My inquiries from first time home buyer's have increased dramatically in the past week. In most instances, the curious homebuyer does not know how to start the process.
I am happy to take the time to get you started in your pursuit of a home in person at my office, or over the phone. If you are not ready to take that much of a plunge, maybe this post will point you in the right direction.
There is some very necessary information you need before you should invest a lot of time looking for a home.
Getting pre-approved is the best way to make your home shopping experience fruitful, focusing you and your REALTOR in a specific price range.
If you do not have a trusted lender, or know someone you trust who has PERSONAL experience with a trusted lender, you should consider first finding a trusted real estate agent who can point you in the right direction. Real estate agents work with lenders and all the other people it takes to complete a real estate transaction on a daily basis and generally have a few lenders they refer their clients to because they know the mortgage broker or lender is reputable, has integrity and can get the job done.
A real estate agent is not permitted to get a kick-back from anyone they refer you too. Your agent's only motivation should be to see that you, their client, gets the professional advice you need and that you will be well-cared-for throughout the loan process.
Once you are pre-approved, you will work closely with your full-time agent who should be an expert in your market. It would be helpful if you educated yourself as well on current pricing trends in your market. You can do this by accessing listings in your market on various internet websites. My website at www.frangatti.com has all Del Norte County MLS listings as well as listings grouped in several convenient subsets, i.e. foreclosures, luxury homes, etc and I would suggest you subscribe to my monthly market report.
It is also helpful to narrow your home search to a few specifics you require in a home, for instance, a minimum of 3 bedrooms, or a two car garage. You can't get too many specifics in the Del Norte County market, because we do not have a lot of listings and to many search criteria will limit you to just a few homes. This is where your agent's knowledge of the MLS will be beneficial, guiding you towards the neighborhoods and types of homes that seem to best fit your needs.
To recap:
- Goal # 1 - if you do not have a trusted lender, get a referral from someone you know and trust who has personal experience with a lender and get pre-approved. Remember that a real estate agent is usually a good place to find a lender referral.
- Goal # 2 - Find a FULL-TIME real estate agent who is an expert in your market. Believe it or not just as not all teachers, or doctors are the same, not all agents are either. If you do not know of a full-time agent who is an expert in your market, talk to people who have sold or purchased a home recently and ask them if they were happy with their agent, then interview a few agents. You will be working very closely with this person for a minimum of 45 days, but more than likely 2 or 3 months, so a good rapport really helps.
Click on this link for more information on the home pictured in this post; it is a SCREAMING DEAL.
I am here to assist you with all your Crescent City/Del Norte County real estate needs. Thank you for checking out my blog.
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Brought to you by Fran Gatti at  THE REDWOOD COAST REAL ESTATE CONNECTION Bus: 707-464-5400, Cell: 707-218-8162 Email: fgatti@charter.net Website: FranGattiHomes.com My Blog: Fran's Blog Put Fran to work for you. |
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No one sold more homes in Del Norte County in 2009--*both in number and volume--than Fran Gatti. Put Fran to work for you!
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*PER CCMLS
