Tag: buyers agent

Local Realtors Dominate In Their Markets

The real estate industry is well dominated today but what is selling is not the company but the uniqueness of their property. Everyone today has their eyes on real estate but how unique is what they are looking for? Real estate companies have for long sold what is a fit for them without considering their customers but now those times have changed. What is your local realtor best known for? Is there any unique kind of property they sell? These are some of the questions to ask today when evaluating a local dealer. It determines the kind of services you will get from them and how efficient they are in the business.

A good local realtor doesn’t sell just anything that lands in their front door. Going beyond the customer’s expectations is sometimes the best thing. Today, it is not easy to get a property that is custom made to fit all your needs. For example, if you want a property that has a golf course, it’s simpler to get a property with a field and construct the golf course yourself. The prices of property with amenities like swimming pools, golf course, and others are a bit high. However, your local realtor can get the same for you at a different price at least cheaper than the rest.

Some people think their desired home is difficult to get and if it is available that it is expensive. This is not always the case, but it depends on your local realtor. Have you ever wondered where people get property near the lakes from? This means their local dealer is good at what they do. The best property can be found near lakes, but they can prove to be hard to get and a bit expensive. This should not worry you anyway.

Getting custom made property is not the only hectic thing but selling the same can prove to be a bit hard too. Where do you get a person to buy your property that is at the lakefront? Today’s real estate market has become very competitive, and people are wondering where to go and get clients for their assets. Your local realtor can help you out with this, and if they have a customized marketing system, it will be much easier to sell the property because the system assists you in the sale of your home. Property that is hard to get and sell to like a home near a lakefront, hiking trails, near a pack and others like these will need a local realtor who is good and has the experience and client list to make the buy or the sale.

Lady of the Lakes Real Estate is Livingston County’s premiere realtor; out of Pinckney, Michigan helping buyers buy and sellers sell homes that provide a recreational lifestyle including golf courses, lakes and the Huron river chain of lakes, throughout Brighton, Howell, Pinckney and the surrounding area. Find out more at http://www.ladyofthelakes.com.

Local Realtors Dominate In Their Markets

The real estate industry is well dominated today but what is selling is not the company but the uniqueness of their property. Everyone today has their eyes on real estate but how unique is what they are looking for? Real estate companies have for long sold what is a fit for them without considering their customers but now those times have changed. What is your local realtor best known for? Is there any unique kind of property they sell? These are some of the questions to ask today when evaluating a local dealer. It determines the kind of services you will get from them and how efficient they are in the business.

A good local realtor doesn’t sell just anything that lands in their front door. Going beyond the customer’s expectations is sometimes the best thing. Today, it is not easy to get a property that is custom made to fit all your needs. For example, if you want a property that has a golf course, it’s simpler to get a property with a field and construct the golf course yourself. The prices of property with amenities like swimming pools, golf course, and others are a bit high. However, your local realtor can get the same for you at a different price at least cheaper than the rest.

Some people think their desired home is difficult to get and if it is available that it is expensive. This is not always the case, but it depends on your local realtor. Have you ever wondered where people get property near the lakes from? This means their local dealer is good at what they do. The best property can be found near lakes, but they can prove to be hard to get and a bit expensive. This should not worry you anyway.

Getting custom made property is not the only hectic thing but selling the same can prove to be a bit hard too. Where do you get a person to buy your property that is at the lakefront? Today’s real estate market has become very competitive, and people are wondering where to go and get clients for their assets. Your local realtor can help you out with this, and if they have a customized marketing system, it will be much easier to sell the property because the system assists you in the sale of your home. Property that is hard to get and sell to like a home near a lakefront, hiking trails, near a pack and others like these will need a local realtor who is good and has the experience and client list to make the buy or the sale.

Lady of the Lakes Real Estate is Livingston County’s premiere realtor; out of Pinckney, Michigan helping buyers buy and sellers sell homes that provide a recreational lifestyle including golf courses, lakes and the Huron river chain of lakes, throughout Brighton, Howell, Pinckney and the surrounding area. Find out more at http://www.ladyofthelakes.com.

A Checklist Can Often Be Helpful When Working With A Real Estate Agent

To find an outstanding, qualified, and dedicated team in real estate locally is tricky. In most counties, you will find some leading companies in recreation style living serving all of your real estate needs. A majority tend to cover areas within and extend to regions outside.  Whether you are interested in lakefront living, golf course properties, hiking trails,  horseback riding or parks, the team you hire will work hard until you get the perfect property.

Online, you will have a broad range of company website ready to provide services and answer all your queries. Most of the websites have pages where you fill in specific questions regarding real estates and the kind of property you want to purchase. Information on mortgage (which is crucial when you want to buy property) is available on several sites as well as a list of qualified agents with their contacts to guide you through owning a home. We all know that moving is more of a headache than many cares to agree but having resources at your disposal to help you move makes it all easier. Instead of making your checklist, some real estate agents take the time to give you a checklist which is fast and easy.

For individuals with a dream on real estate, there is a chance for you to begin at home. Local real estate agents encourage people with a passion for the industry to participate so as to gain experience.  More information on how to become a part of an elite team is available on various company websites, or you can visit one that’s close to you. In case you want to participate in selling, some companies have developed a customized marketing system to assist you in selling a home. On it, there are tools to help you save money. Not all systems are same; each company installs unique features to have a competitive advantage over others. Local real estate agents also offer to rent services as well. Every listing gets frequently updated to ensure that clients don’t miss out. Available are local listings you can browse through and make a sound choice.

Choosing a local agent that has been in the region for long is usually the best. It shows that he/she has earned respect, loyalty, and trust from the community. Dedicated, self-driven, and experienced, the agent and his team present a powerful sales force which on its own guarantees client’s admirable outcome.

Lady of the Lakes Real Estate is Livingston County’s premiere realtor; out of Pinckney, Michigan helping buyers buy and sellers sell homes that provide a recreational lifestyle including golf courses, lakes and the Huron river chain of lakes, throughout Brighton, Howell, Pinckney and the surrounding area. Find out more at http://www.ladyofthelakes.com.

A Checklist Can Often Be Helpful When Working With A Real Estate Agent

To find an outstanding, qualified, and dedicated team in real estate locally is tricky. In most counties, you will find some leading companies in recreation style living serving all of your real estate needs. A majority tend to cover areas within and extend to regions outside.  Whether you are interested in lakefront living, golf course properties, hiking trails,  horseback riding or parks, the team you hire will work hard until you get the perfect property.

Online, you will have a broad range of company website ready to provide services and answer all your queries. Most of the websites have pages where you fill in specific questions regarding real estates and the kind of property you want to purchase. Information on mortgage (which is crucial when you want to buy property) is available on several sites as well as a list of qualified agents with their contacts to guide you through owning a home. We all know that moving is more of a headache than many cares to agree but having resources at your disposal to help you move makes it all easier. Instead of making your checklist, some real estate agents take the time to give you a checklist which is fast and easy.

For individuals with a dream on real estate, there is a chance for you to begin at home. Local real estate agents encourage people with a passion for the industry to participate so as to gain experience.  More information on how to become a part of an elite team is available on various company websites, or you can visit one that’s close to you. In case you want to participate in selling, some companies have developed a customized marketing system to assist you in selling a home. On it, there are tools to help you save money. Not all systems are same; each company installs unique features to have a competitive advantage over others. Local real estate agents also offer to rent services as well. Every listing gets frequently updated to ensure that clients don’t miss out. Available are local listings you can browse through and make a sound choice.

Choosing a local agent that has been in the region for long is usually the best. It shows that he/she has earned respect, loyalty, and trust from the community. Dedicated, self-driven, and experienced, the agent and his team present a powerful sales force which on its own guarantees client’s admirable outcome.

Lady of the Lakes Real Estate is Livingston County’s premiere realtor; out of Pinckney, Michigan helping buyers buy and sellers sell homes that provide a recreational lifestyle including golf courses, lakes and the Huron river chain of lakes, throughout Brighton, Howell, Pinckney and the surrounding area. Find out more at http://www.ladyofthelakes.com.

Exactly What Do Real Estate Professionals Do

Who Arе Thеу…

Rеаl еѕtаtе аgеntѕ are professionals inѕtrumеntаl in соnnесting the buyer with thе seller.

Additiоnаllу, mаnу rеаl еѕtаtе agents mаnаgе rеntаlѕ whеrеin they intrоduсе tеnаntѕ tо lаndlоrdѕ аnd оvеrѕее thе maintenance оf the рrореrtу оn bеhаlf оf the landlords.

In mоѕt аrеаѕ rеаl еѕtаtе аgеntѕ are required tо be highly еduсаtеd, liсеnѕеd аnd аrе regulated bу a governing bоdу.

Sоmе rеаl еѕtаtе аgеntѕ are аlѕо Rеаltоrѕ.

To use the title Rеаltоr, a real estate аgеnt must bе a mеmbеr оf thе National Aѕѕосiаtiоn of Rеаltоrѕ whiсh in addition tо a number оf other requirements, rеԛuirеѕ Rеаltоrѕ tо аdhеrе tо a strict code of еthiсѕ and оffеrѕ Rеаltоrѕ аdditiоnаl еduсаtiоnаl аnd dеѕignаtiоn орроrtunitiеѕ.

Though nоt rеquirеd bу rulе or lаw, it might be a wiѕе decision tо ѕееk the ѕеrviсеѕ of a Realtor.

Whаt Dо They Do….

Rеаl еѕtаtе аgеntѕ bring tоgеthеr two оr mоrе intеrеѕtеd раrtiеѕ, реrfоrm thоѕе ѕtерѕ necessary to ѕuссеѕѕfullу соnсludе a trаnѕасtiоn аnd сhаrgе a соmmiѕѕiоn for their ѕеrviсеѕ.

Fоr ѕаlеѕ trаnѕасtiоnѕ, they charge commission tо thе ѕеllеr whilе for rеntаlѕ, соmmiѕѕiоn is tурiсаllу сhаrgеd thе landlord.

Rеаl estate аgеntѕ generally саlсulаtе thеir fее аѕ a реrсеntаgе of thе ѕеlling рriсе (in thе саѕе of a sale) аnd аѕ раrt оf thе rеnt for rеntаl unitѕ.

Hоw Dо Thеу Dо It…

People whо wаnt tо sell оr rent their рrореrtу lеаvе dеtаilѕ of their property with thе rеаl еѕtаtе аgеnt.

Along with аll рrореrtу dеtаilѕ thе real еѕtаtе agent will typically have kеуѕ tо thе hоuѕе tо facilitate ѕhоwingѕ.

The оthеr interested party (i.e. thе buуеr/tеnаnt), gеtѕ access tо thiѕ information аnd tо thе property bу соntасting thе real estate agent.

That’s hоw thе rеаl estate аgеnt bесоmеѕ a hub оf infоrmаtiоn.

Contrary tо ѕоmе common miѕсоnсерtiоnѕ, real estate agents tурiсаllу represent the ѕеllеr оr the buyer but rаrеlу bоth.

Whу Shоuld I Uѕе One…

Firѕt аnd fоrеmоѕt, tо рrоtесt уоurѕеlf. Rеаl еѕtаtе transactions аrе highlу rеgulаtеd, highly рареr (document) intеnѕivе trаnѕасtiоnѕ.

Thе real еѕtаtе agent роѕѕеѕѕеѕ an in dерth knоwlеdgе of thе laws, rulеѕ, rеgulаtiоnѕ, diѕсlоѕurеѕ and documentation nесеѕѕаrу tо successfully соmрlеtе thе transaction tо the ѕаtiѕfасtiоn оf the buуеr, the ѕеllеr аnd the lаw.

Bесаuѕе real estate аgеntѕ аrе most fаmiliаr with local real еѕtаtе mаrkеt соnditiоnѕ, it iѕ wiѕе and makes ѕеnѕе tо seek thе advice оf one to gеt an idea оf thе сurrеnt trеndѕ and рriсing fоr properties within thаt mаrkеt.

A gооd rеаl estate аgеnt will knоw the рriсеѕ (оr price range) of vаriоuѕ properties оf diffеrеnt types and аt vаriоuѕ lосаtiоnѕ within the rеgiоn.

Bесаuѕе оf the real estate agent’s knоwlеdgе and еxреrtiѕе, property sellers often gеt a fеw thоuѕаnd dоllаrѕ more for thеir рrореrtу.

Many hоmе ѕееkеrѕ, including ѕеаѕоnеd rеаl estate invеѕtоrѕ uѕе the services of rеаl estate аgеntѕ to lосаtе the bеѕt real estate bаrgаinѕ in thе easiest аnd quiсkеѕt manner.

Furthеrmоrе, thе bеѕt agents analyze the wаntѕ аnd needs оf a hоmе buуеr/tеnаnt and рrоvidе vаluаblе input аѕ tо the kinds оf рrореrtiеѕ аvаilаblе tо thеm within their budgеt. Thеrеfоrе, a gооd rеаl estate аgеnt will nоt just рrеѕеnt a list оf available properties tо thе buуеr/tеnаnt but will асtuаllу diѕсuѕѕ thеir needs аnd mаkе ѕuggеѕtiоnѕ.

Thе good real estate аgеnt, working in this mаnnеr benefits in аt lеаѕt twо wауѕ…

Firѕt and mоѕt оbviоuѕlу, whеn thе rеаl еѕtаtе аgеnt iѕ able tо ѕuссеѕѕfullу соmрlеtе thе trаnѕасtiоn the соmmiѕѕiоn is earned and thе rеаl еѕtаtе аgеnt iѕ paid…

аnd secondly, if thеу mаkе the сuѕtоmеr/сliеnt happy they earn a gооd reputation аnd оftеn receive rеfеrrаlѕ (hеnсе mоrе buѕinеѕѕ).

Worth Noting…

It is worth noting thаt there is a mуth flоаting аrоund thаt rеаl еѕtаtе аgеntѕ only wоrk on behalf оf thе ѕеllеr, buyer bеwаrе.

Thiѕ is nоt writtеn in ѕtоnе nоr is it аlwауѕ the саѕе. Real еѕtаtе аgеntѕ are, in mоѕt regions, highlу regulated.

With fеw exceptions, rеаl еѕtаtе agents wоrk either fоr thе ѕеllеr (аѕ is thе case with many listing аgеntѕ) оr fоr thе buуеr (аѕ is thе саѕе fоr a buyer’s аgеnt).

Additiоnаllу, ѕоmе areas аllоw fоr duаl аgеnсу where аn аgеnt саn work fоr bоth the ѕеllеr and the buуеr оr аѕ a trаnѕасtiоn brоkеr where thе agent represents thе transaction itѕеlf аnd neither thе ѕеllеr nor buуеr individuаllу.

However, in the case оf duаl agency/transaction brokerage, note thаt rulе, rеgulаtiоn (law) аnd еthiсѕ dо nоt реrmit thе аgеnt to асt in fаvоr of either party whilе in dеtrimеnt tо thе оthеr.

If you аrе unѕurе of thе rеlаtiоnѕhiр between уоu and уоur real еѕtаtе аgеnt, dо not hеѕitаtе tо ask.

Lady of the Lakes Real Estate is Livingston County’s premiere realtor; out of Pinckney, Michigan helping buyers buy and sellers sell homes that provide a recreational lifestyle including golf courses, lakes and the Huron river chain of lakes, throughout Brighton, Howell, Pinckney and the surrounding area. Find out more at http://www.ladyofthelakes.com.

Outlook For Spring 2017 Real Estate Market

The 2016 real estate market was quiet a success.  Interest rates were lower than they had been since the 50’s.  Home values exceeded expectations and an end was in site to the housing recession.  With the federal housing administration offering grants and low interest rate loans there was a monumental increase in first time homebuyers.  With this in mind there are some Real Estate trends to consider as we enter the spring real estate season.

Increased Home Prices

As with 2016, home prices will continue to rise however it will happen at a more gradual pace.  With the buying demand already starting 2017 at a rate that is above 2016 it isn’t a surprise that there will be an increase in the median home price.  Many industry experts expect the increase in home prices to be upwards of five percent.

Increase in Inventory

Interest rates are currently low.  In order to take advantage of these lower interest rates more and more renters are looking into purchasing homes right now.   The same is true of many current homeowners looking to upgrade.  The one disadvantage to this for first time home buyers is that the inventory of homes within the low to average price range is low and moving quickly when it does hit the market. The inventory of homes is expected to increase in 2017 but is still at a historical low.

Volatile Mortgage Rates

Mortgage rates remain low even with the slight increase that occurred following the 2016 election.  This was only the second time that we have seen a rate increase in housing interest rates in a decade.  It is important to note that the Federal Reserve, who controls the rise and decline of interest rates, has stated that they expect interest rates to increase at least three more times this year.  Realize however that these rates even with a few small increases will still be less than we have previously seen.

Availability to Credit Will Improve

With a new president in office there is talk of rolling back many of the financial regulations that were put into place post-crisis in the Dodd-Frank Act.  This means that the regulations on lending the banks are currently under would be removed and less strict rules would take their place.  It is also speculated that the new president would make moves to return mortgage companies that are government-controlled to the private sector.

The spring real estate season is getting started in just a few weeks.  If you are thinking of buying a home or selling your home now is the time to contact a local real estate agent for assistance.

Lady of the Lakes Real Estate is Livingston County’s premiere realtor; out of Pinckney, Michigan helping buyers buy and sellers sell homes that provide a recreational lifestyle including golf courses, lakes and the Huron river chain of lakes, throughout Brighton, Howell, Pinckney and the surrounding area. Find out more at http://www.ladyofthelakes.com.

Is Spring The Best Time To Sell or Buy a Home

Popular opinion would have you thinking that the only time your home will sell is during the spring.  Although spring is a super exciting time in real estate, it isn’t necessarily the only time you should consider selling your home.  The spring season is known to bring out buyers and sellers alike.  With the onslaught of buyers and sellers it is important to note that there is more competition.  Note that more sellers’ means more homes to choose from; more buyers mean more competition to get top dollar for available inventory.

In some situations it makes sense to wait until the spring but it isn’t necessarily the only time to consider buying or selling a home.  There are many reasons to consider listing your home right now.  Consider the following:

  • Work Relocations: The first quarter of the year is known for people relocating for work.  Changes are made to adjust for work load, retirements, and such.  Sellers are looking to move their homes quickly while promptly looking to purchase a home.
  • Fewer Homes for Sale: Selling in the winter when there are fewer homes for sale can work in your favor. A smaller inventory of homes means that your home will receive a lot more attention.
  • More Agent Attention: Fewer homes that agents are marketing allow the agent to spend more time on your listing.
  • Fewer Showings: When your home is listed outside of the spring season the number of showings your home will have is sure to be less.  The quality of home buyers is increased during slower times in real estate therefore the quantity of people that will be less.  The benefit to you, less work in keeping your home up to date and clean.
  • Quicker Home Sales: Home buyers that are out searching for their dream home in the winter are motivated.  There is no wasting time going in and out of home after home.  It is cold, buyers are inspired to shop quickly and get into a new home and out of the cold.

If you are thinking about selling your home there is no need to wait until April.  Now is the perfect time to meet with a real estate agent to start discussing what needs to be done to get your home listed.  This will give you ample time to hit the market before the spring rush and hopefully get you out of your home and into a new one just in time to enjoy the nicer weather.

Lady of the Lakes Real Estate is Livingston County’s premiere realtor; out of Pinckney, Michigan helping buyers buy and sellers sell homes that provide a recreational lifestyle including golf courses, lakes and the Huron river chain of lakes, throughout Brighton, Howell, Pinckney and the surrounding area. Find out more at http://www.ladyofthelakes.com.

2017 Predictions In Real Estate

Like it or not the environment that we currently live in is one that thrives around the infusion of technology including the real estate market.  2017 is predicted to be a dominating year for real estate.  It is expected that homes will spend less time on the market now into the future than any other time in history.  With advancements in technology surrounding the real estate market all aspects, from finding a home to applying for a mortgage are sure to take less time than ever before.

2017 Real Estate Predictions

  • The speed at which houses sell will increase, the housing market itself will continue to grow but the rate at which this occurs may slow a bit. The reason for this is due to the decline in affordable houses available to those families living within the median income level.  It is forecasted that the availability of affordable homes will continue to decline.
  • Real estate professionals and contractors alike believe that the growth of new construction homes will begin to slow into 2017. There are a number of reasons for this including a shortage of skilled construction workers.  This will ultimately affect the number of affordable starter homes thus leading to an increase in the price first-time home buyers can expect to pay for a new home.
  • With a new president elect set to take over, the economic climate is set to change. Mortgage rates will see a slight hike but should not climb much over four percent.  We should see economic growth and continued inflation which will help to keep rates low throughout 2017.
  • Home loans will become more accessible. Mortgages requiring as little as one to three percent down will be introduced within a variety of financial institutions and Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will increase the size of the loans that they will back.
  • Growth in real estate in larger cities will take a back seat to the growth seen in second-tier cities. Commuting into larger metropolises while living in outlying locations will lead a trend in new construction in suburbs.

The concept of moving now-a-days is much different from the past.  It used to be that homeowners would own one or two homes in their lifetimes.  It was important to stay put, build roots and create memories.  Today, with real estate technology easing the transaction more and more people are moving to upgraded homes instead of upgrading the home they live in.

Lady of the Lakes Real Estate is Livingston County’s premiere realtor; out of Pinckney, Michigan helping buyers buy and sellers sell homes that provide a recreational lifestyle including golf courses, lakes and the Huron river chain of lakes, throughout Brighton, Howell, Pinckney and the surrounding area. Find out more at http://www.ladyofthelakes.com.

Prepare Now For The Spring Real Estate Rush

2017 is the year many people have decided to become homeowners.  Right now is the perfect time to start preparing for your real estate endeavor.  Before the spring real estate season gets on its way it is time to take the necessary steps to make your house hunt successful.

Credit Report:  In order to purchase a house most first time home buyers will need to take out a mortgage.  In order to qualify for a mortgage you will need a decent credit score.  Now is the time to check out your credit report.  Home loan lenders use your credit score to set mortgage terms and interest rates.  It is crucial that an accurate report of your financial history is received when lenders are looking at your most recent credit report.  If there are errors this gives you time to fix the issues before you need to apply for your first home loan.

Budget:  This is a crucial step in buying your first home.  Many times lenders will pre-approve you for a home loan that is way over what you will feel comfortable spending each month.  Create a budget that accurately represents the amount of money you have coming in and going out each month.  The rule of thumb is to not spend more than thirty percent of your take home income on a mortgage payment.  This monthly payment should include both taxes and insurance.  An online calculator can help while you are going over your budget.  Online mortgage calculators can help you to determine how much house you can actually afford.

Down payment: Having a down payment is important.  Hopefully you have been stocking money aside to put towards the purchase of your first home for a while now.  If you have been saving for a down payment in a number of places now is the time to consolidate those funds.  Put these funds into one savings account at least three months prior to buying your first home.  This is beneficial as your mortgage lender will not need to track down where all of the money originated from.

Needs/Wants:  Once you have determined how much you have to put down as a down payment and know how much you can afford in a home it is important to create a master list of needs and wants out of a home.  Some features in a home are negotiable while others aren’t.  It is important to lay out what you need out of a home.  Consider the following things: location, schools, commute time, nearby amenities and housing features such as the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and more.  Would you rather have a home that is in need of some work or one that is move in ready?  Having a list in place will make it much easier for both you and your real estate agent narrow down the selection of homes to view as you begin your search.

Lady of the Lakes Real Estate is Livingston County’s premiere realtor; out of Pinckney, Michigan helping buyers buy and sellers sell homes that provide a recreational lifestyle including golf courses, lakes and the Huron river chain of lakes, throughout Brighton, Howell, Pinckney and the surrounding area. Find out more at http://www.ladyofthelakes.com.

Insight Into The 2017 Real Estate Market

Will you be shopping for a new home in 2017?  Below is some insight into the real estate market and what home buyers can expect as they begin their hunt for either a new home or their first home.

The real estate market has been affected due to the election that recently occurred.  Interest rates on home loans and refinancing have risen point fifty percent over the past two months.  Even with this increase the housing market on a whole remains strong.  It is important to consider that the market could see a rise in real estate markets under this new leadership.  The prospect of higher interest rates and increased real estate costs may create a sense of urgency amongst buyers going into the spring season.

The traditional timing of first time buyers is changing.  People are no longer waiting until they are married to look into homeownership.  More single people are choosing to purchase homes than ever before.  The 2017 real estate market will see more and more home buyers that are single verse real estate trends of the past in which typically home buyers were married couples.

Those seeking investment properties most often have the same goal, price appreciation.  If the goal for 2017 is to acquire additional properties as investments look where home values are set to increase the most.  For almost all areas larger price increases can be seen on property within larger metropolitan areas.  Not only property values increase either.  The amount of rent that can be charged is significantly higher than the rural area surrounding the metropolis.

It is critical that first time home buyers concern themselves with more than just the initial down payment.  The costs of obtaining a mortgage are additional to the actual down payment on a home.  A home costing $150,000 could require a twenty percent down payment and two percent closing costs.  Thus the amount due at closing would be $30,000 for the down payment and upwards of $3000 for the closing fees.

It is also important for first time home buyers to have a nest egg of funds put aside for unexpected emergencies that can arise with homeownership.  Inspections are not a hundred percent failure proof.  Sometimes there are things that aren’t noticed until you are living in the home.   Maybe the water backs up when you are running the dishwasher and washing machine.   This may not be something caught during the inspection process. The nature of the issue is not something that is common for home inspectors to look into during the home inspection process.  These small issues can add to the financial pinch of a new mortgage and should be planned for ahead of time.  The last thing new homeowners want to do is to put debt on to credit cards.  A cash emergency fund is the best way to handle the unforeseen.

Lady of the Lakes Real Estate is Livingston County’s premiere realtor; out of Pinckney, Michigan helping buyers buy and sellers sell homes that provide a recreational lifestyle including golf courses, lakes and the Huron river chain of lakes, throughout Brighton, Howell, Pinckney and the surrounding area. Find out more at http://www.ladyofthelakes.com.