Tips For A Successful Closing

by Aimee Slesk

Hello Buyers and Sellers! Here are a couple short and sweet tips on having a smooth closing:

Avoid "shifting" your money from bank accounts, credit cards etc, keep everything as is
Maintain your current employment/income source, don't change jobs
Respond quickly to all requests for information
Keep residence, marital status, business ownership, etc. stable
Do not obtain new debt – maintain your credit record and defer any major purchases aka don't go buy a new truck until AFTER you close on your house!
Funds to close must come from the same verified accounts provided at time of applications, you can't have a last minute gift fund if you spend your savings so…. be careful what you spend!

I hope this helps you during your real estate transactions! Contact me if you have any questions, I'm here to help!

Have a great week!

-Aimee Slesk

AimeeS@windermere.com

First Time Home Buyers • Mortgage Insurance • February 24, 2015

How Lower Mortgage Insurance Effects YOU!

by Aimee Slesk

I have had quite a few questions lately on how the changes made in January to lower mortgage insurance actually effect your buying power (the amount you are approved for through a bank to purchase a home).

Example: In January if you were pre approved for $205,000 and have done nothing to improve/lower your credit score, your buying power is now $220,000. That is a $15,000 difference, and you didn't have to do anything. Pretty Aweome! If you have been house shopping online via redfin, zillow, or windermere, you know that $15,000 makes a substantial difference in the houses you are looking at.

Please contact me if you have any questions or would like to know more about the hows/whys and see how your buying power has changed since January. I am happy to help!

Cheers!

First Time Home Buyers • January 14, 2015

How to Make an Offer on a Home

by Aimee Slesk

You found your dream home and are ready to make an offer – now what!?

DON'T OVER THINK IT! If you love the house and have been looking for a while, make the offer, don't wait. Here is why: Would you be mad at yourself if you missed this opportunity to purchase this home? If the answer is Yes, then make the offer. I was helping a couple try and purchase a condo for a couple months, they finally found one they liked in their price range and they wanted to sleep on making an offer over night. Again this is after months of looking for something. The next morning we went to make an offer and someone else had already made a full price cash offer, that same morning! The sellers had accepted the cash offer. That was about 2 months ago, they have still not found something in their price range that will accept their loan program.

The real estate market is a tricky thing, sometimes there are lots of options to chose from and sometimes there are not. We also cannot predict the future, we don't know if another party will come in and make an offer today or tomorrow on the same home regardless of how long the home has been sitting on the market.

You have a couple days after making the offer to essentially change your mind (obviously don't go around making offers for fun, you are playing with peoples financial lives, professions and emotions here). But if you would be mad at yourself for missing the opportunity, lock it up, make the offer and be one step closer to owning the home you love.

CALCULATE what your mortgage will be for the home. Have your real estate professional to do this, to make sure the mortgage will be within the budget you have set. Online, click here for a quick mortgage calculator.

COMPARE similar homes in the area to the home you love, make sure you feel comfortable with your offer price, your real estate professional will help supply comparison properties.

TRUST your real estate professional and yourself. It's important to work with someone you trust so you know they truly have your best interest at heart. Also trust yourself, If you feel that you have found the right place for yourself and your family (or potential family) act on it. If you feel it is not the right house for you, wait.

GET EXCITED! This is a big step! You are ready to move into home ownership, no more renting and paying someone else's mortgage, making someone else's dreams come true. Feed your own. Make your own dreams come true. Invest in your financial future!

If you have any questions on making an offer or feel you are ready to start your home search for your first home or any home. Please contact me, I am happy to help point you in the right direction!

Cheers!

Aimee Slesk

AimeeS@windermere.com