About RE/MAX  |  About Illinois

Our Home Buying Services!



We take the buying process as seriously as our buyers do, therefore we offer nothing but the highest quality of service to our clients. When you decide to purchase your home, make sure you hire someone whom you can trust and someone who wants to earn your business. Buying your home is one of the most important purchases you will make, so make sure you have the right agent who can provide you with the experience and the service you deserve.

When you understand current market conditions, you are better able to position yourself as a Seller. It helps to know if you are in a Seller's, Buyer's or Balanced market when setting your asking price. In a Buyer's market there is a lot more competition and Buyers have plenty of choices and room to negotiate, forcing you to be very competitive when setting your price.

Here are some of the steps I will take to find your perfect home:

Determine Your Wants and Needs
This is the single most important step. By asking you a series of questions I will establish what you are looking for. My goal is to not waste your time by looking at properties that are not
in your price range or homes that don't meet your needs. Throughout the buying process I will maintain your confidentiality and represent your best interests.

Help You Get Pre-Qualified
This step will show you how much you can afford.  This is accomplished by speaking with your financial institution and establishing what monthly payments you will be comfortable with.

Home Shopping
We will use every available method to locate a property that matches your search parameters.  This will include properties listed with our office, offered through other real estate companies, as well as unlisted properties.  We will disclose all known facts about the property that are likely to affect your decision. When we find the home that meets your criteria, I will assist you in writing an offer and act as a liaison between you and the seller.

 

Tips on Buying in a Tight Market

Increase your chances of getting your dream house instead of losing it to another buyer, with these easy steps.

  1. Get prequalified for a mortgage. You’ll be able to make a firm commitment to buy and make your offer more desirable to the seller.
  2. Stay in close touch with your real estate sales associate to find out first about new listings that come on the market. And be ready to go see a house as soon as it goes on the market.
  3. Scout out new listings yourself. Look at Internet sites, newspaper ads, and drive by the neighborhood frequently. Maybe you’ll see a brand-new “for sale” sign before anyone else.
  4. Be ready to make a decision. Spend lots of time in advance deciding what you must have so you won’t be unsure when you have the chance to make an offer.
  5. Bid competitively. You may not want to start out offering the absolute highest price you can afford, but don’t try to go too low to get a deal. In a tight market, you’ll lose out.
  6. Keep contingencies to a minimum. Restrictions such as needing to sell your home before you move or wanting to delay the closing until a certain date can make your offer unappealing. In a tight market, you’ll probably be able to sell your house rapidly. Or talk to your lender about getting a bridge loan to cover both mortgages for a short period.
  7. Don’t get caught in a buying frenzy. Just because there’s competition doesn’t mean you should just buy anything. And even though you want to make your offer attractive, don’t neglect inspections that help ensure that your house is sound.
10 Steps to Prepare for Homeownership
  1. Decide how much home you can afford. Generally, you can afford a home equal in value to between two and three times your gross income.
  2. Develop a wish list of what you’d like your home to have. Then prioritize the features on your list.
  3. Select three or four neighborhoods you’d like to live in. Consider items such as schools, recreational facilities, area expansion plans, and safety.
  4. Determine if you have enough saved to cover your downpayment and closing costs. Closing costs, including taxes, attorney’s fee, and transfer fees average between 2 percent and 7 percent of the home price.
  5. Get your credit in order. Obtain a copy of your credit report.
  6. Determine how large a mortgage you can qualify for. Also explore different loans options and decide what’s best for you.
  7. Organize all the documentation a lender will need to preapprove you for a loan.
  8. Do research to determine if you qualify for any special mortgage or downpayment-assistance programs.
  9. Calculate the costs of homeownership, including property taxes, insurance, maintenance, and association fees, if applicable.
  10. Find an experienced REALTOR® who can help you through the process.
Tips for Finding the Perfect Neighborhood
  1. The neighborhood you choose can have a big impact on your lifestyle—safety, available amenities, and convenience all play their part.
  2. Make a list of the activities—movies, health club, church—you engage in regularly and stores you visit frequently. See how far you would have to travel from each neighborhood you’re considering to engaging in your most common activities.
  3. Check out the school district. The Department of Education in your town can probably provide information on test scores, class size, percentage of students who attend college, and special enrichment programs. If you have school-age children, also consider paying a visit to schools in the neighborhoods you’re considering. Even if you don’t have children, a house in a good school district will be easier to sell in the future.
  4. Find out if the neighborhood is safe. Ask the police department for neighborhood crime statistics. Consider not only the number of crimes but also the type—burglaries, armed robberies—and the trend of increasing or decreasing crime. Also, is crime centered in only one part of the neighborhood, such as near a retail area?
  5. Determine if the neighborhood is economically stable. Check with your local city economic development office to see if income and property values in the neighborhood are stable or rising. What is the percentage of homes to apartments? Apartments don’t necessarily diminish value, but they do mean a more transient population. Do you see vacant businesses or homes that have been for sale for months?
  6. See if you’ll make money. Ask a local REALTOR® or call the local REALTORÒassociation to get information about price appreciation trends in the neighborhood. Although past performance is no guarantee of future results, this information may give you a sense of how good an investment your home will be. A REALTORÒ or the government planning agency also may be able to tell you about planned developments or other changes in the neighborhood—like a new school or highway—that might affect value.
  7. See for yourself. Once you’ve narrowed your focus to two or three neighborhoods, go there, and walk around. Are homes tidy and well maintained? Are streets quiet? Pick a warm day if you can and chat with people working or playing outside. Are they friendly? Are their children to play with your family?

 



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