Buying A Home . . .
 
Buying a home is the largest transaction that MOST people make in a lifetime. It can be stressful, especially if you are unfamiliar with the process. Before you begin your search, consider these buying steps below to save YOUR time & money!

Step One - Deciding to Buy a House & Making Plans
Acquiring a pre-qualification or a pre-approval letter from a lender.
Getting pre-approved first benefits you because:

*You look like a more sincere buyer to the seller when he is evaluating your offer, which gives you an edge in negotiations.

*You do not waste your time looking at homes not in your budget.

*You get peace of mind knowing that once we successfully negotiate on the home you love, you are already well on your way to making ownership a reality.

*You can pack without worrying about your loan approval. Of course this requires using an experienced loan agent.

Step Two - Getting Your Own Representation
Having a buyer representative benefits you because:

*Real estate buyer´s representatives are responsible for protecting their clients´ best interests. The buyer´s agent is held to a higher standard of skill and care in dealing with you than is a subagent of the seller or the seller´s listing agent, who would work with you on a customer basis.

 *Buyers´ agents have an affirmative duty to their clients to investigate and disclose all facts that bear on your decision to buy. You can also expect to receive more counseling, expert opinion, advocacy, and advice regarding the buying decision.

*As your buyer representatives we actively work to find a home for you, check market data to avoid you paying too much, represent you in negotiations and much more. We will help to make your purchase an easy one.

Step Three - Choosing a Neighborhood
Things to consider when selecting a neighborhood:

Schools. You can compare school districts and even check out information on specific schools by going here.

Property Values. As your representative, we will gladly check the market data and give you a report on the neighborhood you are interested in to help avoid paying too much for your next home.

Traffic. Drive through neighborhoods during what could be a potential high traffic time. Example: Friday & Saturday Nights.

Crime Rate. To get city and zip code profiles click here. The Texas Department of Public Safety maintains a database that you may search to find out if registered sex offenders are located in certain zip code areas.

Proximity to: Schools, Hospitals, Shopping, Freeways, Airports, Parks, Stadiums, and Cultural Activities like museums, concerts, & theaters.

Step Four - Choosing a Home
What Are My Needs & Wants?
Establish a set of minimum necessities - "A Needs List". Minimum necessities are things that a house must have to fit your needs, whereas a "wants list" has things that you would like to have but are not crucial.

Your 'needs list' should include things like: Number of Bedrooms,Bathrooms, & Living Areas? A Square Footage Range? Lot Size? Age? Number of Floors? & Garage Size?

Your 'wants list' should evaluate the importance of things like: Eat-in Kitchen vs. Separate Dining Room; Bedroom Size vs. Size of Living Areas; Walk-in Closets; Tub in Master Bath; Fireplaces; Pool; Yard Size; ... And any other features you want to consider in a home.

Step Five - Making an Offer & Closing on the Deal
After you have found the home for you, it is important to act quickly before another buyer grabs it out from under you. It does not matter if it is the first home you see or the 20th home, when you know you know.

Our Invitation To You!