(320)260-3290 steve_baklaich@yahoo.com

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BUYING A HOME

Buying a home is a big step, whether you’re buying your first home, your dream home, or investing in your tenth property. The home buying process can be difficult, so having a knowledgeable relator can ease the stress of home buying.

Trust The Process

Each person will go through their own unique home buying process. Find someone with the resources to guide you though the process. With 36 years of experience and over 1,000 homes sold; experience is on our side.

Buy a home. Cozy terrace in backyard with wicker furniture.

Hire a Professional

Home buying may be one of the largest decisions you make in your lifetime. Avoid making the wrong decision by finding someone to work closely with you to explain each step in the home buying process. Having a professional willing to work through each obstacle can make all the difference. For the best home buying results, ensure you have someone looking out for your best interests.

Buy a new home. Large, rural estate with brick facade and green lawn standing in the forest among trees

How to Buy a New Home:

  • Identify your priorities
  • Understand the market
  • Research different communities
  • Apply for financing
  • Understand the seller’s responsibilities
  • Search for properties
  • Complete and present the Purchase Agreement
  • Counteroffer and negotiate until the deal is just right
  • Conduct a home inspection
Home Shopping Made Easy

BUYER TIPS & RESOURCES

No one wants to contract a case of buyer’s remorse after buying a home. You know what I’m talking about. It’s that feeling you’ve either paid too much, or received too little. In most cases, there is no recourse for the buyer once the contract has been signed. Why do so many people suffer from buyer’s remorse after buying a home? The answer is simple, most of these people engaged in a transaction without doing their homework first.

The best way to make sure you choose the right home is to properly prepare yourself. The purchase of a home is a tremendous investment, both monetarily and emotionally. The purpose of this page is to provide you with some tips to help your home buying journey progress smoothly, and result in you being a happy homeowner.

DON’T DO IT ALONE.

Your home is likely to represent one of the largest investments in your life. In order to make sure the home buying process goes smoothly, it is important that you choose the right real estate agent to represent YOUR interests. The right real estate agent will be someone whose experience and personality makes you comfortable. You should try to find an agent that is familiar and knowledgeable about the area you are planning on buying a home.

GET THE HOME PROFESSIONALLY INSPECTED.

The last thing you want to discover after you have bought a home is that you have purchased a “money pit”. By “money pit” I am referring to a home full of defects which will end up costing you a lot of money. Save yourself from future litigation by bringing in an experienced and licensed professional home inspector before you offer to buy the home. If any problems are found in the home, the inspection report will help you make informed decisions or negotiate a better price.

Remember, if you have any questions about home buying, I am always just a phone call or email away.

GET PRE-APPROVED.

Do you already know how much home you can afford? There is nothing more frustrating than looking for a home, finding the perfect home, then discovering it is out of your price range. Speak with a reputable lender to learn about the different home financing options available to you. When you find the right mortgage lender, get the pre-approval paperwork processed before you start looking at homes. Then you will be ready to make an offer to buy once you do find your perfect home.

ASK QUESTIONS.

No one knows their home better than the seller. However, it is not always in the seller’s best interest to disclose all information about the home. If you find out the seller’s motivation for selling their home, you might be able to negotiate a better deal on the home. And make sure to inquire on the last time service was performed on the roof, furnace, and water heater. Asking the right questions now can end up saving you a lot of money in the long run.

AVOID MAJOR PURCHASES.

When determining the amount of home you can afford, a lender will use your debt-to-income ratio to determine the percentage of your pre-tax income you spend on debt. Your debt ratio will include: monthly housing costs, car payments, credit cards, student loans, and any other installment debt. If you take on more debt before buying a home it will have an impact on the amount of the home loan that the lender will finance, which could impact your ability to buy the home you’ve chosen.

SIGN UP FOR PROPERTY WATCH.

In order to make an educated decision you need to know what type of homes are available, and how much they are going for. You can browse all the active listings from my website. Once you have found some homes you like, save those searches and sign up for property watch so new listings will be emailed to you. The best homes move fast! I’ll make sure you’re on top of the available home inventory so you do not miss out.

Remember, if you have any questions I am always just a phone call or email away.

WHAT CAN I AFFORD FOR A MONTHLY PAYMENT?

Use this mortgage calculator to find out what you can afford for a new home.

Mortgage Calculator

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MORE HOME BUYER INFORMATION AND TIPS