Monday, January 28, 2019

My Offer Was Accepted! Now What?

You have spent months looking for the perfect home. You found it, wrote an offer and it was accepted! You already provided your lender with your income and asset statements before you even started looking for a home, so you know you qualify. So what else do you need to do except wait for closing? There are actually several things you still need to do before you can put your feet up!

Inspections
The very first thing you need to do is schedule your home inspection. Contracts usually allow a buyer seven to ten days to perform a general home inspection as well as more specific inspections. When you initially wrote the offer to purchase the home, your agent should have advised you on the importance of conducting a home inspection. By checking this option, the purchase is now ‘contingent upon a home inspection’. This is a term that will give you a right but not the obligation to hire the assistance of a home inspector as well as other professionals who can take a close look at the home. After the inspections, you can request that the seller make repairs to the home prior to closing; ask for a repair allowance to be given to you at closing or if the repairs are substantial, you can decide not to go ahead with the purchase. As you can see, home inspections are imperative on a home purchase.

Loan Application
Although you provided your lender with your financial information upfront so that you could be issued a pre-approval letter, it is now time to make formal loan application. Now that you have an address, a sales price and a time-frame you can apply for a specific loan amount and lock in a rate for a specific time period. This should be done within a few days of your offer being accepted and often is preferred to be made after the home inspection but be careful to coordinate and follow the dates in your purchase contract. Your lender will likely need you to provide updated income and asset statements from the last time you turned them in. Once your loan has been processed, there may be additional requirements from the lender as well. Turn in everything as soon as possible so there are no delays with the loan which could cause your closing to be delayed.

Homeowner’s Insurance
If you are financing your new purchase, homeowner’s insurance needs to be in place prior to final loan approval. This is because the lender needs to know that you qualify with the payment including your monthly homeowner’s insurance obligation. Buyers sometimes overlook this requirement or rush through the process which can cause complications or consequences later. Closings have been delayed due to lack of insurance but worse is when a catastrophe occurs to the property and the homeowner finds out they do not have adequate coverage to repair or rebuild without coming out of pocket. Take the time to make sure you are getting the right coverage so that you are protected in the future.

Summary
After your offer is accepted, now the hard work begins! Do your home inspections, make loan application and get your insurance in place so that you are ready for closing. Once you close on your new home, then you can sit in your new yard and enjoy the sunshine!

Today's New Listings!

34591 Beach Park Ave, Eastlake

4734 Wood St, Willoughby

10132 Chillicothe Rd, Kirtland

107 Carroll Ave, Painesville

3410 Torrey Park Trl, Painesville Township

VL Girdled Rd #B4, Concord

Thursday, January 24, 2019

Today's New Listings!

38298 Ridge Rd, Willoughby

75 S/L Ranally Way, Willoughby

645 Meadowlark Rd, Painesville

3235 Elizabeth Dr #K42, Perry

5745 Heritage Ave, Madison

Open Houses!

Open Houses for January 27, 2019

7300 Hunter’s Trail, Concord  
Open 1:30-3:30pm
$324,900
3bd 3ba
Call 440-525-3331

11393 Somerset Trl, Concord
Open 12-2pm
$325,000 
4bd 3ba
Call 440-488-1061

6748 Bayside Dr, Madison 
Open 11am-1pm
$175,000 
3bd 3ba
Call 440-413-1963

7565 Johnnycake Ridge Rd, Mentor 
Open 11am-1pm
$149,900
3bd 2ba
Call 440-525-3331

8677 Johnnycake Ridge Rd, Mentor 
Open 9am-3pm
$459,900 
4bd 3ba
Call 440-221-0075

7386 Goldenrod Dr, Mentor-on-the-Lake 
Open 11:30am-1:30pm
$134,900 
3bd 2ba
Call 440-251-0791

1450 Thatcher Dr, Painesville 
Open 12-2pm
$230,000 
5bd 2ba
Call 440-527-2641

2150 Kimberly Ct, Wickliffe 
Open 2-4pm
$375,000 
4bd 4ba
Call 440-339-3626

2985 Gale Rd, Willoughby  
Open 1-3pm
$325,000 
4bd 3ba
Call 440-339-0603

9024 Regency Woods, Kirtland 
BY APPT
$450,000 
4bd 3ba
Call 440-296-5006

6651 Breezewood Rd, Concord  
BY APPT
$330,000 
4bd 3ba
Call 440-296-5006

6834 Chapel Rd , Madison 
BY APPT
$359,900 
3bd 3ba
Call 440-296-5006

Monday, January 21, 2019

Why You Should Use a Realtor?

Many people question the value of a Realtor often wondering if the commissions they receive is worth the time and effort they put in. The simple response is Yes! There are several reasons why Realtors should be used to sell a property.

Local Real Estate Knowledge
A great Realtor has a lot of knowledge about the local real estate market. They have an understanding of and can provide you with a realistic parameter of what you can expect to sell your home for. They have access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) which holds data that can provide you with the sales of comparable homes in the area. It is imperative that your Realtor knows what is going on in your area so that they are able to better determine the best plan of action to sell your home.

Real Estate Experience
Realtors have experience selling homes and have an idea of what sells and what does not. While you may think that your sunflower border in the kitchen is adorable, your Realtor is likely going to tell you that borders are dated and you need to paint the kitchen. These little details can make a huge difference when you sell your home. A good Realtor has an eye for details and can pick out different elements of your house that will stand out to potential buyers.

Ability to Price Home Correctly
Trying to sell your home without the use of a Realtor can actually cost you money. Because of the data that Realtors have access to, they are better equipped to make a list price recommendation. By listing too low, you run the risk of losing money but priced too high and you run the risk of delaying the sale and later having to reduce the price. A Realtor has the knowledge and expertise to help you price the home where it will sell quickly and for the most amount of money. In fact, the National Association of Realtors has statistics that show homes sold with a Realtor actually sell for money.

Real Estate Marketing Skills
Marketing is a huge part of real estate. Skilled Realtors know how to market homes with pictures, videos, and great descriptors as well as which online sites to post your home to that will drive buyers to your listing. They are also responsible for marketing, arranging and managing open houses and showings. Everyone is busy so it would be difficult for a homeowner to manage six showings on a day they have to be at work. This is why you have a Realtor.

Professional Real Estate Connections
Realtors that have been in the business a long time have a long list of professional connections and contacts. If you come across a need during the sale of your home (inspections, septic repair, etc.), a good Realtor can recommend several professionals to meet these needs. These kinds of things frequently come up during the process of selling a home. Having a Realtor with a pocket full of resources is extremely helpful.

Real Estate Negotiation Skills
A Realtor is very knowledgeable about the entire selling and buying process including the negotiations. Negotiations can be tricky. You do not want to immediately accept your first offer nor do you want to counter an offer at too high of a price that will cause the buyer to walk away from the table. Your Realtor will have experience in negotiations and can give advice and recommendations throughout this process. This can ease some of your anxiety as well as get you more money on the sale.

Facilitate Real Estate Closings
There is a lot of paperwork involved in both buying and selling real estate. It is not uncommon to feel like you are signing your life away. You may encounter state contracts, title documents as well as lender contracts. Fortunately, your Realtor can help explain the documents you are required to sign so that you can feel comfortable throughout the process.

Using a Realtor is the most effective method to sell your home. An agent can help you choose the best list price, market your home, get potential buyers in for showings, negotiate the best deal on your behalf and assist with the closing process. All of these services make a Realtor commission worth it. You have a better chance of selling your home quickly and for more money with a real estate agent!

Today's New Listings!

6252 Inland Shores Dr, Mentor

1941 Torrey Park Trl, Painesville Township

1945 Torrey Park Trl, Painesville Township

2304 Torrey Park Trl, Painesville Township

513 Belglove Pl, Painesville Township

3105 Torrey Park Trl, Painesville Township

Thursday, January 17, 2019

Open Houses and Price Reductions!

Open Houses for January 20, 2019

657 2nd St #2, Fairport Harbor  
Open 2-4pm
$205,900
2bd 2ba
Call 330-232-2689

7151 Green Valley, Mentor 
Open 2-4pm
$280,000 
4bd 3ba
Call 440-413-1963

7574 Miami Rd, Mentor-on-the-Lake   
Open 11-1pm
$139,900 
3bd 1ba
Call 440-413-1963

7565 Johnnycake Ridge Rd, Mentor 
Open 1:30-3:30pm
$149,900 NEW PRICE!
3bd 2ba
Call 440-251-0791

8677 Johnnycake Ridge Rd, Mentor 
Open 12-3pm
$459,900 
4bd 3ba
Call 440-279-8585

7386 Goldenrod Dr, Mentor-on-the-Lake 
Open 11am-1pm
$134,900 
3bd 2ba
Call 440-251-0791

2985 Gale Rd, Willoughby  
Open 12:30-2:30pm
$325,000 
4bd 3ba
Call 440-339-0603

2965 Rockefeller, Willoughby Hills 
Open 2-5pm
$379,900 
4bd 3ba
Call 440-221-0075

11393 Somerset Trl, Concord
BY APPT
$325,000 
4bd 3ba
Call 440-296-5006

6748 Bayside Dr, Madison
BY APPT
$175,000 
3bd 3ba
Call 440-296-5006

1450 Thatcher Dr, Painesville 
BY APPT
$230,000 
5bd 2ba
Call 440-296-5006

Price Reductions

1763 Warrensville Center Rd, South Euclid 
$115,000 NEW PRICE!

33816 Willowick Dr, Eastlake 
$89,500 NEW PRICE!

199 Gould Ave, Bedford 
$89,900 NEW PRICE!

Today's New Listing!

1688 Eldon Dr, Wickliffe

Monday, January 14, 2019

Critical Steps to Buying a Home

Purchasing a home is likely to be the largest investment that a person makes in their lifetime. Therefore it is critical to be aware of the steps a purchaser should take when buying a home.

Be Credit Worthy
Chances are that you will have to depend on a loan to purchase your new home. For this reason, it is important to make sure that your credit is in good shape. A lender makes their decision to finance in a large part upon a borrower’s credit score. This will also impact the interest rates a lender is willing to offer which affects the monthly payment and the overall amount that you will have paid for the home.

Save Some Money
You should also be aware that most lenders require some type of down payment. Most financial institutions will not lend 100% of the purchase price so a home buyer will need to save at least 3% to 5% of the sales price unless a gift from family can be obtained for the down payment. A lender usually likes to see some type of money in the bank as reserves so a new home owner is not strapped with an unexpected expense.

Get Professional Help
Working with a Realtor® is crucial when it comes to purchasing a home. Realtors® are well aware of the current real estate market and they will help not only find the right home for the right price but they will assist throughout the home buying process. This will save a home buyer a lot of time and money.

These critical steps should be taken into consideration when deciding to purchase a home. They will save you time and money and insure a favorable outcome!

Today's New Listings!

38567 Fairway Glenn Blvd, Willoughby

7760 Bar Harbour Ln, Mentor

9628 Brayes Manor Dr, Mentor

11575 Girdled Rd, Concord

7070 Mildon Dr, Painesville

Thursday, January 10, 2019

Open Houses and Price Reductions!

Open Houses for January 13, 2019

6651 Breezewood Rd, Concord 
Open 1-4pm
$330,000
4bd 3ba
Call 440-637-3791

7300 Hunter’s Trail, Concord 
Open 11am-1pm
$324,900 
3bd 3ba
Call 440-525-3331

11393 Somerset Trl, Concord
Open 12-3pm
$325,000 
4bd 3ba
Call 440-537-6671

9024 Regency Woods, Kirtland
Open 1-3pm 
$450,000 
4bd 3ba
Call 440-221-0075

6748 Bayside Dr, Madison 
Open 2:30-4:30pm
$175,000 
3bd 3ba
Call 440-488-1061

5212 Greenbriar Ln, Madison
Open 12-2pm 
$267,500 
4bd 3ba
Call 440-488-1061

7151 Green Valley, Mentor 
Open 2-4pm
$280,000 
4bd 3ba
Call 440-413-1963

8677 Johnnycake Ridge Rd, Mentor 
Open 12-5pm
$459,900 
4bd 3ba
Call 440-413-0588

7386 Goldenrod Dr, Mentor-on-the-Lake
Open 11am-1pm
$134,900 
3bd 2ba
Call 440-251-0791

7574 Miami Rd, Mentor-on-the-Lake   
Open 11-1pm
$139,900 
3bd 1ba
Call 440-413-1963

2150 Kimberly Ct, Wickliffe  
Open 2:30-4:30pm
$375,000 
4bd 4ba
Call 440-339-3626

2965 Rockefeller, Willoughby Hills 
Open 12-2pm
$379,900 NEW PRICE!
4bd 3ba
Call 440-339-3626

Price Reduction

7695 Auburn Rd, Concord 
$975,000 NEW PRICE!

1335 Perryville Pl, Ashtabula 
$37,500 NEW PRICE!

5301 Jefferson Ave, Ashtabula 
$47,500 NEW PRICE!

 

Today's New Listings!

6405 Iroquois Trl, Mentor

5472 Wixford Ln, Mentor

521-523 Mentor Ave, Painesville

1450 Thatcher Dr, Painesville

7903 Ironwood Ct, Concord

Monday, January 7, 2019

Should I Sell Before I Buy or Should I Buy Before I Sell?

Should I sell before I buy or should I buy before I sell? This is a common question from current homeowners who would like to move. Sellers are nervous to sell first and then not be able to find a new home that meets their needs. They are also nervous of finding the home of their dreams and purchasing it before they sell and then having two mortgage payments until their first home sells.  Let’s explore the advantages of buying a new home prior to selling your existing home.

Time to Move
One of the advantages of buying a new home prior to selling your existing home is that you will have plenty of time to get the new home ready to move into with updates such as painting and new flooring prior to actually having to move in. This is a nice option rather than having to do the updates while living in the home. Also, you will have time to pack your current residence and move into the new home and can even do it over time if you choose.

Move Only Once
By purchasing a new home first, you will avoid the need to possibly have to move twice. If you sold your home first but had no place to move, you might need to put your belongs into storage and move into temporary housing until you find your new home and close on it. You will likely incur rental charges both with a storage unit and housing. Purchasing a new home first will avoid the hassle of having to move twice.

Disadvantage
In spite of the good things this option offers, the biggest disadvantage of buying before selling is the possibility of paying two mortgages at the same time. This will be the case if you have already bought a new home but you are unable to find a buyer quickly for your existing home. If there is only a month or two overlap, that might be a better option than moving twice and incurring rental charges. If the timeframe is longer than two months, it may not be worth buying before selling.

Summary
You can buy a new home prior to selling your existing home. There are advantages and disadvantages to this option. There are also ways to minimize the risk of buying before selling. A competent real estate agent deals with this situation often and can provide options such as contracts with contingency clauses, rent back options, etc. Contact a Realtor today to help you buy a new home prior to selling your existing home!

Today's New Listings!

9346 Sperry Rd, Mentor

457 North Ashwood Ln, Painesville Township

522 Belgrove Pl, Painesville Township

165 Amy Ave, Madison

Thursday, January 3, 2019

Open Houses and Price Reduction!

Open Houses for January 6, 2019

657 2nd St #2, Fairport Harbor 
Open 2-4pm
$205,900 
2bd 2ba
Call 330-232-2689

7300 Hunter’s Trail, Concord 
Open 11am-1pm
$324,900 
3bd 3ba
Call 440-525-3331

11393 Somerset Trl, Concord
Open 1-4pm
$325,000 
4bd 3ba
Call 440-537-6671

5212 Greenbriar Ln, Madison
Open 1-3pm 
$267,500 
4bd 3ba
Call 440-488-1061

1576 Algiers Dr, Mayfield Heights
Open 1:30-3:30pm
$150,000 
3bd 2ba
Call 440-525-3331

7427 Essex Dr, Mentor 
Open 12-2pm
$85,000 
2bd 2ba
Call 440-413-1963

7151 Green Valley, Mentor 
Open 2:30-4:30pm
$280,000 
4bd 3ba
Call 440-413-1963

7565 Johnnycake Ridge Rd, Mentor 
Open 11:30am-1:30pm
$159,900 NEW PRICE!
3bd 2ba
Call 440-279-8585

8677 Johnnycake Ridge Rd, Mentor 
Open 12-4pm
$459,900 
4bd 3ba
Call 440-283-7557

2965 Rockefeller, Willoughby Hills
Open 10:30am-12:30pm
$379,900 NEW PRICE!
4bd 3ba
Call 440-537-6671

2985 Gale Rd, Willoughby  
Open 1-5pm
$325,000 
4bd 3ba
Call 440-413-0588

6748 Bayside Dr, Madison 
Open 1-3pm
$175,000 
3bd 3ba
Call 440-339-0603

Price Reduction

6651 Breezewood Rd, Concord 
$330,000 NEW PRICE!

Today's New Listings!

33610 Lori Ann Dr, Eastlake

133 Lakehurst Dr, Eastlake

39505 Tudor Dr, Willoughby

10940 Chillicothe Rd, Kirtland

4675 Spinnaker Ct, Mentor

Today's New Listings!

34645 Willow Creek Pl, Willoughby  - $399,000 1331 Bennett Rd, Madison - $329,900 7165 Hawthorne Dr, Mentor - $274,900 4423 Ashwood Ave...