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Buyers Guide

For home buyers, buying a home will probably rank as one of the biggest personal investments one can make. Being organized and in control will contribute signiﬁcantly to getting the best home deal possible with the least amount of stress. It’s important to anticipate the steps required to successfully achieve your housing goal and to build a plan of action that gets you there.

Before you can build a plan of action, take the time to lay the groundwork for your decision making process.

First, ask yourself how much you can afford to pay for a home. If you’re not sure on the price range, ﬁnd a lender and get pre-approved. Pre-approval will let you know how much you can afford, allowing you to look for homes in your price range. Getting pre-approved also helps you to alleviate some of the anxieties that come with home buying. You know exactly what you qualify for and at what rate, you know how large your monthly mortgage payments will be, and you know how much you will have for a down payment. Once you are pre-approved, you avoid the frustration of ﬁnding homes that you think are perfect, but are not in your price range.

convenience for all family members
proximity to work, school

crime rate of neighborhood

local transportation

types of homes in neighborhoods, for example, condos, townhomes, co-ops, newly constructed homes etc.

There are also some sellers that you should avoid. Not every seller is as genuinely motivated as they make themselves to be. Some possible hints:

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Finding the Right Seller

The best seller is one who is highly motivated. A highly motivated seller is more likely to sell at a price that is less than his or her house is actually worth. And it matters that you ﬁnd out why. Learning the reason why can help you get the price you want and help the seller get what they want: a timely sale.

When given the opportunity to meet with sellers, ask them why they are selling. The reason could be anything, such as a job change to a new location or ﬁnancial problems. If you can solve their problem, whether it is cash related or time-related, do so. For example, if the sellers are highly motivated because they need to move quickly, give them a fast sale – and a lower price. If you can make an offer, even a low one, that gives them cash in a short time, they are more likely to accept.

There are also some sellers that you should avoid. Not every seller is as genuinely motivated as they make themselves to be. Some possible hints:

they stall on having the home appraised or inspected
they are unable to clear up liens against their property

they do not own 100% of their property

they push back the move-out date

they do not have a replacement property or back up plan

etc.

There are also some sellers that you should avoid. Not every seller is as genuinely motivated as they make themselves to be. Some possible hints:

10 Essential Contingency Options for a Safe and Secure Home Sale

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February 06, 2023•3 min read

Selling a Home can be a stressful process, especially if you’re worried about finding your replacement property. But you’re in luck! As a seasoned real estate agent with Cari4home, I’ve helped many homeowners just like you navigate this process. In fact, just in the past 30 days, we’ve helped a lot of sellers find the right solution.

The good news is that there are contingency options available to protect you. See the list of contingencies below:

Here are some unique contingency options for selling a home:

Home Upgrade Contingency – A condition where the sale is contingent upon the completion of specific upgrades or renovations to the home.

Rent-Back Contingency – A condition where the seller retains the right to rent back the property for a specified period of time after the sale has closed.

Dual Agency Contingency – A condition where the same real estate agent represents both the buyer and the seller, with specific terms and conditions outlined for both parties.

Employment Change Contingency – A condition where the sale is contingent upon a change in the seller’s personal or professional circumstances, such as a job transfer or family situation.

Closing Cost Contingency – A condition where the sale is contingent upon the buyer’s ability to secure financing or funding to cover the closing costs.

Home Sale Contingency – A condition where the sale is contingent upon the sale of the buyer’s current home.

Inspections Contingency – This is a condition that allows the buyer to conduct inspections on the property, such as a home inspection or pest inspection. If the results of the inspections are not to the buyer’s satisfaction, they have the option to renegotiate the terms of the sale or walk away from the deal.

Appraisal Contingency – A condition where the sale is contingent upon the property appraising for a certain amount. This protects both the buyer and the seller from entering into an agreement for an amount that is not in line with the property’s true value.

Financing Contingency – A condition that allows the buyer to secure financing or mortgage before closing the sale. This is a common contingency for buyers who need to secure a loan to purchase the property.

Market Value Contingency – This is a condition that requires the sale to be in line with market value or appraised value. This protects the buyer from overpaying for the property and the seller from accepting an offer that is lower than the property’s true value.

It’s important to remember that these contingency options are there to protect both the buyer and the seller in the transaction. By including them in the sales agreement, you’re setting clear expectations and conditions for the sale to proceed. And by working with a real estate agent who has experience navigating the sales process, you’ll have someone in your corner who can help guide you through these decisions and ensure that your interests are protected.

Contingency options for selling a home: Conclusion

In conclusion, when selling a home, it’s crucial to consider contingency options that can protect both the buyer and the seller. From home upgrades to financing and market value, there are a variety of contingencies that can be included in the sales agreement. By working with a knowledgeable real estate agent and carefully considering your options, you can ensure that your home sale is safe, secure, and meets your needs and expectations.

Contingency options for selling a home: Summary

To summarize, contingency options in a home sale provide protection and peace of mind for both the buyer and the seller. By including contingencies such as inspections, appraisal, financing, and market value, you can ensure that the transaction is fair and in line with the property’s value. A knowledgeable real estate agent can help guide you through the process and ensure that your interests are protected.

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Getting a Legitimate Lender and Getting Pre-Approved

It used to be that buyers could go house shopping and when they have found their dream home, then they go to get pre-approved. However, in today’s market, that has proven to be one of the least effective methods of landing the dream home.

Most lenders can pre-qualify you for a mortgage over the phone. Based on general questions about your income, debt, assets, and credit history, lenders can estimate how much mortgage you qualify for. However, being pre-qualiﬁed and pre-approved are different things. Pre-approval means that you have applied for a mortgage; you have ﬁlled out the mortgage application, received your credit report, and veriﬁed your employment, assets, etc. When you are pre-approved, you know exactly what the maximum loan amount will be.

A pre-qualiﬁed letter is not veriﬁed and in essence, does not count for much if you are competing with other buyers who are pre-approved. When you are pre-approved, you and the seller know exactly how much house you can afford. It gives you credibility as an interested buyer and lets the seller know immediately that you will qualify for a loan to buy their property.

In addition to being pre-approved, it’s important to be pre-approved with a legitimate lender. Legitimate lenders include banks, mortgage bankers, credit unions, savings and loan associations, mortgage brokers, and online lenders.

Some lenders to avoid: those who lose a form or misplace a ﬁle, those who gather information from you in an unorganized manner, those who are not informed about interest rates, points or costs, and those who cannot provide you with the right information.

Hot, Normal, and Cold Markets

Hot Market

This is an extremely competitive market and is advantageous to the seller. Sometimes, homes will sell as soon as they are listed or even before homes are listed. Typically, during a hot market, multiple offers will be made on each home and more often than not, homes will sell for more than the asking price. It is even more crucial to be prepared and to be ready as a buyer when the market is hot. It can be easy to get caught up in the bid for a home, but if you are prepared (preapproved, solid in price range, realistic about your needs), it is easier to remain focused on your housing needs and price range.

Normal Market

In a normal market, there is a fairly large number of homes available and an average number of buyers. This market does not necessarily favor the buyer or the seller. A seller may not have as many offers on their home, but he or she may not be desperate to sell either. Again, it is the buyer’s responsibility to be prepared. During a normal market, the chances to negotiate are higher than in a hot market. As a buyer, you can expect to make offers at lower than the asking price and negotiate a price at least somewhat less than what the sellers are asking.

Cold Market

In a cold market, houses may be listed for more than a year and the prices of houses listed may drop considerably. This market is advantageous to the buyer. As a buyer, you have the

Importance of Inspection

As a buyer, you are entitled to know exactly what you are getting. Don’t take anything for granted, not even what you see or what the seller or listing broker tells you. A professional home inspection is something you MUST do, whether you are buying an existing home or a new one.

An inspection is an opportunity to have an expert look closely at the property you are considering purchasing and get both an oral and written opinion as to its condition.

Beforehand, make sure the report will be done by a professional organization, such as a local trade organization or a national trade organization such as ASHI (American Society of Home Inspection). Not only should you never skip an inspection, but also you should be present with the inspector during the inspection. This gives you a chance to ask questions about the property and get answers that are not biased. In addition, the oral comments are typically more revealing and detailed than what you will ﬁnd on the written report. Once the inspection is complete, review the inspection report carefully.

time to make an offer that works in your best interest. It is not uncommon to low-ball and to ﬁnd that sellers are accommodating to meet your needs. Keep in mind that even though this market is a great time for buyers, you do not want to lose your dream home by being unrealistic. Your goal is to get your dream home at the best possible price.

Importance of Inspection

An inspection is an opportunity to have an expert look closely at the property you are considering purchasing and getting both an oral and written opinion as to its condition.

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Use a Buyer’s Broker

It’s important that you choose an experienced broker who is there for you. Your broker should be actively ﬁnding you potential homes, keeping you informed of the entire process, negotiating furiously on your behalf, and answering all of your questions with competence and speed.

First, ﬁnd a broker who represents you and not the seller. This is beneﬁcial during the negotiation process. If you are working with a buyer’s broker, he or she is required not to tell the seller of your top choice. In addition, he or she is also focused on getting you the lowest asking price.

Also, when you use a buyer’s broker, you will see more properties. Not only are they plugged into their Multiple Listing Service, but they are also actively ﬁnding homes that are listed as FSBO, or homes that sellers are thinking about listing.

Why You Should Not Make Any Major Credit Purchases

Don’t go on a spending spree using credit if you are thinking about buying a home, or in the process of buying a new home. Your mortgage pre-approval is subject to a ﬁnal evaluation of your ﬁnancial situation.

Every $100 you pay per month on a credit payment could cost you about $10,000 in home eligibility. For example, a car payment of $300/month could mean that you qualify for $30,000 less in a mortgage.

Even if you have accumulated enough savings, you should consider not making any large purchases until after closing. The last thing you want is to know that you could have purchased a new home had you curbed the urge to spend.