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An Introduction to Buying a Home
Welcome to Mike's Buyer Area!
An Introduction to Buying
This introduction is a general guide to the buying process and to DistinctionProperties.Com's Buyer section. Please read this introduction at your leisure. I invite you to visit the other buyer information pages. If you are relocating and are unfamiliar with the area, please continue but be sure to see Realtor Michael Kwiatkowski's Relocation page by clicking here.
Guarantee
I understand that you may have had unpleasant experiences with prior real estate agents. Instead of hiding behind binding ironclad contracts, I want to offer you the chance to fire me if you are unhappy. Coldwell Banker offers their associates the option of participating in the Buyer Services Guarantee program. This is an agreement between the agent (me) and the clients I serve (you). If you are unhappy with my service, you may fire me within 24 hours of giving notice. For obvious reasons, most agents do not> want to participate in this program. However, I welcome the chance to guarantee my performance and service. Please click here to review a copy of Realtor Mike Kwiatkowski's Buyer Services Guarantee in .pdf (Adobe Acrobat) format.
Home Buying Steps
Buying a home is exciting and can be the first step toward financial success! It is also daunting and lead the unprepared down the road of financial ruin. Prudent homebuyers realize that numerous things must happen before any search should begin.
- Put your finances in order. You should review your gross and net income, expenses, and debt levels. Order copies of your credit reports including your credit scores from all major credit bureaus. Inaccurate information must be disputed in today's tight credit markets.
- Learn about the different types of loans, seek out quotes from numerous competent mortgage brokers, and determine what you can or want to afford.
This step is so important that Realtor Mike Kwiatkowski created a separate page of information to discuss the different types of loans; please click here to review that page. Do you want to meet three recommended mortgage brokers? Clicking here takes you to page with complete contact information for these three great brokers. In addition, I am pleased to offer you a quick home mortgage calculator. You can determine your monthly mortgage payment by entering the loan amount, the length of the loan, and certain other costs. You can go to Realtor Michael Kwiatkowski's mortgage calculator by clicking here.
- Determine your needs and wants. What do you need in your new home? What do you want in your new home? Are things like school districts and tax rates important? A swimming pool? Particular zoning for a home occupation? A finished basement?
- Create a team. There is no way to accomplish you goals entirely by yourself. Purchasing a home is a huge process. Your list of professionals will vary depending upon the location of the property, age of the structure itself, and changes based upon its location. True real estate professionals engage their team. The makeup of your team will change based upon your needs, but consider the following:
- A REALTOR®. There is a difference between somebody merely licensed by the state to buy and sell properties and a REALTOR®. You can learn more about the difference between a REALTOR® and a common license holder by clicking here.
- A Buyer Agent REALTOR®. Home buyers who understand Wisconsin agency law insist upon a Buyer Agent. There is an important difference between a Buyer Agent and a Seller Agent, one that could save - or cost - you quite a bit of money. Realtor Michael Kwiatkowski explains Buyer Agency here. Knowing the difference is time well spent!
- Your mortgage broker. Real estate deals commonly fall apart due to financing problems. View your mortgage broker as a friend who is helping you obtain a home. Here is a page with complete contact information for three great mortgage brokers.
- A competent home inspector. The home inspection profession has a poor reputation because of loose standards for hiring and competence. While the state of Wisconsin requires training, testing, and licensing of home inspectors, there are still plenty of weekend warriors polluting this business. You must be able to trust your home inspectors to seek out flaws, damage, and dangers in and around the property. Furthermore, surprise defects found by a home inspector will give you better bargaining power or even allow you to cancel a pending deal. Realtor Michael Kwiatkowski is pleased to offer a quick guide to code compliance; please click here to review that guide.
- Specialist inspectors. Family doctors and home inspectors are similar because they are generalists. A generalist's goal is to inspect the whole, to recognize when something may not be right, and to recommend that you to seek out a specialist. Having a short of list of specialists like electricians, plumbers, foundation experts, roofers, etc., makes the process much easier.
- Title Company. The title company's job is to ensure a clean title, one that is not encumbered by unpaid loans, judgments, etc.
- Other potential team members. Other potential members may include a competent attorney specializing in real estate transactions, municipal code enforcement officers, accountants, cleaning services, remodelers and renovators, competent all-around handypersons, furnace repairers... If somebody or some specific profession could be helpful, add them to your list.
- Organize and focus. Maintaining organization and focusing on what is important to you will help keep order throughout the home buying process. Rest assured that the deal for your perfect property will hinge upon a scrap of paper that you folded and used as a coffee cup coaster. Dedicate a folder for paperwork relating to any property that you intend to purchase. Potential buyers who do not allow themselves to get overwhelmed, who ask questions, and who seek support from their team always win in the end.
- Begin the search. While Mike does most of the searching for his buyers, the search for your dream home is not a passive process. Here are things you should bring:
- Pens and a bound notebook to take notes about properties;
- A street-level map of the area;
- A digital camera with freshly charged batteries to help with memory recollection or to point out areas of concern to inspectors;
To keep homes from looking all the same, consider these questions at each property.
- Location: Is the property located in the correct school district or zoning? Is it close to things important to you like a particular school, galleries, recreation, shopping, and transportation? Do you see any problems or potential problems like abandoned properties, noise, etc.?
- Does the home's size meet your needs? Will your vehicle(s) fit into the garage? Is there enough room for a hobby or home business? Will your existing furniture fit the home, much less physically fit into the home?
- Does the home's orientation allow for natural light? Will there be issues with energy consumption and cost?
These lists are not meant to be exhaustive or complete. They are presented to help you ask questions and consider all alternatives before making decisions.
Luxury and Concierge Services
Discriminating buyers often require exclusive service that most real estate agents cannot or will not provide. I am pleased to serve you and ready to go beyond full service. My clients and their needs - your needs - are my first priority. You may learn more about Realtor Mike Kwiatkowski and his menu of luxury and concierge services by clicking here.
I look forward to exceeding your expectations. Please click here to begin a conversation with Realtor Michael Kwiatkowski today.
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