Buyers Information
There are probably few things in life that are as exciting, or as nerve-racking, as the search for a home. All the good and bad emotions seem to coincide when the home searching begins. Don't worry, this is a normal reaction, and is found in seasoned home buyers, as well as those who are first-time home buyers. One of the first decisions you will need to make is whether you want to do your home hunting on your own, or by using one of our distinguished, 3D Realty Real Estate Professionals. If you decide to go into it on your own, you will typically only be able to view & buy those homes that are For Sale by Owner, typically known as FSBO's. Depending on your area and the overall market, this will be around 5% or so of the total homes available. The other 95% are the "listed" properties and are being sold through a real estate agent.
Whatever your reasons for purchasing a home, know that finding the right home, in the perfect neighborhood and at a cost that is within your budget is no small task. This is why many buyers continue to turn to the assistance of a 3D Realty Real Estate Professional.
3D Realty Real Estate Professionals are licensed Realtors® with specialized skills in residential, multi-family, commercial, land and investment property in and around the Columbia, MO area. There are many benefits you will receive from working with one of our full-service Real Estate Professionals.
As 3D Realty Real Estate Professionals
- We know the local market and can quickly narrow down a few areas where you are likely to find your home at the price you want.
- We can save you time by doing a lot of the legwork. By knowing your needs, we can eliminate homes that don't meet your criteria.
- We will make appointments to preview homes with you and assist with determining the pro's and con's of each home.
- We have access to the multiple listing service (MLS), a service that provides access to literally thousands of homes on the market.
- We can also provide information and set appointments to view almost any property listed for sale. A home does not have to be listed by a 3D Realty Real Estate Professional in order to get detailed information or an appointment to view the property.
- When you find the home you want to purchase, one of our 3D Realty Real Estate Professionals will guide you through the negotiation, legalities and details of purchasing a home.
Advantages of Home Ownership
- When you carefully choose a home that you & your family can afford, the outcome can be significant: By paying your mortgage, you are building equity in a place of your own. Equity is the portion of the property that you actually own. Equity increases by paying your monthly payments, and your home may also appreciate in value over time.
- Tax Advantages: As a homeowner, you can deduct on your federal and state income taxes the amount of mortgage interest and real estate taxes you pay each year if you itemize deductions.
- Once an owner, always an owner: A first home often leads to a better second home. Owning and properly maintaining the property also offers a sense of accomplishment.
- Retirement Savings: Long-term home ownership can provide beneficial retirement security through the growth of equity.
Tips On Finding The Right House
- Get your financial house in order first! We can't stress this enough--it will save you an enormous amount of time, aggravation & heartache.
- Determine what your budget will comfortably allow and stick to it. Don't spend yourself into a "house poor" situation.
- Get preapproved for a mortgage. This will not only give you a clear idea of how much a lender will approve for you, it will make your home buying process a great deal easier and save a lot of time later.
- Get familiar with the variety of housing types available to narrow your search.
- Determine your minimum requirements as well as any desired additional features.
- Take note of any items that you & your family would not prefer in a house.
- Determine the desired location (schools, work, public transportation, etc.)
- Familiarize yourself with the many different mortgage process.
- Choose any one of our 3D Realty Real Estate Professionals that will make you feel comfortable and who will understand you & your family’s needs and wants.
- Don't just buy a home for your present needs. Make sure to take into account future considerations, like children.
- As you are looking, use a scorecard to compare the homes you have seen. A scorecard can be a great tool when it comes time for comparisons and for remembering which home had which features!
- Get familiar with the inspection process--especially the personal inspection aspect, so that you can weed out unacceptable houses quickly.
- Maintain your perspective--and keep your cool! You may find an acceptable house on the first day--or the tenth. The important thing is to get the home that is best for you & your family’s needs!