Thinking of buying a home?
If you're tired of seeing one or two thousand dollars of your money disappear each month in rent, then now is the time. Right now is a buyer's market. Prices are down to 2004 levels, there are lots of homes to choose from, and interest rates are low.
You're going to need an agent. Buying a home these days is alot of work. For a number of reasons the job is getting bigger all the time. Just like anything else, when you do something repeatedly you get better at it. Probably you're not going to be buying homes everyday and getting the kind of experience, knowledge, and decision-making expertise that I have, and considering the importance of the task it's a good idea to have as many of those abilities at your disposal as possible.
Here are the things which make up the home-buying process:
- Choosing a Realtor.
- Establishing your budget with a mortgage broker, and deciding on your needs and wants in a home.
- Going out and finding the home you want.
- Writing an offer and coming to agreement with the sellers.
- Opening escrow, arranging financing, inspecting and evaluating property and title.
- Completing loan and escrow agreements, paying closing costs and taxes.
- Recording title, closing escrow, moving in.
Right now the FHA is making home ownership possible for those who might not have qualified for a conventional loan, with:
- Liberal income/debt ratios
- Non-traditional documentation allowed for self-employed, intermittent employment history, no credit, etc.
- Up to 96.5% loan-to-value (just 3 1/2% down payment). Conventional loans are requiring 15-20% down these days.
- Lenders are looking favorably on FHA qualification for loan approval.
- Lower minimum credit scores than with conventional mortgages.
- Non-occupant co-borrowers allowed.
High inventory, low prices and low interest rates, those are the conditions you want.
Here is some information to get started:
- ColdwellBanker.com, for loans and interest rates, buyer information, and alot more
- CALHFA, for first time homebuyers.
- HUD and FHA, low down payment, great for the first-time homebuyer.
- Realtor.com, find your home on-line.
- SD lookup.com is a real good San Diego property search.
- Equity Title, for buyer information. Click on Client Resources, Consumer Information, and Useful Links.
As a buyer's agent, my services are free. I'm paid by the seller for bringing a buyer to the sale. I have access to the MLS and other listings. Being part of the Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage team, I have the rescources of that whole 100 year old and successful company. I'm native to San Diego. I have the time to do all of the work necessary to make your home-buying process a successful one.
My goal is to serve. Let's get together and talk about the home that you want,
and how to get it.
