PattiMace.com

After looking at the comparables for the area a reasonable offer for the home of your dreams is agreed upon and your realtor will submit to the sellers real estate agent. Once submitted, the Sellers agent will come back with an accepted offer, or the negotiations will begin until an agreement is met.  With Foreclosures or Short Sales the time frame will be longer. Foreclosures can take up to 60 days from offer acceptance to closing.

Now that the offer is accepted the contract is sent over by your realtor to the Mortgage Broker or Bank and they will start the loan completion process.  Up until now you as the buyer have a pre-approval letter.  It is your mortgage broker/bankers’ responsiblity to stay on top of getting your loan closed.  There will be various documents needed to complete this process.  Whatever you do, do not go purchase anything on credit that might change your approval status. 

While this is going on there is an option period that you as a buyer can pay a small fee normally $10 a day for 10days.  This will give you time to have the home inspected to ensure there is no costly damage, such as foundation or roof repairs needed and to ensure no termite damage.

Once the inspection is done and the loan is approval process is completed  the mortgage folks will order an appraisal, and the title company orders the survey,

This process is normally done within a 30 day period unless it is a foreclosure and then it can take longer. Before you go to closing your realtor will receive a HUD statement which breaks down the expenses for closing on the home and will let you know what $$ amount is needed. There are a lot of documents that must be signed so expect the closing to take about 45 minutes.

Heres to wishing you luck on your new home purchase, give me a call I will help you….www.pattimace.com or pattimace@sbcglobal.net.

Talk again soon,

Patti

Now that you understand where credit scores are derived from the next step in your home purchase is to go to your bank or a mortgage broker and get a pre-approval letter.  This pre-qualification will let you know based on your income and debt ratio what price range your home purchase needs to be at/under.

Realtors do not want to disappoint their clients in anyways so as a realtor when a client comes in the first step is the pre-qualification with a mortgage broker or bank.  This prevents the realtor from showing clients homes that are not within their ratio and ultimately making it more difficult to find them a home that fits their personality.

The next step in your home purchase is knowing where you want to live. Is there a subdivision or rural area that particularly interest you?  If you are new to the area then this could be a difficult decision but ask around your job or friends to see what opinions they have. 

Now that you have the pre-approval and know what area you would like to live in then the next step is to get with your realtor and/or find a realtor if you do not have one yet.  This step is easy if you live in Texas near the Woodlands, Houston, Spring, or surrounding areas you can contact me at pattimace@sbcglobal.net, if not then I would be glad to assist you in finding someone in your area, or speak with a family member, or friend.

Realtors and clients then work together to find out what type of home you like, traditional, colonial, modern. Then how many bedrooms, bathrooms, and other areas you desire such as a study, or a gameroom. Do you want an older home in a mature area with grown trees or do you like the feel of a new home in an up and coming area.

Once this is all figured out off we will go to look at the inside of the homes to see how well they have been maintained and if the home fulfills your desires.  Most clients like to see 8-10 homes or more before making a decision and will usually narrow down to two and go and look at them again to make their final decision.

See you back here soon to check out my next blog on ….Now that the home has been chosen what is the next step……..

 www.pattimace.com  …. pattimace@sbclgoblal.net

This home has been well taken care of, great for entertaining and I hear it calling your name. Please give me a call to see this home. Will not last long on the market. www.pattimace.com, email pattimace@sbcglobal.net.

FHA and Down Payment Assistance Update :

The California Federal Judge has ruled in favor of the Down Payment Assistance Programs. This is definitely Great news especiallay since Hud has been trying to have the Down Payment Assistance programs ruled against by the Federal Judge, however, the Judge has ruled against Hud and for the Down Payment Assistance programs. Hud has now been stopped from ruling against the DPA’s permanently, Safe at last!.

Another issue that is good for buyers and was approved is the FHA Loan amount has now increased to $271,050.00 for Harris and surrounding counties. This will give buyers more options when deciding on which loan option to take FHA, VA, or Conventional.

For Buyers

Buying a home is an exciting time in one’s life. Making the smart move of choosing a REALTOR® is your first step to ensuring that your new home and community meets your needs. My services and experience range from financial aid to helping you find the home that best suits you and your family. For your convenience, I also provide listings by email. I pride myself on repeat business and hope you’ll come to understand why.

As Your Agent, I Will:

* Assure that you see all the properties in the area that meet your criteria.
* Guide you through the entire home buying process, from finding homes to look at, to getting the best financing.
* Make sure you don’t pay too much for your new home and help you avoid costly mistakes.
* Answer all of your questions about the local market area, including schools, neighborhoods, the local economy, and more.

Before You Start Looking For Your New Home:

* Check your credit rating. Straighten out any errors before its too late.
* Determine a comfortable monthly budget for your new purchase, including down payment and monthly payment.
* Find a loan program that meets your needs and get pre-qualified (preferably pre-approved).
* Choose a REALTOR® that you trust and who understands your needs.
* Determine what neighborhood best matches your needs.
* Identify important features you need your new home to have.

Closing Costs to Expect:

* Lender fees include charges for loan processing, underwriting, preparation and establishing an escrow account.
* Third-party fees include charges for insurance, title search, and other inspections such as termites.
* Government fees include deed recording and state & local mortgage taxes.
* Escrow and interest fees include homeowner’s insurance, loan interest, real estate taxes, and occasionally private mortgage insurance.