Real Estate Lake of the Ozarks

As a first time homebuyer,  buying a home at the Lake of the Ozarks  is a very exciting time. It can also be a very stressful time - especially when you're trying to figure out your financing options. For those who don't have the best credit or a lot of money saved back to put toward a down payment, buying a home can seem impossible. Fortunately, there are several programs available to first time buyers that provide them with  great mortgage opportunities . This week, we'll look at 8 common lender programs that help first time homebuyers get into their first home: 1. FHA loan Best for: Buyers with low credit and smaller down payments Insured by the Federal Housing Administration, FHA loans typically come with smaller down payments and lower credit score requirements than most conventional loans. First-time homebuyers can buy a home with a minimum credit score of 580 and as little as 3.5 percent down or a credit score of 500 to 579 with at least 10 percent down. Unfortunat...

Buying your first  home at the Lake of the Ozarks  is exciting but we also understand that it can be a little nerve-racking. Typically when you do something for the first time, you'll have some questions and you may not understand the process fully - buying your first home is no different. That's why today, our  real estate team at the Lake of the Ozarks  has some advice for the first-time home buyer! Get Prequalified or Preapproved ASAP Most of us can't buy a house without getting a mortgage loan. The loan approval process is a winding journey all on its own; depending on your progress on that particular journey, you can either aid or hinder your home buying efforts. Before you begin seriously shopping for homes, we strongly recommend you talk to a lender and get prequalified or preapproved. This will be very helpful going forward! Choose Location First You can change a lot of things about your new home after you buy it. You can repaint, remodel, and ren...

Buying a home at the Lake of the Ozarks is a big commitment. A commitment to stay in one place for an extended period of time, a commitment to pay off your new mortgage loan, and a commitment to build a safe home for yourself and your family. Before you take the plunge and sign your name on the dotted line, you'll want to be certain that the home you're purchasing is right for you and your family. Asking yourself these key questions before buying your new home will help you do just that. Question #1: Will The New Home Meet My Family's Basic Needs? It's okay to be swept away by the vaulted ceilings and the granite countertops, but only after you have taken the time to ensure that the home meets all of your family's basic requirements. Are there enough bedrooms? How many bathrooms are there? The bonus amenities any home are great, but you'll be more focused on the basic features once move in. Question #2: How Much Is This Home Actually Going To Cost Me? ...

We have all heard the terms "Pre-Qualified" and "Pre-Approved", but what do they really mean? Is there a difference between the two? Yes ... and we think you should understand the difference before  buying a Lake of the Ozark Home! So let's take a look at the differences... What it Means to be Pre-Qualified This gives you an idea of how much you might qualify to borrow. This process usually requires that you provide information to your mortgage lender but the information has yet to be verified. You have not actually applied for the loan yet, the information has not been verified, your credit history has not been reviewed and the loan is NOT guaranteed. A pre-qualification letter merely states that you MIGHT be approved for the mortgage amount. What it Means to be Pre-Approved When you are "pre-approved" for a loan, your mortgage lender has received, checked and verified your income, as well as assets and liabilities information. A copy of your...

Moving day! After months (and maybe even years) of planning, strategizing, house-hunting, and packing, the big day is finally here: it's time to move into your new house at the Lake of the Ozarks. We understand that moving can be a bit of a hassle, no matter how excited you might be to get into your new home. What are some tips and tricks of the trade to make the big day go a little more smoothly? Fran Campbell Team is here to help you out! Charge Your Cell Phone Most people spend way more time on their cell phones than they realize on moving days. While this is certainly not a day to waste time playing Angry Birds, many people end up spending a lot of time on their cells coordinating with movers, family members, and friends. The last thing you want is for your phone battery to die at a crucial moment! Make sure your phone is fully charged the night before and bring a charger with you in case you need it. Get Up Early On Moving Day Even if you're not a morning person,...

It doesn't matter whether it's a full-time residence or a vacation home at the Lake of the Ozarks - your lake house will probably be your favorite house you ever own. Lake homes offer several great advantages that can't be found in any other type of property. Keep reading to see what we mean! Photo Credit:  FunLake.com 1. There Is Always Something Fun To Do With private lake access, you'll never sit at home wondering how you should occupy yourself ever again. As the owner of your own lake home, you'll constantly have the water at your disposal. Boating, tubing, swimming, fishing, water skiing, wake boarding, riding the jet ski, canoeing, kayaking... Countless fun activities are always mere seconds away. 2. You Will Never Have To Go To Someone Else's House As the owner of a lake house, you'll hardly ever have to pick up and drive to another friend or family member's home - because YOUR HOUSE will be where the party is! Everyone you know will...

Experience matters when it comes to buying property or getting your home sold. If you've made the choice to sell or buy a home at the lake, picking the right real estate agent to work with is something you don't want to take lightly. Make the smart choice when selecting a realtor to help find that home.  The Fran Campbell Team  are the  best Realtors® at the Lake of the Ozarks  for the job. Take a look at some of the characteristics our team members provide that other agents may not. Hometown Experts When you choose a Fran Campbell Team associate to sell your home or help you purchase a new home, you'll experience a whole new level of service. First, our associates are "The Hometown Experts With a World of Experience." We make our living in the same communities in which we live. We're the people next-door, or just down the block. To top it off, RE/MAX Associates lead the industry in advanced real estate education and production. That's why we're ...

Over the years we've had the pleasure of working with so many wonderful clients. Yet every time we see their testimonials, it still gives us the warm and fuzzies because we know our hard work and dedication to every transaction we take part in means that we've helped our clients succeed in selling or  buying a home at the Lake of the Ozarks . Check out some of the wonderful things these folks have to say about our stellar team! "Able to Zero in on Our Needs Very Quickly" "We recently purchased a condo at Cape Royale with the assistance of Sophia Marr. Over the years we have bought and sold many properties and have never had a more professional experience as we had with Sophia. Ms. Marr was able to zero in on our needs very quickly. She showed us what was available in our desired area and our budget. Kerry stayed right on top of our closing and kept us well informed. We would like to thank you, your team, and especially Sophia and Kerry for all the helping m...

After all the work of purchasing a new home at the Lake of the Ozarks and getting everything moved in, hosting a party may be the last thing on your mind. But this is actually a fantastic time to show off your new home to those friends and family members who've been dying to see your new digs. Plus, it's also a great opportunity to meet your new neighbors! Your housewarming party doesn't have to be anything fancy or extravagant, by any means! But just to help you get started with this next exciting adventure in being new homeowners, the Fran Campbell Team has some simple tips for when you're planning your housewarming party! Invite, Invite, Invite! If you're looking to show off your new home to family and friends, creating an invite on social media can save you some time. If, however, you're looking to get to know the neighbors, a personal or printed invitation is the best option since your new neighbors are probably not on your friends list yet. Adding...

Investing in a foreclosure property can have big potential, but it takes real effort to cash in. As such, it should be approached as any significant investment, requiring focus, diligence and careful research into local property, economic and demographic trends. Let's learn a little about what investing in a foreclosure property entails: Are foreclosures a good investment? A foreclosure property is a home that has been repossessed by the lender because the owners failed to pay the mortgage. Thousands of homes end up in foreclosure every year. Economic conditions affect the number of foreclosures, too. Many people lose their homes due to job loss, credit problems or unexpected expenses. It is wise to be cautious when considering a foreclosure. Many experts, in fact, advise inexperienced buyers to hire an expert to take them through the process. It is important to have the house thoroughly inspected and to be sure that any liens, undisclosed mortgages or court judgments are cl...