Showing posts with label buy homes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label buy homes. Show all posts

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Now In Escrow! But we have others...



This one got away but we have others...
Horsethief Canyon Home now in escrow.
27327 Colt Dr Corona, CA

Thursday, June 4, 2009

7 Steps for Success when buying a home

whether you are buying in Ramona, Escondido, Poway or anywhere, Buying a home can be a frightening prospect for any consumer, whether it's your first home or your fifth. With so much at stake — your savings, your credit rating, your financial freedom – it can be difficult to sign on the dotted line, even if you want that home in the worst way.

So how can you determine whether or not purchasing a home makes sense for you? What's the easiest way to examine the whole picture, from emotions to economics? With these 7 steps for success, you’ll be on the right path to homeownership:
Seven Steps for Success:
1) Establish your homeowner needs & wants.
2) Determine how much of a mortgage payment you can afford.
3) Get pre-approved by a lender.
4) Find the right real estate agent to help you.
5) Find a home that meets your needs.
6) Make an offer on the desired property.
7) Save as much money as possible on the transaction.

A mortgage broker or direct lender can let you know what specific loan programs would be best for you, as well as help you understand what criteria are considered to qualify you for the right home loan. You should be aware, however, that while many lenders can pre-qualify you, you might want to instead obtain a pre-approval, which is a financing commitment from the lender that will carry much more weight with your seller than would a pre-qualification.

Make sure you also inquire about the costs and time involved with any loan, as they will differ for each Lender. After settling on the right financing for your needs, the next step is finding a home that also qualifies for the desired loan. By the time you've done your homework and completed the suggestions in this report, you will have an excellent overview of how to find and buy your dream home. And you'll have plenty of confidence to back up your decision to buy that special home, too.



Step One: Establish Your Needs & Wants
Begin your search for a perfect home by making a careful assessment of the kind of
a home you need and want. I recommend that you take the time to do this in writing. Take the time right now to be as specific as you can about your particular requirements.

Step Two: Determine How Much You Can Afford
Set up a budget for yourself. Decide how much you can really afford to invest monthly for your house payment. Make sure you’re being realistic; most Lenders want your payment to be no more than 45% of your total monthly income.

Step Three: Get Pre-approved By a Lender
You can save yourself a lot of time and heartache by getting a pre-approval in writing from a Lender before you start to search for a home. Completing this step in advance will also give you an edge over other buyers during the offer process.

Step Four: Find the Right Real Estate Agent to Help You
You can learn a lot about an agent by just letting them "agent talk" to you about how
they help buyers. Within a few minutes, you will probably be able to determine if their style is compatible with yours. Some questions you may want answered include:

Are they knowledgeable about the area of town and price range that you are
interested in? (Some agents specialize in only one area or one price range.)
Do they have the time to work with us? (This is especially important if you're on a tight deadline.) What procedure will the agent follow in working with you? How often will they update you with new property listings?
Can they effectively represent you as the buyer's broker?

Ask as many questions as you can upfront. By finding a good agent, you will save yourself considerable time and effort.




Step Five: Find a Home That Meets Your Needs
While you may have heard about the exciting challenges of finding a house, nobody would ever claim the process to be easy. The following are some tips to assist you in finding the right property for you:

1) Keep an organized record of all your research data. Write down comments about the homes that you see. Keep track of your likes and dislikes.
2) Make sure your agent is aware of your time schedule and expectations. Do you like to look at one or two homes in a session? Four? Eight? Discuss this with your agent.
3) Tell your agent about any homes in which you’re interested, including homes you've discovered on your own time, or those advertised in the newspaper.
4) If you like to spend time driving around by yourself looking at homes, ask your agent for a list of “drive-bys” — homes to consider first from the outside.
Your agent can make appointments later to show you the interior of those that appeal to you.
5) Express your likes and dislikes to your agent after you look at a home. Honest communication is essential; many buyers are reluctant to tell an agent what they really think of a property. Remember, the homes you will view don't belong to the agent! You must be straightforward about your likes and dislikes in order for the agent to do the best job for you.

Step Six: Make A Purchase Offer on the Desired Property
Before your real estate agent can help you make an offer to buy the home that you want, it’s imperative to know beforehand exactly whom your agent represents. Since some agents work only on the seller’s behalf, that same agent may not be able to advise you what a fair offer to make is. By looking at what homes are selling for in the area and how long they are taking to sell, you should be able to get a good idea of value.

Step Seven: Save As Much Money as Possible on the Transaction
There are only two major financial commitments to consider when buying a home: the initial investment, which includes down payment and closing costs, and the
monthly payment, which includes principal, interest, taxes and insurance.
How you can save on your initial investment:

1) Choose a low down payment loan. You do not necessarily have to put 20% or even 10% down. Qualified borrowers can pay 5% or even 3% down.
2) Have someone “gift” you the money to pay closing costs. A blood relative, church or nonprofit organization can give you money for closing costs.
3) Request that the seller pay some of your closing costs as part of your offer. Sellers are usually allowed to contribute to a buyer's closing costs.
4) Avoid paying too much insurance at closing. Some lenders require 6 months or more hazard insurance paid at closing. However, keep in mind that any money left over after closing sits in your escrow account until you sell the house. Shop around for your home insurance. A little shopping can save you money.
5) You can deduct money paid for discount points from your gross income before
computing your tax. See a CPA for more information.

Here are four ways to keep you monthly payments low:

1) Get a loan that doesn't have monthly mortgage insurance premiums. You may be able to reduce or eliminate them by paying a little more at closing. By putting 20% or more down, you can eliminate them entirely.
2) Take advantage of rate-lock programs that are currently available. You can lock in a low interest rate 30-45 days in advance and protect yourself from any unforeseen changes in the marketplace.
3) Remember that interest payments on a primary residential mortgage are fully-deductible in most circumstances. Your property taxes may also be deductible.
4) If your particular situation warrants, choose an adjustable rate mortgage. Adjustable rate mortgages (or ARMs) can be up to 3% lower than “fixed” rates, and their adjustment periods range from 1 to 10 years.

Now that you have finished this report, it's time to go out and find the home of your dreams!

Monday, May 18, 2009

5 Reasons why to Buy Real Estate with Regina Flores


#1. Regina Flores,RMS: Professional, Full-time REALTOR, RMS and Broker Associate in Ramona, CA:
I believe in hard work. My team works 24/7 UNTIL you find the right home at the right price for you! This is a full time profession for me, I take it personally. I am also a licensed Insurance Broker which allows for a broad range of understanding in the entire Real Estate Transaction. I am ranked in the top 30% of all California RE/Max agents, in the RE/Max 100% club. I was Educated and earned my B.A. in Sociology and English at SDSU, San Diego CA. People are my passion.

#2. Regina’s Team Approach supports you 24/7:
We are ready for you! Regina’s support team includes a personal assistant, transaction coordinator, Graphic designer for marketing and a professional negotiator. I believe in teaming up with the best for my clients. We work 7 days a week, when you need us.

#3. Local Ramona Resident who knows the area:
I am a local agent who lives and works in Ramona. I know what sells at what price. This is important to you to find the right home at the best price in Ramona! I believe in giving back to the community that has been good to me. I stay actively involved here by sponsoring and volunteering in the schools and local Pop Warner Football, Pony Baseball and Basketball. I also donate to San Diego Children's hospital on every sale I make.

#4. RE/Max- is a world leader in residential Real Estate:
You get lots of agent’s networking with us! We have over 6800 offices in over 65 countries. There are over 100,000 Remax Sales agents worldwide. The typical RE/Max agent in North America is among the most experienced in the industry.

#5. RE/Max Local Ramona office:
We are centrally located at 1410 Main St. for your convenience. Our RE/Max office has been successfully buying and selling homes in Ramona for over 10 years. Through the ups and downs, we've been there for you. Our office is a leader in sales in Ramona. With many agents in our office, we have the best support, experience, knowledge, technology and networking available in the industry. We are here for you!

The value is in the RESULTS!

“Regina has bought and sold homes for me for the past 4 years.
We are now working on our 5th home and she has done a great job
working hard for me. I guess that is why I keep coming back.
I recommend her to all my friends.” Martin C.

Copyright 2009 Regina Flores

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