Home buying workbook

Page 1

Home Buying Workbook

888 85 KWHomes -

-

www.dreamhomepros.com


Thank You! Thank you for choosing to put your trust in Dream Home Professionals for the process of buying amd or selling your home. Every member of our team is committed to ensuring that ALL of your real estate needs are not just met, but exceeded! We ve created this book for your convenience and we hope that it will be a valuable resource. While the entire process is outlined for you here, please know that we will be staying in constant contact with you throughout the process. Your experience will be unique and we will adjust our service according to your wants and needs. Our focus is on your complete satisfaction. /

’

Good service speaks for itself. We re looking forward to the opportunity to earn your referrals too! ’

Kelli Higgins 785 817 9255 kelli dreamhomepros.com (

@

)

-

Dana Henderson Peppers 785 231 9087 dana dreamhomepros.com -

(

@

)

-


What We Believe

VISION

MISSION

VALUES

To truly serve each client while keeping the highest level of honesty and integrity through each buy/sale and beyond.

To glorify God by putting our clients' interests above our own, providing the highest level of honesty and expertise before, during, and after each transaction.

Integrity, professionalism, fairness, teamwork, innovation, always customer focused

2015 Best of Topeka


TESTIMONIES If you are in the market to purchase a home the only person you should call is Kelli Higgins! We just purchased a home and Kelli was beyond AMAZING! We started working with Kelli the end of September and we were in our Dream home before Thanksgiving (Even with the new regulations!!) Very impressive since we are very picky! She made the entire process a breeze and so much fun!! Hands down we would recommend her to anyone buying a home because her and her team really do take the stress out of the home buying process." -Dee Vazquez "

Kelli Higgins did an exceptional job when I was looking to purchase a home. She was very flexible and was able to show me homes around my work schedule. It took quite a while to find my home, because I am picky! Kelli was always professional and able to answer any questions I had. She also did a superb job in negotiating with the seller." -Richard Yurco

"

I highly recommend Dana Henderson with Keller Williams for anyone wanting to list and more importantly sell there property. I had two adjoining properties with a house on one lot and a large shop on the other lot. Dana worked really well with me in working through the issues with the planning and zoning department to allow us to list and sell the two as separate properties. Dana's research in the property resulted in the recommendation to list the house for $25,000 more than a realtor with 40 years experience. Boom the house sold in 25 days for our asking price. Better yet, the adjacent large shop that through Dana's research was able to be sold as potential residence and it sold in just 19 days. If you use Dana Henderson, be ready as they sell fast!!!" -Curtis Henderson "

Dana helped us sell our condo in Topeka when we moved out of state. She kept in constant communication with us and always made things easy for us. We are now moving back to Kansas; we were so impressed with Dana that we’ve asked her to be our realtor as we prepare to buy.” - Bill Matney “


TESTIMONIES Kelli was a fantastic resource throughout our buying and selling process. She was a wealth f knowledge, especially when it came to marketing our home to the right buyer. I was throughly impressed with her communications skills and the detail that her team put into everything they did for us. Thank you Kelli!" -Emily Mitchell "

We had such a great experience with the whole team at Dream Home Professionals. If we ever had a question they would answer promptly and helped educate us through the process. We have already referred our friends to Kelli, we will never use anyone else!" -Rykin Family "

I would highly recommend Kelli. Not only did she help us find the house of our dreams, she also sold our current home in 20 days at 99% of the asking price. She was so nice and pleasant to work with and was very understanding to my emotional pregnant tendencies. I would use her again in a heart beat and would recommend her to anyone looking to buy or sell. She was willing to bend over backwards for us and I truly appreciate it!" -Jessica Jeffery "

Make sure to visit our Facebook page for the latest testimonies!


BUYING YOUR NEXT HOME 1

Gather Financials and Figure Out How Much Your Can Afford

Before you start looking at homes for sale, get your financial house in order. First, request your credit report from all three bureaus Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion . Comb through each report to ensure it s accurate and fix any errors you spot! (

)

Next, compile all the documents you may need to provide to a loan officer, including pay stubs, bank statements, and previous years tax returns. ’

Financials and Mortgage Payment Request your credit report from all 3 credit bureaus Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion . Fix any errors you spot! (

)

Compile necessary documents, including pay stubs, bank statements, and past tax returns. Determine how much of a payment you are comfortable with. Don t forget you will have taxes and insurance on top of your base mortgage payment! ’

You can calculate how much you can afford by starting online. There are several online mortgage calculators that will help you calculate an affordable monthly mortgage payment. Don t forget to factor in money you ll need for a down payment, closing costs, fees such as fees for an attorney, appraisal, inspection, etc. and the costs of remodeling or furniture. Remember that you don t always have to put down 20 percent as your parents once did. There are loans available with little to no down payment. An experienced home loan expert can help you understand all your loan options, closing costs and other fees. '

'

(

)

'


2 Research Mortgages and Lenders Credit score and financial documents in hand, you re ready to start researching options for your home loan. ’

Take advantage of online aids. You can comparison shop from a diverse group of reputable lenders in all 50 states, ranging from small, regional providers to larger, well known brands such as Citi and Bank of America. You ll get a personalized quote and can read lender reviews and ratings to help gain insights into which lender is right for you. Find out if you qualify for a special loan, such as a Veterans Affairs VA loan or any special home buying financing options through state or federal programs. -

(

Make sure you get that mortgage preapproval letter buyer.

)

it ll make you a more competitive ’

Research Mortgages and Lenders Find out if you qualify for a special loan, such as a VA, FHA, or HUD home buying program. Request quotes from multiple lenders and comparison shop for loans. Get preapproved for a mortgage and receive your letter


Junction City 831 W. 6th St. Junction City, KS 66441 785­223­5550

Manhattan 2815 SW Anderson Manhattan, KS, 66502 785­320­2192

Topeka 5990 SW 28th St. Ste E Topeka, KS 66614 785­273­7900

We offer: First Time Homebuyer Programs FHA/VA/USDA Conventional programs Fast and Easy Prequalifications Ryan Plattner, Mortgage Banker NMLS #6921 913-208-2168(cell) rplattner@banklandmark.com

Apply online at:

www.ryan.banklandmark.com


3

Find the Right House Make a list of the things you ll need to have in the house. Ask yourself how many bedrooms and bathrooms you ll need and get an idea of how much space you desire. How big do you want the kitchen to be? Do you need lots of closets and cabinet space? Do you need a big yard for your kids and or pets to play in? '

'

/

Find the Right House Get a head start by compiling your home wish list. Spend time in each area, imagining yourself living there. Find properties in your price range in your preferred neighborhoods. Visit open houses and have Dana or Kelli schedule private showings.

Once you ve made a list of your must haves, don t forget to think about the kind of neighborhood you want, types of schools in the area, the length of your commute to and from work, and the convenience of local shopping. Take into account your safety concerns as well as how good the rate of home appreciation is in the area. '

-

'

Use the form on the next page to help you evaluate and track every home you visit.


Make copies to use while house hunting.


Make an Offer on the Home

4

Now that you ve found the home you want, you have to make an offer. Most sellers price their homes a bit high, expecting that there will be some haggling involved. The team at Dream Home Professionals will provide you with a report of comparable homes in the area and what they have sold for. Once you ve made your offer, don t think it s final. The seller may make a counter offer to which you can also counter offer. But you don t want to go back and forth too much. Somewhere, you have to meet in the middle. Once you ve agreed on a price, you ll make an earnest money deposit, which is money that goes in escrow to give the seller a sign of good faith. '

'

'

'

-

-

Making an Offer Receive your comparable market analysis. Decide what price you re comfortable with. '

'

'

'

Close on Your Home Closing on Your Home Home inspection completed. Closing date set. Transfer utilities and get homeowners insurance

Submit offer with Dream Home Professionals.

5

Make sure you get a home inspection before you close. It will be well worth the money spent since it ensures the property s structural soundness and good condition. -

'

Setting the closing date that is convenient to both parties may be tricky, but can certainly be done. Remember that you may have to wait until your rental agreement runs out and the seller may have to wait until they close on their new house. Be sure you talk to your mortgage banker to understand all the costs that will be involved with the closing so there are no surprises. Closing costs will likely include but are not limited to your down payment, title fees, appraisal fees, attorney fees, inspection fees, and points you may have bought to buy down your interest rate. (

)

Closing money saved.

The steps of closing are listed out on the next page.


" Our Reputation is our Livelihood!"

Services *Radon Testing

*Mold / Indoor Air Quality Testing

*RecallChek *Whole Home Inspections * Multiple Units * Commercial Building Inspections *Partial Inspections-Mechanical Systems, appliances, heating, and air conditioning *Partial Inspections-Structural Foundation & Structural Integrity *Specific Inspections: Structural Item Check / Specific Mold Area Check *Specific System Inspections & Additional Out-Buildings Contact Us Guy R. Anderson www.andersonhomeinspect.com 785 - 478 - 2224


10 Steps of Closing


Frequently Asked Questions Should I talk with a bank before looking at homes? The answer to the question is YES! There are tons of reasons why you should talk with a bank and get pre approved before looking at homes. First and foremost, talking with a bank before looking at homes can help you understand exactly how much you can afford. There is no reason to look at homes that are listed for 250,000 if you can only afford up to 200,000. Another important reason to talk with a bank before looking at homes is so you understand exactly what costs are associated with buying a home. Should I buy or continue to rent? Buying a home can be a very solid investment. This being said, renting can also be a better option for some, depending on the circumstances. There are questions that you should ask yourself before deciding to buy a home. One of the most important things to consider is the length you plan on staying in a home, if you were to purchase. If the answer is only a few years, it s likely the better decision is to continue renting. Another question to ask yourself is whether you are ready to take on the additional responsibilities of owning a home. When owning a home there will be general home maintenance that should be done, are you ready for that? Can I find a rent-to-own property? Can you find a needle in a haystack? Of course you can, but the probability isn t very high. The same can be said about a rent to own property. A common question from home buyers is whether rent to owns exist or whether an owner would consider that option. They are out there, but there are somethings that you need to know before agreeing to a rent to own. When an owner is offering rent to own as a possible financing option, they are taking on a high risk since in most cases, a rent to own buyer has a credit score that is not impeccable. Since an owner is taking a higher risk the terms for a rent to own must be considerably favorable for the owner. This often leads to less than favorable terms for a buyer. When looking at a rent to own as an option you can expect to provide a considerable amount of money down and a higher interest rate than what a lender is currently offering. If you re able to purchase a home by financing through a bank or lender, you will be better off because the terms will be more favorable. Do I really need a Realtor when buying a home? When buying a home, it s strongly recommended you have a Realtor. There are many reasons why you should have a Realtor represent your best interests when buying a home. Keep in mind, all Realtors are not the same! Attempting to buy a home without a Realtor can really make the home buying process more difficult. Having a Realtor is always recommended when buying a home. One thing not to do when buying a home is calling the listing agent because you don t want to bother your Realtor. This is one thing that real estate agents hate. Who pays the Realtor fees when buying a home? One reasons why buyers ask the question about the need of having a Realtor when buying a home is because they don t understand who pays the Realtor fees when buying a home. There are no guarantees, however, in most cases the seller pays the Realtor fees. -

$

$

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-


HOMES TOURED Address

Price

Bed Bath /

Notes


888 85 KWHomes dreamhomeprofessionals.com -

-


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.