Posts with tag 'Griffith Realty'

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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Buying a home is a significant investment that requires you to dig deep into your pockets. At first, it may feel like an impossible challenge. However, it is not as impossible as it seems. With a little planning and the application of a smart financial strategy, you can move into your new home sooner than you may think.

Four Strategies that Lead to Homeownership

• Get Your Financial House in Order
  As a general rule, you will need to save at least 5% of the home's price for a down payment. That is why our REALTORS® recommend getting your financial house in order as soon as possible. This involves cleaning up your credit, paying down debts, and trimming your monthly expenses to the bare minimum. You may need to sell-off non-contributory assets such as extra cars, refinance existing loans, or cut back on the weekly latte meetings with friends. These factors have considerable influence on your ability to save. When these are taken care of, you will find it much easier to save up the down-payment. How long it takes to accomplish these objectives is up to you. Motivated buyers have been known to do all of this in one year. More commonly, it takes between two to three years.
  
  

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Whether you're in the market for Brighton homes for sale or Howell homes for sale, you've got the right allies in your corner with Griffith Realty. Our REALTORS® will go the extra mile to help you find what you're looking for in our Livingston County, MI area.

Many people interested in Livingston County want to know more about its amenities, and we're always happy to oblige. One area where Livingston stands out is its world-class healthcare. Healthcare makes a difference in the quality of life here in Livingston.

Four excellent healthcare organizations serve our residents. Let's find out a little more about them right now:

1. IHA - 524 Byron Road, Howell, MI 48843
   IHA Family & Internal Medicine is one of the largest multi-specialty medical groups in the state. It has been around the Howell area since 1996. Growing rapidly in recent years, it now has 200 staff and providers. The medical team currently covers 19 specialties. A new 12,000-square foot facility will bring a wide range of new services, including even better diagnostic imaging and emergency care.
   
   

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There is something special about a walk around the neighborhood.  More than a little bit of exercise, it is the perfect way to meet your neighbors which strengthens the sense of community.   When you're ready to begin your search for Brighton homes for sale, our REALTORS® will be prepared--with walking shoes on--to help you find the perfect neighborhood.

What is Walkability?

Walkability is a broad term that encompasses a neighborhood's walking trails, sidewalks, and pathways, as well as its proximity to schools, shopping, and recreation. Communities with high walkability scores are those that are pedestrian friendly and are well-connected to nearby attractions and amenities.

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As you finalize your Christmas gift list, don't forget your new homeowner friends. If they're like many homebuyers, they've spent a lot of time and energy finding the perfect home among beautiful Brighton homes for sale. 

As your friends prepare for their first Christmas in their new home, they deserve a nice gift to celebrate their success. Our REALTORS® did the research and compiled a list of great gift ideas for new homeowners. You can find them in your local stores or order them online to save time.  

• Keyless door lock
  When you give your friends a keyless door lock, they can install it themselves, save locksmith re-keying costs, and never have to worry about door keys again. You'll find an assortment of keyless locks at your local hardware store or visit GoKeyless for simple push-button keypad combination locks, digital keypad locks or connected smart locks.
  
  

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