Make the Sale of Your Home Go Smoothly
Whether you are moving into a starter home or moving up to your dream home, real estate transactions can be nerve-wracking and more than a little intimidating. Whether the property you are buying is a cash transaction or comes with a hefty mortgage, there are steps you can take to ensure a smooth sale and a quick closing.
Whether you are looking at homes for sale in Franklin Indiana or checking out new condos at Geist, it is important to shop with your head and not your heart. It is easy to get caught up in the emotional side of the real estate transaction, but letting your emotions carry you away is a recipe for disaster. Even if you love the property and want to move in right away, it is important to contain your enthusiasm around the current owner and their real estate agent.
It is just as important to have a good REALTOR® in your corner and protecting your rights. No matter how friendly the seller may be, he or she is working for their best interest, not yours. Having a trusted real estate professional from Carpenter Realtors® will make it easier to bargain effectively and get the deal you want and need.
No matter what kind of property you are buying, a title search and thorough home inspection are essential for your protection. Even a newly constructed home could have hidden damage – and that damage could cost you thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars.
The results of the home inspection could also give you additional bargaining power when it is time to make the deal. Even a small defect could convince the seller to knock a couple hundred – or a couple thousand – dollars off the sale price.
Knowing where you stand from a credit perspective is another way to ensure the sale goes smoothly and there are no unpleasant surprises on the way to the closing table. If you have a stellar credit score, you should have no trouble getting a great mortgage at a low interest rate. If your credit is less than perfect, you may have to pay more and accept a higher rate of interest. Knowing where you stand ahead of time will give you peace of mind, but more importantly it will help to reassure the seller that you are serious. As a pre-approved buyer, sellers know you’re serious when you make an offer, and that the offer is a good one. Many buyers will be willing to accept a lower price in exchange for a guaranteed sale, so a pre-approval letter from your mortgage lender could mean more money in your pocket and a fast, smooth sale transaction.
Whether you are buying a cabin in the woods for less than $50,000 or a mansion on the hill for more than $500,000, you want to get the best deal possible. Unlike so many other transactions, buying real estate is a process that is likely to last for years or even decades. If you take out a 30-year mortgage, you will be paying for the home for the next three decades. Overpaying by even a few thousand dollars could mean tens of thousands in extra costs over the life of the loan. Driving a hard bargain now will benefit you for years to come.