Buying a home is often the most important, yet grueling, process you will ever encounter. Selecting a dedicated Red Slipper Homes realtor can ease some of the pressures, while also allowing you to find the home you have always wanted.

The Committed Red Slipper Homes Realtor Makes Buying a Home Easy

A reputable Red Slipper Homes realtor can simplify the complex and tiring task of purchasing a home. It is the duty of the Red Slipper Homes realtor to make the process as easy as possible for all parties involved. Many factors must be considered when buying a home. What section of town would you be most comfortable living in? Are you searching for a home in the middle of town, close to all of the excitement, or would you prefer to reside in a quiet, private neighborhood? One important job of the Red Slipper Homes realtor is to inform you of every detail about your new location, and help you decide what is best for your needs.

A qualified Red Slipper Homes realtor will be trained in all aspects of real estate. There are typically three main steps in the home buying process: finding a property, negotiating and making an offer, and completing the purchase. It is the job of the Red Slipper Homes realtor to explain each step, and assure that the overall process is as simple as possible. In your search for the ideal piece of real estate, a qualified Red Slipper Homes realtor can also assist you with financial concerns. A good realtor will provide you a large variety of options, and help you understand what you can financially afford.

Whether up or down, fast or slow, there are “tricks” you can use to make a home sell in any type of market. Following these actions should help produce results, particularly in down or slow conditions. 

First, make your home a “best buy” by having me to perform a thorough analysis of listings and recent sales in your neighborhood. Position your home right in the middle of an attractive price range (buyers look in broad ranges, so be sure you are noticed). 

Before your final pricing decision, determine the level of pressure you’re under to sell within a given time frame. Must sell in six weeks? Then adjust your price about ten percent lower than the comparables.  

Generating interest but no offers yet? Continue reducing your price until you’ve reached your deadline, or get creative with seller financing. If you can accept monthly payments, you’ll increase the pool of prospective buyers.  

Offer your home in exceptional condition, and have detailed information available to buyers, who won’t respect vague answers to questions of utility costs, tax bills, etc. You DON’T have to be specific, however, when asked why you’re selling. “I have an excellent opportunity elsewhere” will suffice. 

Finally, when that first offer comes, do everything possible to accept it. Holding out for a better offer may backfire, so be prepared to say, “Yes!”

A real estate professional recently coined the term “Price Denial Syndrome,” a troublesome condition that afflicts sellers having a hard time facing the realities of today’s markets. Of course it’s difficult to make a pricing concession, but an overpriced home simply will not sell. 

Perhaps the sellers argue that they really need the money, but then they have to ask themselves what they’ll do for money if the home doesn’t sell. Maybe they figure that they can shoot for the moon now and reduce the price later if they must. However, the longer a property remains unsold, the more likely it is that even more price reductions will follow. Then it’s taken even longer to get a sale at a lower price. 

Some sellers might suggest trying a higher price just for the first two weeks, but that’s when the interest of serious buyers is always greatest. Those buyers usually look within a certain range, and won’t even make an offer at all on an overpriced property. 

Most importantly, if the sellers need to buy another home, time is of the essence. If the sale takes too long, they’ll be buying at a time when prices and interest rates may begin climbing again.  

If you’re suffering from PDS, pay attention to the news, review your home’s Competitive Market Analysis, and call me in the morning!

There are some desperate sellers out there, but perhaps none so desperate as banks. That’s right - banks that own foreclosed properties are anxious to get them off their hands. After all, their business is lending, not property management. 

If you are pondering the purchase of such an “REO,” or Real Estate Owned property, how do you find one, and then determine if it’s the right buy for you? Banks work almost exclusively with real estate professionals, so your best bet is to begin your search by calling me. 

Chances are I will have access to a list of REOs to suit your needs and budget. While banks don’t usually price these properties much above what they’re willing to finally accept, lower offers on these listings stand an excellent chance for consideration.  

I will look for houses that have been listed for more than 90 days, and offer somewhere between ten to twenty percent below the asking price. However, do be aware of potential hidden costs associated with foreclosed properties. 

Owners who vacate a foreclosed home may have left plenty behind in need of repair. So you want to be sure to perform a thorough inspection - with electrical and gas systems operating - and factor repair costs into your offer. If you’re smart, it’s a real buyer’s market, but only if you buy!

While many buyers are aware that a mortgage pre-approval letter increases their buying confidence and power, most may not understand exactly why pre-approval is so important. Why should you jump through the application hoops before even beginning your home search?

First, you’ll know exactly how much loan you can afford, making your initial home search much easier. Why waste your time looking at homes either out of your reach or well below your financial grasp?

Second, pre-approved buyers stand on solid negotiating ground with sellers. Sellers working with well-qualified buyers are more likely to accept the offer and less likely to stall on terms and conditions.

Notice that the topic of this column is “pre-approval,” and not “pre-qualification.” What’s the difference? Pre-qualification is easy - you provide basic information to a lender, and in a few short minutes, you have an answer. Pre-approval requires strict verification of documentation relating to your employment, credit history, sources of income, etc. It takes more time, but is more accurate and carries more weight.

Understand that pre-approval is not binding, and is still subject to a satisfactory appraisal on the prospective purchase. If your financial situation changes, interest rates rise or fall, or the deadline passes, a recalculation will be necessary; but a little legwork now will pay off handsomely as you approach the finish line on your contract.

Just a reminder if you have not heard: Effective October 1, 2008, a housing bill was passed to help both troubled homeowners and lenders. The HOPE for Homeowners (H4H) program was created by Congress to help those at risk of default and foreclosure refinance into more affordable, sustainable loans. H4H is an additional mortgage option designed to keep borrowers in their homes. At-risk borrowers whose loans originated between January 2005 and June 2007 may be eligible to refinance their unaffordable mortgages into low-cost, fixed-rate loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).

Whether current or in default, at least 31% of the borrower’s monthly income must be tied to paying the mortgage debt. Other requirements come in to play that have to do with the total debt owed and any secondary financing.

Homeowners may get information from their current lender or an FHA-approved lender (found on the website for the Department of Housing and Urban Development http://www.hud.gov). Each loan will be considered for underwriting after a new appraisal is performed and income and credit history is again documented and verified. Be aware that there are many requirements for approval that, once secured, include many additional terms, such as insurance premiums and profit sharing on appreciation. If you sell or refinance within a one-year period, you must pay the FHA 100% of your profits. That percentage drops 10% each additional year, down to 50% after five years.

Keep in mind, however, that savings can still be substantial on these lower interest, fixed-rate loans, which will never readjust like subprime mortgages can every six months. Homeownership can again be the American dream, not a nightmare.

Other good news from the Federal Housing Administration on November 10, 2008 HUD announced new loan limits ranging from $271,050 to $625,500.Beginning January 1, 2009, FHA will insure single-family home mortgages up to $271,050 in low cost areas and up to a maximum of $625,500 in high cost are. More information on these issues can be found on the website for the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Don’t wait if your mortgage is behind or think you are going to get behind. The fist step is to ask for help. Call or email Debbie for a consultation about any of your real estate needs. 828-687-2569 dleon@charter.net or visit Red Slipper Homes

Great starter home comes complete with 3 bedrooms, refrigerator and gas range, Plenty of room to garden, entertain, or relax in the secluded yard with refreshing stream that runs along the property.Don’t wait this starter hom will not last long at this price!

Only 64,000.00

One of the greatest things about living in Buncombe County is that the area simply has so much to offer. Ultimately, that’s one of the things that’s so great about living in Buncombe County: no matter what is really important to you, you’ll find that there are ways to enjoy it.

When you live in Buncombe County, you’ll find that it’s easy to explore the arts. From writers to artists who, from time to time, open their studios to museums, you’ll be able to find a way to indulge yourself. Likewise, if the theater or live music are important to you, there are opportunities that are right there waiting for you to take advantage of them.

Of course, another part of what’s great about living in Buncombe County is that living here makes it easy to enjoy the natural beauty of the area. Views of the mountains, streams - whether you’re out on a mountain bike, you’re hiking or you’re simply looking out of your front window, you’ll find breathtaking landscapes.

Living in Buncombe County lets you relax, it lets you get away from the day to day chaos - which is probably why Asheville is an area that attracts tourists who are looking for an escape. When you live in Buncombe County, you’ll be able to have a bit of an escape everyday!

There are a number of reasons why people make the choice to relocate to North Carolina, but regardless of the motivation behind the move, there are a number of things that those who are relocating are looking for.

Those who are relocating to North Carolina are typically looking for:

• A chance to live in a community where the arts are important
• A chance to live in a place where they can explore the great outdoors
• A chance to get a great education for their kids
• A chance to find a house that really feels like a home

Whether you’re looking into relocating to North Carolina because you are interested in accepting a great new job or you are looking for a place where you can simply relocate and feel good about your quality of life, whether you’re interested in exploring the arts or the great outdoors, you’re sure to find that there’s something there that is satisfying to you.

Ultimately, what you’re going to find is that relocating to North Carolina is its own reward: it’s not so much about finding the things that you’re really looking for as it is about finding those things that you didn’t realize were important to you in the area where you live.