HOW TO BUY A HOME AND SAVE MONEY

How to buy a home and save thousands of dollars.
Buying a home is unlike purchasing anything else.  Armed with the right information, you'll have a tremendous edge in the marketplace.  If you are considering the purchase of a home, whether it's your first home, or your family's dream home, the more you know, the more money you'll save.  I hope this information will be helpful to you.  If there are any questions you might have after reading it, please feel free to contact me anytime.  Thank you.

Factors you need to consider when buying a home
Many home buyers who are considering the purchase of a home are interested in three things:
Finding the home they want
The best possible price
The least amount of trouble and inconvenience

Unfortunately, there is much more involved in the process.  For example:  timing, terms, financing options, and accessibility to the market are all important considerations.

Where to get started
The first thing you need is TOTAL ACCESS to the TOTAL MARKET.  You wouldn't go car shopping without looking at everything on the dealer's lot, but when it comes to home shopping, you might be surprised to learn that very few people give themselves the advantage of getting total access to the market, or seeing everything that is available to them.
The first thing you'll need is a competent real estate professional to help you.  Since "the seller" pays the commission, the services of your real estate agent to you as a "buyer" are completely FREE.  There is no intelligent reason to shop for a home without the services of a professional agent.
Some important reasons for using the services of a real estate agent
Your agent has access to information on EVERY home available on the market.  Every single day homes are listed for sale and your agent has instant access to the information about each one.  If you wait for an ad to appear in the paper, it may be too late.
Good agents are constantly searching their computers for information on new listings.  A smart buyer will take the time to sit down with an agent, tell them what they are looking for, and just as importantly, what they aren't looking for.  The agent will then go to work to find the perfect house for the buyer.  Again, remember, this is a FREE service.
It's also true that only a fraction of the homes available are advertised on any given day, which means that when you limit your search for a home by looking in the newspaper, you're really only seeing a tiny piece of the whole picture.
Also, consider that in many instances, the best buys are sold almost as soon as they come on the market, mostly to people who are working with a savvy real estate agent who is looking out for their best interests.
So, without question, the most important step in finding that special home at a special price, is to begin by selecting a real estate agent to work with you.  If you're serious about finding a great buy on a great home, why don't we find a time when we can get together, discuss your alternatives, and let me begin looking for you.  Feel free to call anytime.

Narrowing your selection and looking at homes
Once I have a clear picture of what it is you're looking for, together with what will fit your financial needs, the next step is to actually go look at homes that fit your parameters.  I believe this should be a stress-free and fun process.  After all, buying a new home is a big step.  Together we'll take a personal look at each and every home.  I'll answer any questions you might have, and gather any other necessary information. When you find a house that meets your needs, we'll go to the next step in the process.

Negotiating an Offer to Purchase
Once you've selected a home, I'll help you negotiate the offer to purchase. This is a particularly important step and one that requires experience.  In negotiating an offer to purchase, there are many details to be covered.  For example, the price you'll offer, closing dates, possession time, down payment amount, personal property to be included, and repairs to be made are just a few examples.  We'll sit down and prepare an offer that is most advantageous to you, but fair to the seller.  Once your offer has been presented, I will help you with any further negotiations.

Finding and Securing Financing
This is another area of purchasing a home where a professional real estate agent can help you.  In fact, for most people, finding the right financing is every bit as important as finding the right home.  I work closely with many local and national lenders and can put you in touch with the right lender for your situation, saving you both time and money.

Why you save money and time buying through an agent
Many studies have been conducted by both independent consumer groups and real estate industry trade organizations over the years that convincingly indicate that buying a home without the services of a professional real estate agent, in the vast majority of cases, takes longer and costs more.
The choice is certainly yours, and I hope this information has been helpful.  If you feel you'd like to sit down and discuss your home buying alternatives, please feel free to call me at your convenience.


Sandra Duncan, BA, MBA, REALTOR®, CCS
CIR REALTY
168, 8060 Silver Springs Blvd. NW
Calgary, AB T3B 5K1
403-512-1939
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