Blue Ridge GA Real Estate

Handouts for Consumers

Nothing helps solidify your position as an experienced real estate professional more than providing accurate, comprehensive information on the real estate process to your prospects, clients, and customers. That’s where the Handouts for Consumers come in.

ü Use these ready-to-use, information-packed handouts to impress your clients. Personalize or customize these handouts with your business contact information, or information specific to your market. You also can use these resources as a basis for articles in your client newsletter or your local newspaper.

ü Reprint permission language is already included in the footer of each page; all you need to do is print and make copies.

Browse the many handouts available FREE to REALTORS^Ò

For Buyers Index . . . Page 2

For Sellers Index . . . Page 3

Web Site Resources for Consumers . . . Page 55

Handouts for Consumers: For Buyers

Section Index

8 Steps to Getting Your Finances in Order ……………… Budget Basics Work Sheet…………………………………….. 8 Ways to Improve Your Credit…………………………… 5 Factors That Decide Your Credit Score…………………… Your Property Wish List………………………………………. Tips for Finding the Perfect Neighborhood……………………. Tips on Buying in a Tight Market…………………………….. The Pros and Cons of Condos………………………………… 5 Reasons You Need a REALTOR^Ò………………… Questions to Ask When Choosing a REALTOR^Ò………… 10 Steps to Prepare for Homeownership…………………… How Big a Mortgage Can I Afford?…………………………. 7 Reasons to Own Your Own Home……………………. 5 Common First-Time Homebuyer Mistakes……………… 10 Tips for First-Time Homebuyers…………………………. 10 Things to Take the Trauma Out of Homebuying……….. How High Tech Is Your Home?……………………………… Hidden Home Defects to Watch For…………………………. 10 Questions to Ask a Home Inspector…………………….. What Your Home Inspection Should Cover………………….. How Comprehensive Is Your Home Warranty?………………. 5 Property Tax Questions You Need to Ask………………. 10 Questions to Ask Your Condo Board…………………….. 10 Questions to Ask Your Lender…………………………… 10 Things a Lender Needs From You………………………… 6 Creative Ways to Afford a Home ………………………… Choices That Will Affect Your Loan…………………………. 5 Things to Understand About Homeowners Insurance…….. 10 Ways to Lower Your Homeowners Insurance Costs…… 5 Things to Understand About Title Insurance…………….. What Not to Overlook on a Final Walk-through……………. Common Closing Costs for Buyers…………………………. What to Keep From Your Closing…………………………… Tips for Packing Like a Pro………………………………….

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37

Handouts for Consumers: For Sellers

Section Index

Understanding Agency………………………………………. 5 Things to Do Before You Sell………………………….. Tips for Holding a Yard Sale………………………………… 10 Ways to Make Your House More Salable………………… 5 Ways to Speed Up Your Sale……………………………. 7 Steps to Preparing for an Open House……………….. 10 Ways to Make Your Home Irresistible at an Open House.. 7 Terms to Watch for in a Purchase Contract……………. What You’ll Net at Closing…………………………………… Moving Tips for Sellers ……………………………………… 6 Items to Have on Hand for the New Owners…………… 20 Low-Cost Ways to Spruce Up Your Home…………… What Is Appraised Value?…………………………………….. Understanding Capital Gains in Real Estate………………….. Does Moving Up Make Sense?…………………………… Remodeling That Pays………………………………………... 12 Tips for Hiring a Remodeling Contractor…………….. Handouts for Converting FSBOs Tips on How to Price Your Home…………………………….. Open House Tips………………………………… 17 Service Providers You’ll Need When You Sell….. 6 Forms You’ll Need to Sell Your Home…………………... Is Your Buyer Qualified?………………………………………

38 39 40 41 42 43 43 44 45 46 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57

Web Site Resources for Consumers

58

8 Steps to Getting Your Finances in Order

1. Develop a family budget. Instead of budgeting what you’d like to spend, use receipts to create a budget for what you actually spent over the last six months. One advantage of this approach is that it factors in unexpected expenses, such as car repairs, illnesses, etc., as well as predictable costs such as rent.

2. Reduce your debt. Generally speaking, lenders look for a total debt load of no more than 36 percent of income. Since this figure includes your mortgage, which typically ranges between 25 percent and 28 percent of income, you need to get the rest of installment debt—car loans, student loans, revolving balances on credit cards—down to between 8 percent and 10 percent of your total income.

3. Get a handle on expenses. You probably know how much you spend on rent and utilities, but little expenses add up. Try writing down everything you spend for one month. You’ll probably see some great ways to save.

4. Increase your income. It may be necessary to take on a second, part-time job to get your income at a high-enough level to qualify for the home you want.

5. Save for a downpayment. Although it’s possible to get a mortgage with only 5 percent down—or even less in some cases—you can usually get a better rate and a lower overall cost if you put down more. Shoot for saving a 20 percent downpayment.

6. Create a house fund. Don’t just plan on saving whatever’s left toward a downpayment. Instead decide on a certain amount a month you want to save, then put it away as you pay your monthly bills.

7. Keep your job. While you don’t need to be in the same job forever to qualify, having a job for less than two years may mean you have to pay a higher interest rate.

8. Establish a good credit history. Get a credit card and make payments by the due date. Do the same for all your other bills. Pay off the entire balance promptly

Budget Basics Work Sheet

The first step in getting yourself in financial shape to buy a home is to know what you make and what you spend now. List your income and expenses below.

Income

Take-Home Pay/All Family Members

Child Support/Alimony

Pension/Social Security

Disability/Other Insurance

Interest/Dividends

Other

Total Income

Expenses

Rent/Mortgage

Life Insurance

Health/Disability Insurance

Vehicle Insurance

Homeowners or Other Insurance

Car Payments

Other Loan Payments

Savings/Pension Contribution

Utilities

Credit Card Payments

Car Upkeep

Clothing

Personal Care Products

Groceries

Food Prepared Outside the Home

Medical/Dental/Prescriptions

Household Goods

Recreation/Entertainment

Child Care

Education

Charitable Donations

Miscellaneous

Total Expenses=

Remaining Income After Expenses=

8 Ways to Improve Your Credit

Credit scores, along with your overall income and debt, are a big factor in determining if you’ll qualify for a loan and what loan terms you’ll be able to qualify for.

1. Check for and correct errors in your credit report. Mistakes happen, and you could be paying for someone else’s poor financial management.

2. Pay down credit card bills. If possible, pay off the entire balance every month. However, transferring credit card debt from one card to another could lower your score.

3. Don’t charge your credit cards to the maximum limit.

4. Wait 12 months after credit difficulties to apply for a mortgage. You’re penalized less for problems after a year.

5. Don’t purchase big-ticket items for your new home on credit cards until after the loan is approved. The amounts will add to your debt.

6. Don’t open new credit card accounts before applying for a mortgage. Having too much available credit can lower your score.

7. Shop for mortgage rates all at once. Too many credit applications can lower your score, but multiple inquiries from the same type of lender are counted as one inquiry if submitted over a short period of time.

8. Avoid finance companies. Even if you pay the loan on time, the interest is high and it will probably be considered a sign of poor credit management.

This information is copyrighted by the Fannie Mae Foundation and is used with permission of the Fannie Mae Foundation. To obtain a complete copy of the publication, “Knowing and Understanding Your Credit,” visit http://www.homebuyingguide.org.

5 Factors That Decide Your Credit Score

Credit scores range between 200 and 800. Scores above 620 are considered desirable for obtaining a mortgage. These factors will affect your score.

1. Your payment history. Whether you paid credit card obligations on time.

2. How much you owe. Owing a great deal of money on numerous accounts can indicate that you are overextended.

3. The length of your credit history. In general, the longer the better.

4. How much new credit you have. New credit, either installment payments or new credit cards, are considered more risky, even if you pay promptly.

5. The types of credit you use. Generally, it’s desirable to have more than one type of credit—installment loans, credit cards, and a mortgage, for example.

For more on evaluating and understanding your credit score, go to http://www.myfico.com.

Your Property Wish List

While your opinions on the type of home you want to own may change during the homebuying process, use this easy checklist to help you prioritize and make the shopping process less time consuming.

• How close do you need to be to: (a) public transportation _______ (b) schools _______
  (c) airport _______ (d) expressway _______ (e) neighborhood shopping _______
  (f) other_______?
• What neighborhoods would you prefer?
• What school systems do you want to be near?
• What architectural style(s) of homes do you prefer?
• Do you want a one-story or two-story house?
• How old a home would you consider?
• How much repair or renovation would you be willing to do?
• Do you have special facilities or needs that your home must meet?
• Do you require a fenced yard or other amenities for your pets?

Prioritize each of these options into	Must have	Would prefer
Yard (at least_________)
Garage (size________)
Patio/Deck
Pool
Bedrooms (number_________)
Bathrooms (number_________)
Family room
Formal living room
Formal dining room
Eat-in kitchen
Laundry room
Basement
Attic
Fireplace
Spa in bath
Air conditioning
Wall-to-wall carpet
Hardwood floors
View
Light (windows)
Shade

Blue Ridge GA Real Estate

Tips for Finding the Perfect Neighborhood

The neighborhood you choose can have a big impact on your lifestyle—safety, available amenities, and convenience all play their part.

1. Make a list of the activities—movies, health club, church—you engage in regularly and stores you visit frequently. See how far you would have to travel from each neighborhood you’re considering to engaging in your most common activities.

2. Check out the school district. The Department of Education in your town can probably provide information on test scores, class size, percentage of students who attend college, and special enrichment programs. If you have school-age children, also consider paying a visit to schools in the neighborhoods you’re considering. Even if you don’t have children, a house in a good school district will be easier to sell in the future.

3. Find out if the neighborhood is safe. Ask the police department for neighborhood crime statistics. Consider not only the number of crimes but also the type—burglaries, armed robberies—and the trend of increasing or decreasing crime. Also, is crime centered in only one part of the neighborhood, such as near a retail area?

4. Determine if the neighborhood is economically stable. Check with your local city economic development office to see if income and property values in the neighborhood are stable or rising. What is the percentage of homes to apartments? Apartments don’t necessarily diminish value, but they do mean a more transient population. Do you see vacant businesses or homes that have been for sale for months?

5. See if you’ll make money. Ask a local REALTOR^Ò or call the local REALTOR^Ò association to get information about price appreciation trends in the neighborhood. Although past performance is no guarantee of future results, this information may give you a sense of how good an investment your home will be. A REALTOR^Ò or the government planning agency also may be able to tell you about planned developments or other changes in the neighborhood—like a new school or highway—that might affect value.

6. See for yourself. Once you’ve narrowed your focus to two or three neighborhoods, go there, and walk around. Are homes tidy and well maintained? Are streets quiet? Pick a warm day if you can and chat with people working or playing outside. Are they friendly? Are their children to play with your family?

Tips on Buying in a Tight Market

Increase your chances of getting your dream house instead of losing it to another buyer, with these easy steps.

1. Get prequalified for a mortgage. You’ll be able to make a firm commitment to buy and make your offer more desirable to the seller.

2. Stay in close touch with your real estate sales associate to find out first about new listings that come on the market. And be ready to go see a house as soon as it goes on the market.

3. Scout out new listings yourself. Look at Internet sites, newspaper ads, and drive by the neighborhood frequently. Maybe you’ll see a brand-new “for sale” sign before anyone else.

4. Be ready to make a decision. Spend lots of time in advance deciding what you must have so you won’t be unsure when you have the chance to make an offer.

5. Bid competitively. You may not want to start out offering the absolute highest price you can afford, but don’t try to go too low to get a deal. In a tight market, you’ll lose out.

6. Keep contingencies to a minimum. Restrictions such as needing to sell your home before you move or wanting to delay the closing until a certain date can make your offer unappealing. In a tight market, you’ll probably be able to sell your house rapidly. Or talk to your lender about getting a bridge loan to cover both mortgages for a short period.

7. Don’t get caught in a buying frenzy. Just because there’s competition doesn’t mean you should just buy anything. And even though you want to make your offer attractive, don’t neglect inspections that help ensure that your house is sound.

The Pros and Cons of Condos

Condominiums and townhouses offer an affordable option to single-family homes in most areas. But consider these facts before you buy.

1. Storage. Some condos have storage lockers, but usually there are no attics or basements to store belongings.

2. Outdoor space. Yards and outdoor areas are usually smaller in condos, so if you like to garden or entertain outdoors, this may not be a good fit. However, if you hate yard work, this may be the perfect option for you.

3. Amenities. Many condo properties have swimming pools, fitness centers, and other facilities that would be very expensive in a single-family home.

4. Maintenance. Many condos have onsite maintenance personnel to care for common areas, do repairs in your unit, and let in workers when you’re not home.

5. Security. Many condos have keyed entries and or even door attendants. Plus, you’ll be closer to other people in case of an emergency.

6. Reserve funds and association fees. Although fees generally help pay for amenities and provide savings for future repairs, you will have to pay the fees agreed to by the condo board, whether or not you’re interested in the amenity or not.

7. Resale. The ease of selling your unit is more dependent on what else is for sale in your building, since units are usually fairly similar. Single-family homes usually are more individual.

8. Freedom. Although you have a vote, the rules of the condo association can affect your ability to use your property. For example, some condos prohibit home-based businesses. Others prohibit pets. Read the covenants, restrictions, and bylaws of the condo carefully before you make an offer.

9. Proximity. You’re much closer to your neighbors in a condo or townhome. If possible, try to meet your closest prospective neighbors before making a decision.

5 Reasons You Need a REALTOR^Ò

1. A real estate transaction is complicated. In most cases, buying or selling a home requires disclosure forms, inspection reports, mortgage documents, insurance policies, deeds, and multi-page government-mandated settlement statements. A knowledgeable guide through this complexity can help you avoid delays or costly mistakes.

2. Selling or buying a home is time consuming. Even in a strong market, homes in our area stay on the market for an average of ____ days. And it usually takes another 60 days or so for the transaction to close after an offer is accepted.

3. Real estate has its own language. If you don’t know a CMA from a PUD, you can understand why it’s important to work with someone who speaks that language.

4. REALTORS^Ò have done it before. Most people buy and sell only a few homes in a lifetime, usually with quite a few years in between each purchase. And even if you’ve done it before, laws and regulations change. That’s why having an expert on your side is critical.

5. REALTORS^Ò provide objectivity. Since a home often symbolizes family, rest, and security, not just four walls and roof, homeselling or buying is often a very emotional undertaking. And for most people, a home is the biggest purchase they’ll ever make. Having a concerned, but objective, third party helps you keep focused on both the business and emotional issues most important to you.

6. REALTORS^Ò are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^Ò, a trade organization of more than 1 million members nationwide. REALTORS^Ò subscribe to a stringent code of ethics that helps guarantee the highest level of service and integrity.

Questions to Ask When Choosing a REALTOR^Ò

1. How long have you been in residential real estate sales? Is it your full-time job? (While experience is no guarantee of skill, real estate, like many other professions, is mostly learned on the job.)

2. What designations do you hold? (Designations, such as GRI and CRS^Ò, which require that real estate professionals take additional, specialized real estate training, are held by only about one-quarter of real estate practitioners.)