live somewhere: If you are renting, you are basically throwing your money away. By purchasing a home, you are not only paying to live somewhere, but nurturing an investment that will be of worth to you down the road.
2. Forced savings: By making monthly mortgage payments, you are saving yourself future living expenses.  You are building equity, which is invaluable.
3. Great way to hedge inflation: When you buy a home its value increases as time goes on. If you lock in historically low interest rates now, you will be protecting yourself against future inflation.
4. Tax savings: You can deduct your mortgage interest from your taxes, which is a benefit you don't get when you rent.

These are only a handful of the many benefits of home ownership. If you have any questions about this topic or are interested in making a move here in Birmingham, give us a call or shoot us an email. We would love to make your dreams of home ownership come true! 

Take the necessary steps before making your offer

There are many great Birmingham area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Value Report so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at 205-536-9194 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Today's topic is of the utmost importance, especially if you find yourself in a multiple-offer situation. If you want to ensure you get the home of your dreams you need to get full-approval before making an offer (note: some lenders might call it conditional approval). Here's why:

• Makes you look like a cash buyer to the seller.

• Can help you negotiate a lower price.

• Makes your offer look better.

• Lets the seller know you are serious.

• Gives you a lot more leverage in negotiations.

All of these things make you a more competitive buyer, which is important if you want to get your offer accepted. The pre-approval process doesn't take too much extra effort. It's simply a matter of being proactive about getting the necessary documents to your lender before you start making offers.

You should know that all lenders won't necessarily give you full-approval. We can put you in contact with lenders that will because we are 100% committed to making sure you take every measure to get the best possible scenario when buying a home. Give us a call or send us an email to take the preemptive measures necessary to avoid losing the home of your dreams.

Start Your Home Search the Right Way - Hire an Agent!

There are many great Birmingham area homes for sale. Click here to perform a full home search, or if you're thinking of selling your home, click here for a FREE Home Value Report so you know what buyers will pay for your home in today's market. You may also call me at 205-536-9194 for a FREE home buying or selling consultation to answer any of your real estate questions.

Today, we're going to talk about the home search websites Trulia and Zillow. While they provide some value during the information gathering stage, they are ultimately full of inaccuracies and misinformation.  These sites are not intentionally misleading but they can ultimately lead you astray for a number of reasons:

• There is often a lag in the information they provide - sometimes as much as 3 days.

• Evaluations are often inaccurate, as they don't utilize the same information an agent does.

• Homes are often listed on these sites that are either under contract or no longer unavailable.

These are just a few examples that demonstrate why it's wiser to hire a trusted real estate adviser in your market. Sit down with an agent and let them establish your home search - they can help you determine what you're looking for in a home, and have access to information Trulia and Zillow do not. We're a great team to work with in the Birmingham area and would love to help you out. Give us a call or shoot us an email, we will give you a care-free but professional real estate experience.