Top Things to Consider When Jumping into Home Ownership

Know what you qualify for and the bottom line on home ownership goals for YOU. Just because you can qualify for this one, what is your SWEET SPOT so you can enjoy the house and cover the overhead and enjoy life. The banker is your best friend. AFTER making an offer, they drive the appraisal, some inspections and the money that helps you get to the closing. The Realtor can handle all of the sticky stuff- inspections, negotiations if repairs are needed, home warranty details and any special discovery you will need to do. In Alabama it is a BUYER BEWARE state, meaning...if you don't find it, it's on YOU.

Look for other ways to help with your home search by asking me directly on Facebook
or if in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, search my website for the right home for you.

Homes move faster these days. If you know what area you want to be in, for work, play or school, be sure to have the feeds come immediately to your inbox so you don't miss anything. Use a legitimate site so you can be sure it is actually on the market. Some of these feed inaccurate information. The best source is a local area agent. They do not typically charge for services as most offered there have the SELLER paying the commissions.

If you finance be in good financial condition before they pull your credit. You may have to save for a down payment. There are different options including rolling fees into the loan but most require 10-15% at least down on the loan. There are some USDA products that allow 100% financing if your income is lower. Your lender will be driving this train.

Sometimes home sellers want more than you are willing or able to give. Even after the offer is accepted, findings during inspection such as foundation issues, roof leak evidence and HVAC surprises can be negotiated by reduction or allocation in escrow for fixing later. Boxing back and forth really DOESN'T get the job done. But an experienced Realtor can help ease the negotiations into something that can work for both sides most of the time.

When you are buying home it is NOT time to go buy a new car, a new fridge or make any big purchases. Each will ding your credit and can be flagged when the banker does the "soft pull" just before you close on your new home. KEEP IT SIMPLE and SUBTLE until the day after closing. Then you can pull out all the cards! Best not to though, until you experience the first few months of new payments for utilities and such. Give yourself about three months to let it all settle in.

Allison Puccetti Adams, GRI, ABR, RSPS -Lake Tuscaloosa- Lake Homes Realty - - Rated 5 based on 5 Reviews "A real estate company that has been doing...