Posts with tag 'First-time buyers'

Everyone who has ever bought or sold a home has opinions about the real estate market, which can make it hard to separate fact from fiction. Some of the most common tips that you'll hear about the real estate market are based on myths, and some of those myths have had impressive staying power across generations. Our real estate agents are here to set the record straight, with 5 myths that you shouldn't believe about the real estate market.

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Searching for your dream home is exciting, but it can be a burdensome task as well, especially if you've looked at a lot of houses and still haven't found "the one." One of the most rewarding parts of showing Brighton homes for sale is helping house-hunters realize their dreams and find a home they love. Trusting your gut while being practical can be challenging. Our real estate agents provide some tips for how to know when you've found what you're looking for.  

1. It Feels Like Home
   Sometimes when you walk in the door of a house, you immediately feel comfortable. Even if the current homeowners' furniture and personal belongings are in the home, you feel happy and can envision your own stuff there. 
2. It Meets Your Requirements
   Before you start house hunting, it's critical to sit down and make a list of must-haves for your new home. If you can check off most of the boxes on your list for a specific home, it may just be the one that's found you! While it's true that you may have to compromise on some things, think about what's important to you. For example, if a fenced yard for your dog is a must, but you love a home with a great yard but no fence, remember that you can always install one after you move in.

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For a variety of reasons, many people consider moving away from their hometown. Whether it's for a new job or just a new start, here are some helpful money-saving tips before you relocate to one of the great Brighton homes for sale.

1. Create a Budget
   This is the number one rule for all major financial undertakings. Have a reasonable idea of what your expenses will be and build in a cushion to cover unexpected costs. Include factors such as moving services and supplies, deposits and down payments, fuel, and overnight travel.
   
   
2. Save Your Tax Refund
   Tax refunds are more or less "found" money not accounted for in regular household budgeting, so they can go a long way toward covering the expenses of moving.
   
   
3. Pare Down Your Possessions
   Start going through clothing, furnishings, and other household items to determine what stays. Take whatever doesn't make the cut and pick up some extra bucks by holding a garage sale or selling the items through eBay or a consignment shop. As a bonus, you'll reduce expenses and labor by having less to move.

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Buying a home is a big decision. For buyers ready to make an offer on any of the Livingston County homes for sale, it is a decision that involves finding the perfect fit for their family and financial future. For sellers, it means choosing the right buyer who will take care of the property and safeguard the memories they made in the home. As a buyer, writing a personalized offer letter can help seal the deal. A well-crafted letter assures the seller you are the right person to entrust their home to.

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So you've committed to buying a home, congratulations! Deciding to own a home is a big step, but there's still a lot more to work through before you move into your new digs. How you pay for that home is what we're talking about, and getting a mortgage is how to get there. As a first-time homebuyer, you likely have a lot of questions about getting a mortgage, so our real estate agents put together this list of tips for applying for a one.

First-Time Buyer Mortgage Tips

• What Can You Afford?
  This is a great place to start your mortgage journey, and it begins with affordability. Generally speaking, lenders will look at your finances and use approximately 25% of your gross income to project what you can or should afford in a mortgage. Using that formula, you can play around with the numbers. In other words, if you make $100,000 per year, then you should be able to spend around $25,000 on housing annually or about $2,000 per month.

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