5 Reasons To Use A Realtor

Sneek Peek

Take a first look at a new home being build in Moore by C&H Custom Homes. 

405 Realty 405-924-0569
Metro First Realty 405-703-1333

DIY Art Plaque

I love DIY projects, especially on Pintrest!  The ladies whose blogs have been pinned on Pintrest have such creative ideas and are kind enough to show us step by step how to craft them. 

Of course as I was looking around on Pintrest today, I found this DIY Interchangeable Art Plaque pin and I had to share it.  In this project, Poppy Seed Projects and Tips From a Typical Mom teamed up to give us a plaque that can be used year around.  Not only do they show us step by step how to create this super cute plaque, they offer FREE printables so you can change out the art on the plaque. 

I am going to attempt this before Thanksgiving so I can utilize it for my Christmas decorations! 

You can check out the directions and these creative ladies blogs by following the link below. 

Happy DIY'ing!!


DIY Interchangable Art Plaque

Fall Maintenance Checklist

Why is Pre-Approval A Must?

Getting pre-approved for a loan in todays market is a must.  The market is competitive and sellers want to know that you can qualify. 

There are so many benefits to getting pre-approved for a loan by a lending professional.

As mentioned, in this competitive market, if there are multiple offers, your offer will be taken more seriously by the seller.  Some sellers won't accept an offer today without a pre-approval letter attached.  Less than 10 percent of buyers in 2012 got loan pre-approvals according to Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data compiled by LendingPatterns.com.  This is changing fast.  To stay competitive, you must get pre-approved. 

Getting a pre-approval will also benefit you by potentially helping narrow your home search. This can help define your search criteria with far more accuracy. 

Keep in mind that there is a difference between pre-qualification and pre-approval with a lending specialist.  Pre-qualification, is more like an estimation of the amount for which you might expect to get approved.  Pre-approval, on the other hand, is more preferable because it confirms that you meet the necessary criteria to borrow at a certain level.  Pre-approval is a more in-depth assessment of your circumstances. 

Here's a basic list of what you will be asked to provide in your pre-approval process (will vary from lender to lender) :

1. Your social security number (for an accurate credit check)
2. Copies of your checking and savings account statements for the past six months.
3. Documentation of other assets you may hold, such as stocks and bonds.
4. A recent pay stub that confirms your earnings.
5. A list of all debt.
6. Your last two years of income tax returns.

I am always here to help you on any aspect of buying or selling a home.  I can help you with any aspect of getting pre-approved, including introducing you to top local lending professionals.  Give me a call today!


405 Realty                                                                                                       Metro First Realty
405-924-0569                                                                                                      405-703-1333
www.facebook.com/405Realty

5 Reasons for Using A Realtor

For most Americans, buying a home is the most expensive decision that they will ever make.  Buying and Selling real estate is a big deal.  Not only does it affect you financially, it can also have serious emotional affects and having proper representation is important.

Some of the most important reasons why using a Realtor should be at the top of your "To-Do" List when buying or selling a home are:

1.  Financial Responsibility- Your Realtors Fiduciary duty is to you.  Which means that they are there to look out for your financial interests, to help do everything they can to protect you.  They have the knowledge and expertise to help sellers protect their investment and to help buyers build theirs. 

2.  Changing complex regulations - Laws and regulations are constantly changing and even vary from state to state.  People purchase a home every 7-10 years and a lot changes between these transactions.  Realtors have to stay on top of these changes and can put their knowledge to work for you.

3.  Finding the right home - Realtors are immersed with real estate.  Starting your home search online is a great tool and place to start.  Realtors know the pros and cons of the property and area to help you make the right decision.

4.   Pricing and selling a home - Online sites are great to get a guess on home prices.  They are not always accurate and  up-to-date.  Sometimes they are over 12 months old.  The market changes constantly.  Realtors have fresh, precise market and area details and can get you rock solid comparables to help maximize your profit. 

5.  Contract and negotiations -  Contracts are long and complex.  If any changes have to be made after the initial contract, then there are addendums and riders.  Realtors deal with these contracts every day and can help to navigate through them.  They will help buyers create an attractive offer  and help both buyers and sellers negotiate the terms of the contract. 

Of course Realtors do so much more than this list, but these are 5 major reasons to protect your biggest investment.

If you have any questions or need help navigating the process give me a call at 405-924-0569.


405 Realty  realty405@hotmail.com                                               Metro First Realty 405-703-1333
check out  www.facebook.com/405Realty for great
news and tips.

New Park Plans in Central Moore, OK

The plans for a new park in the heart of Moore, OK have been approved, ground broken and the community is now voting on the park name. 

(Vote to name the park here - you have until Nov 7, 2014 - http://envisionmoore.org/surveys). 

The park which will be located along Broadway Ave and 4th Street will cover just over 113,000 square feet, which is around 50 acres.  It will have a Recreations Center, and an Aquatics Center.  The park will also include an Amphitheater, Farmers Market Pavilions, walking trails, playgrounds, and lots of open space to run and play. 

Here's a picture of the plan of the park.  WOW!!!

 

 

Moore takes pride in all of its parks and is working hard to update and renovate them.  Check out this link for the Parks Improvement Projects and status reports each month.    http://www.cityofmoore.com/resources/parks-improvement-projects

 

This is a great thing and I am so glad that as residents of Moore we take pride in our City!

 

Moore Strong!!!

 

 



Has Your Home Sold Yet?

According to the National Association of Realtors latest Existing Home Sales Report, there have been 5.17 Million homes sold in the US so far this year. 

That means that an average of 14,100 homes each and every day.  If your home hasn't sold yet and has been on the market for a while, there could be a few major factors holding it back.  

Contact me if this is happening to you, I am here to help.


Click the link below for more Real Estate information. 


Home Sales Information

10 Steps to Buying a Home

Buying a home can be an intimidating process even if you have done it before.  There are so many rules and regulations to the process of home buying, but being armed with the right knowledge and Realtor can help you realize the dream of being a homeowner.

There are 10 basic steps to the process of buying a home.  One of your Realtors jobs is to guide you through these steps making a smooth transition.

1.  Get pre-qualified with a lending specialist.  First and foremost, you need to talk with a lending specialist to get pre-qualified and to come up with a budget/plan on how much you want to spend on your mortgage. Don't waste your time looking until you do this first step.  If you don't know a lending specialist to use, hire your Realtor first and they can guide you.

2.  Hire a Real Estate Professional.  There are so many rules and regulations to the process of buying a home, you want to make sure you do it right, and have a professional on your side working for you.  They are there to complete all the paperwork, negotiate with the sellers agent, and make sure you are not paying too much for the home. 

3.  Look for the right home.  There are many places to search for homes online before ever going to look at one.  The best place to look is your local MLS site, and Realtor.com.  Be careful of some of the other sites as the information is not always accurate.  Do some research, narrow down your list and be in contact with your agent so that they can schedule showings for the ones you want to see in person. 

4.  Place an offer.  Place an offer an your top pick.  Your Realtor will pull a list of the comparable homes and see what they have sold for.  This is how you will decide on what to offer.  Your Realtor will help guide you in this process, make sure you are knowledgeable and have all of the information you need to make the decision.

5.  Be prepared to negotiate terms.  Once you've put in an offer, it's not always accepted.  The seller can make a counter-offer, to which you can accept or make another counter-offer.  You want to be careful and not go back and forth too much.  You want to meet in the middle somewhere, if you can.

6.  Sign & date effective contract.  Once the contract is agreed upon by both parties, sign and date the contract and then you will make an earnest money deposit, which is money that is put into escrow showing the seller a sign of good faith that you want the home.

7.  Get the right mortgage for your situation.  There are many different programs and types of mortgages out there, and they change.  Be sure to ask questions to your lending specialist to get the mortgage that is right for you and your situation.

8.  Order inspections & negotiate repairs.  You can hire a professional home inspector and get this scheduled yourself, or you can choose to let your Realtor do it.  I would recommend you letting your Realtor do it because they have used many inspectors and know which ones are good at their job. 

9.  Terminate or proceed with the contract.  Once the inspection is done, you have 10-15 days (based on agreed upon contract) to terminate or proceed with the contract.  A reason that someone might terminate the contract after the inspection is if the inspector found a major defect that would cost a lot of money or the buyer just didn't want to mess with fixing.

10.  After final approval, go to closing to sign and own your new home!  Be sure to talk with your lending specialist and Realtor to understand all of the costs involved with closing so that there are no surprises.  Closing costs can include (but are not limited to) down payment, title fees, appraisal fees, loan fees, escrow fees.   Once you sign the papers at the Title Company you are ready to move in!!

*Some up possible up front fees associated with buying a home may include (but not limited to)               
                    Earnest money - usually $500-$1000
                    Inspection fees - $200-$300 (can be paid at closing for additional fee)
                    Termite Inspection fees - $80-$100 (can be paid at closing for additional fee)

Word of advice:  use your Realtor even after the deal is done!  They should have lists of reputable Movers, Contractors, Insurance Agents, ect.  They are your resource for anything home related!



                               

The Rise of OKC documentary

Seamus Payne of TheCoolist.com has created an in-depth video documentary about the Rise of OKC!  From tech startups, sports and cultural history, we surprised him as he experienced our city firsthand. 

His video documentary features things like the Rocktown Climbing Gym, the Boathouse District, the Plaza District, rowing with the US Mens Olympic team, local artists and entrepreneurs, and of course the OKC Thunder. 

This is a must see video.  Check it out here!  Rise of OKC

8 Things to Consider When Buying a Home

Buying a home is the biggest purchase of your life.  You want to make the best informed decision you can and that’s where I can help!  I have compiled a list of 8 important things to consider when you are out looking at homes to buy.  This list is a little different because these things are usually over looked when buyers find a home that they like, but can have a huge impact down the line.

1.      Think long term – You want to find a home that fits your current needs, but your future (5-10 years) needs are just as important.  Keep these in mind.

2.     Think resale – According to HomeInsight.com, the typical homeowner moves every 5-7 years.  Make sure when you are looking for your home that you are thinking about resale.  Things like updates, home layout, surrounding areas, and neighborhood are important factors in resale.  

3.     Look at all the expenses – Make sure you take into consideration all of the expenses that you would have if you lived in the home.  Things like a neighborhood HOA or a pool in the back yard can change the look of the expenses.  You don’t want any surprises, so the best bet is to make a list of all of the possible expenses for the home.

4.     Look Beyond Staging – Sometimes homes are staged so well you just fall in love with it.  That’s not a bad thing, but it’s important to realize “that stuff” won’t be there when you move in.  Look at the bones of the house and see your décor, furniture and family in it.  

5.     Ask for the HOA Info – If the neighborhood does have an HOA, you want to ask for the HOA Rules and Regulations before you put in an offer.  You want to make sure that your lifestyle and the HOA Rules will be a good fit.  For example, if you have kids and have 5 cars but the HOA doesn’t allow for cars to be parked in the driveways overnight, then that neighborhood might not be a good fit for your family at this time.

6.     Check into the neighborhood and demographics – Location, Location, Location.  If you’re not familiar with the area, do some research.  Search neighborhood information, area crime reports, schools, the local amenities.   Drive the neighborhood at different times of the day.  This can show you how busy the neighborhood is, and the interaction of the people that live there.   All of these are very important things to help with the decision making process.

7.     Test commute – You are going to be doing this commute every day.  Test the commute and make sure that it will work for you.  For example, the house is 10 miles further away from work, but the traffic in that area is so bad, it takes an extra 20 minutes.  Make sure you are informed.

8.     Get a Professional to help – Realtors have the education and experience.  The market is always changing, and Realtors will be able to navigate you through it all.  From the start, helping with neighborhood knowledge, market conditions, pricing the offer, negotiations, and lots of paperwork. 

Make a list of items to check out, ask your Realtor for help and be as informed as you possibly can before buying a home.