2. It Is Very Important To Buy A Home That Will Go Up In Value. Slow, steady home appreciation has been the rule over most of the nation’s history, and many real estate investors became quite wealthy in that environment. They did so by very carefully analyzing the appreciation potential of their investment, and they invested for the long term. You should too. Even if you plan on living in your home just a few years, you will want it to have gone up in value when you put it back on the market.

3. Use A Buyers Agent. If you’re going to work with a real estate agent, contract with a buyers agent rather than with a subagent. A buyers agent is paid by you and has a duty to represent your interests, while the subagent is paid by the seller and represents the seller’s interests. The subagent, which has been the traditional relationship between a buyer and an agent, is ethically required to disclose all relevant information (such as the fact that you’ll be willing to raise your offer if necessary) to the seller. Try as you might, it’s difficult to avoid saying things you shouldn’t to a subagent. While you are responsible for paying the buyers agent, the net cost can be zero if you put in your offer that the seller is to pay buyer agent’s commission (which the seller would have had to pay anyway if the offer had come from a subagent). An exception is if you’re buying from a self-seller. They often did not plan on allowing for a real estate commission. In those circumstances you face a subjective decision as to whether a buyers agent’s negotiating skills are sufficiently better than yours to justify the commission you will owe them.

4. Choose Your Agent Wisely. If you are using a real estate agent look for one with experience in working with buyers, with knowledge of the neighborhood(s) you are considering, and who does not have a reputation for being ‘pushy’. The purchase of a home is a serious long term commitment on your part and a good agent will recognize that buyers need time and patience so they can satisfactorily sort out the myriad’s of factors involved in a purchase decision.

5. Current Home Prices Are A Less Important Consideration Than Interest Rates. Try to buy and/or sell when interest rates are low. The amount of mortgage you can afford (and thus the price of the home you will consider) will change as the interest rates rise or fall. A certain asking price may sound expensive to you, but at a lower interest rate you might be able to afford it. You may own several homes over your lifetime, and the factors that will limit or increase the value of the home you will be selling will similarly affect the price of its replacement. Since those factors largely wash each other out, interest rates remain the most important factor.

6. Always Have A Home Inspection Contingency. In Your Offer and always hire a professional home inspector to provide you a written report, along with “ball park” estimates or ranges of repair costs. If the inspection turns up problems that weren’t readily noticeable, you can use it and the ball park estimates for negotiating leverage to get the seller to make the repairs or provide you a commensurate price reduction.

7. Learn As Much As Possible About The Seller’s Circumstances. There may be mutually beneficial opportunities. For example if you might face difficulty qualifying for a big enough mortgage, and the seller is worried about college costs for his or her sixth grader, then maybe the seller might be interested in accepting a second trust for part of the purchase price if the interest rate is above what they could otherwise earn and the loan is paid off the summer before the child’s freshman college year. From your perspective the rate will likely be less than you could get from a traditional lender.

8. Research Your Mortgage Options Well Before You Make An Offer. You won’t have enough time in the five days sellers normally allow to get all of your paperwork together, determine the best kind of mortgage, who is offering the best rates etc. Consider getting a contingent letter of approval for a loan, or an actual loan commitment prior to making an offer. The former is not actually a loan commitment, but rather a contingent approval for a loan up to a certain amount. While it has relatively little enforceable value, it nevertheless can impress a seller, who might be more willing to accept a lower offer because of the perceived financial capabilities of the seller. Its also possible to get approved by a lender with a longer term “lock” on the interest rate in order to protect you from subsequent rate increases. While this should substantially increase your negotiating leverage, keep in mind that you pay more directly or indirectly for the longer commitment, either in terms of the rate and/or points.

9. Learn How To Negotiate Like A Pro. There’s more money involved in this negotiation than just about any other area you’ll encounter. Even if you’re using a buyer’s agent, you’re part of the team, and you’ll have to make the ultimate decisions about how much to offer and how much to compromise on a counter offer.

10. STUDY! The tips in this brochure are only the beginning. You’ll need to learn a lot more if you want to get the best possible deal. Read as much as you can on home buying, on negotiating, on neighborhoods in your area that might fit your needs, and on factors that impact long term appreciation like schools, infrastructure, major new business expansions or closing etc. Keep copies of everything you send the lender and everything the lender sends you.

Remember…it’s a Smart Move with HomeSmart!

Preparing for your move to your new home can seem intimidating. There is always something that is forgotten, but generally with some planning, the move will go smoothly.

As you begin to pack, remember to start gathering boxes and packing materials such as markers, packing tape and twine. Label the contents of each box you pack and number them. Keep a list handy of what is in each box in case you need o find something. It is a good idea to keep toiletries, cleaning supplies, snacks and water handy throughout your packing day.

You’ll want to contact the utility companies to disconnect your current service and to establish service at the new property. Don’t forget to request that any deposits you may have provided either be refunded or transferred. Electric, Water, Gas Phone and Cable are the most frequently contacted, however, there may be additional services that you need to connect at the property.

If you have children or pets, you may want to arrange for someone you trust to watch them on the day of the move. Sometimes moving day can be stressful for them. Make sure to include your children prior to the actual move, and talk to them about where they’ll want to place all their things in their new room.

Place all of your legal, financial and insurance records in a safe place. You may want to consider taking them with you personally rather than with the movers. It is also a good idea to back up important files from your computer onto a CD or back-up drive.

Verify the date of your move with the moving company you have selected or with your friends and family if they are helping you move. You can create a list of where each box or piece of furniture should be placed so whoever is helping with the move can follow your instructions.

Moving day can be stressful, but is still exciting! At HomeSmart, we strive to provide our clients with as much information and assistance as possible to make the process easier for you.

Remember…it’s a Smart Move with HomeSmart!

Whether you’re buying a house, selling one, refinancing a mortgage, or making home improvements, home-value considerations are paramount.

That’s where HomeSmart can help. We’ve gathered comprehensive home-value data from across Arizona, so you can see what your home is worth and how it compares to other houses in your neighborhood. Our expert guides will help you understand how banks and appraisers determine home values; figure out the best way to put your home equity to work for you; and maximize your home’s value with smart improvements that pay you back at resale. After all, no two properties are alike, which is why understanding the nuances of home value is key to getting the most for your real-estate dollar.

Remember…it’s a Smart Move with HomeSmart!

Use our No Fee Financing program and let us pay the closing costs.

Purchase or Refinance

By offering you a slightly higher interest rate; lenders estimate the loan will create greater profit over time. In exchange, they provide a lender credit, that you can apply to pay typical closing costs, even pre-paid items.

The amount of the lender credit depends upon the loan size and the interest rate.

It is a somewhat of a simple math equation to determine your breakeven point.

Let me help you figure it out.

It may soon be time to invest again in real estate as positive signs are beginning to be revealed in some key market indicators. Current interest rates remain at historic lows. With optimism, this could be a great time to buy or refinance a home. But, are you unsure if you can or should take advantage of this low interest rate mortgage market?Are you interested in refinancing to a lower rate, and paying no feesto do it?

As a leader in the mortgage industry for many years, We have coordinated transactions for thousands of customers, helping them to get into their dream homes, expand their investment portfolios, or increase cash flow through refinancing. We are positioned to assist you in your particular situation, via my wealth of experience and expertise.Successful closings, trust in relationships, and a “your best interest” approach are the reasons why we succeed in this business.

We would welcome the opportunity to become your trusted mortgage professional. Just pick up the phone or drop us an email.We can also meet in person if you prefer; let’s schedule a meeting. We don’t charge for our time, advice or ideas. We enjoy creating solutions to challenging situations: this makes us tick. Just let us know what you are thinking, maybe we can help clarify a situation, or help you structure a transaction to fit your situation.