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The Fresh Face of Real Estate

Use a REALTOR(R).

Some homeowners think that selling their own home will save money and give them an advantage over the Realtor-using majority. Before you start down this complicated path, here are a few reasons why using a real estate professional is important: 1) You will be drastically limiting your exposure to potential buyers, which means it can take between 10 and 15 times longer to sell your home. Houses that take a long time to sell usually sell for less because buyers believe there must be something wrong with them. 2) Most buyers find negotiating with sellers extremely awkward, and therefore avoid For Sale By Owner situations. 3) Most buyers use a Realtor in their home search, and most buyers' agents will typically not work with FSBOs because they will not be paid. This means you will have to offer a selling commission to attract buyer's agents, which will cut into your expected "savings." 4) Lack of negotiating experience can result in a lower selling price, or worse, a bungled contract and possible lawsuits. It is probably unwise to pit your negotiating skills against those of experienced professionals. 5) If you plan to use a lawyer to help you negotiate, your lawyer's fees could be considerably higher than a Realtor's commission. Unlike Realtors, lawyers do not get paid for proactively representing your best interests or mediating delicate situations. 6) You only pay a commission to your Realtor if they successfully sell your home at a price you are happy with.

Buyer Consultation Sessions

Whether you are a first time home buyer or an old pro at this I always recommend a buyer consultation when beginning to look for a new home. 

A buyer consultation is a meeting between me and you, the potential home buyer, that lasts between 45 minutes to an hour.  During this initial visit we will cover the home buying process, what you’re looking for as well as an overview of what to expect in the current market while looking for your new home.  In addition we will talk about buer representation and what it means to you.   

I will provide you with an in-depth notebook full of information on home buying.  This will familiarize you with our local forms, customs, and helpful tips along the way. 

Figure out your finances.

That means determining how much money you can raise for your down payment and how much you can afford to pay on a monthly basis. Go to a lender to find out the size of mortgage you qualify for and get pre-approved. Better yet, use a mortgage broker to find you the best mortgage rate possible. When calculating the costs of home ownership, remember to plan for homeowner's insurance, property taxes, private mortgage insurance (if required), utilities, repairs, and maintenance.

 

I highly recommend the following lenders who have done great work for past clients. 

Candace Pinaud
Metro Mortgage
(734) 476-3366

Cristina Slade
First Horizon Home Loans
(734) 429-2993 

Robin Fahmie
Republic Bank
(734) 913-2267

Jeanette West
Bank of Ann Arbor
(734) 327-1419

Sean K. Murphy
Chase Bank
(734) 995-8100