First Time Home Buyers Tips to a Smooth Purchase!

By -
Buying a home at Lake of the Ozarks can is a very exciting time for First time Home Buyers... however, it can also be a bit overwhelming.  Purchasing a home is likely the largest purchase you have made at this point in your life so for good reasons, you may be feeling some pressure.   

Here are a few tips to ease the tension and maintain an organized search with some boundaries and guidelines that will put you on the right track.

  1. Determine a Realistic Price Range that fits into your budget -  A very common mistake for any home buyer is purchasing more house than they can afford.  Know your budget before looking for a home and be honest about the expenses that you have.  By determining this in advance, you will be able to weed out the homes that you cannot afford and only view the homes that fit into your budget.
  2. Get Pre-Approved for your loan.  A pre-approval letter will give you some negotiation power when it comes to the price of the home that you are considering.  The pre-approval letter along with your offer is a more favorable offer in most cases.  Keep in mind that a pre-approval is different from pre-qualification.  Be sure to read Understand the Difference Between Pre-Qualified & Pre-Approved.
  3. Prioritize your Needs/Want List - We all have a list of things our dream home will include.  In order to get the things that are most important to you, you should prioritize your list.  For instance, the most important factor might be the number of bedrooms, square footage or the school system.  These items might fall under your NEED list and have
    high     priority.  On the other hand, you may WANT hardwood floors, a pool, or a finished basement but they are not things you MUST have.  Making this list will help you focus on what is really important in your fist home and narrow down the field of possible homes.  Ideally, your home will include all of your Needs and a few of your wants.
  4. Choose the Right Neighborhood -  The majority of your time will be spent in this home/location and it will be a major factor in its resale value.  Consider the crime statistics, insurance rates, property taxes and school quality.  You may also want to consider the commute to work and the proximity to schools, churches or shopping!  Drive through the neighborhood during the day and the night to get a full scope of the neighborhood. Consider the "upkeep" of your potential neighbors homes - this can either help you home sustain value or lose value depending upon the condition of the neighborhood.
  5. Choose the right Realtor -  There are plenty to choose from, so what sets one apart from another?  Your Lake of the Ozarks Realtor should understand your wants and needs, know the area, have referrals for you to consider and offer first class customer service.  

We hope these tips will help you as you purchase a Lake of the Ozarks Home.  We would love the opportunity to sit down with you to discuss the purchase of your first home - we have a qualified and experienced staff that will be able to assist you in every aspect of your home buying experience.  
If you are visiting the area and want to enjoy ALL that the Lake of the Ozarks has to offer, be sure to contact the Fran Campbell Team to discuss buying a Lake of the Ozarks Home.  Our Team has the experience and knowledge to find the perfect home to suit your every need!!
Location: Lake Ozark, MO 65049, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

7 Factors that Influence Your Home's Value

By MSW -
Image
If you're planning to  sell your home at the Lake of the Ozarks , the burning question is typically, "what is my home worth?" There is a lot that goes into accessing the value of your home and to get a good idea of your much our home is worth, it's a good idea to get an official appraisal value. This will not only give you a good idea of what to list your home at, but it will also help you during the negotiating process with potential buyers. Get some expert advice for pricing your home from our  real estate team at the Lake of the Ozarks . What Is The Home Appraisal? At some point during the home buying process, the buyer will be responsible for ordering a home appraisal. This is the official process wherein a professional appraiser evaluates several different factors to determine the home's current market value. The number they come up with will be important to all involved parties: The buyer will probably not want to pay more for the property than the appraisal
Read more

Fun Christmas Games for the Kids!

By MSW -
Image
Christmas is almost here! Soon the kids will be on break and the holiday festivities will begin. A fun way to keep the kids entertained during their break or at a family gathering is to have some fun games prepared for them to play. Holiday games don't have to be overly extravagant but having a few prepared can be a lot of fun and a joyful memory to be cherished for years to come. Today, our  real estate team at the Lake of the Ozarks  has a few fun games to enjoy over the holidays. Candy Cane Search Have you ever played "Hide the Thimble"? Put a Christmas twist on this classic children's game by using a candy cane instead. All you have to do is take turns hiding the candy cane around the house or one specified room and seeing who can find it first. For older children, use a miniature candy cane. Pin the Nose on Rudolph This one requires a little extra preparation ahead of time, but it's fairly easy. All you need is a bulletin board, construction paper, scissors,
Read more

4 Home Improvement Ideas for Cold Weather Days

By MSW -
Image
The back and forth weather we've been experiencing this fall has us all over the place with our home improvement planning. One day it's nearing 70, and the next it's in the low 30s. But just because Mother Nature can't make up her mind and is throwing us for a loop on what weather to expect doesn't mean that you can't complete any home improvement projects. You may not be able to focus on the exterior while the weather is cold but there are still plenty of home improvement projects to keep you busy on those colder days. Consider completing these indoor home improvement projects this fall and winter! 1) Interior Painting  Nothing freshens up the home more than a new pop of interior paint! This activity is perfect for the winter and it is perfect for every DIY-er. This is a great way to get rid of the cold weather blues and to keep up with your home improvement to-do-list. 2)Upgrade your Flooring  This is another perfect winter time project that is not subject to
Read more