Local Realtors Give Tips on Buying Your First Home in Richmond Hill, GA 

 

Making the decision to purchase your first home is an exciting yet anxious time in your life. It can be easy to rush into decisions, and there are several factors that need to be considered before making one of the largest investments in your life. That’s why we here at LIVE spoke with a few local Realtors to get their expert advice on making these decisions that require careful consideration. They provided us with some helpful tips when purchasing your first home. This is what they had to say…

 

 

Eddie Warren, Re/Max Accent – “The two most important things when starting out are to find a Realtor and a mortgage lender. You want to find a Realtor to represent you and one that is set apart from the others to be on your side. Also, it is important to get a local mortgage lender so that you can be face-to-face with them during the mortgage process.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maureen Bryant, Re/Max Accent – “A Realtor can help you with a local mortgage lender if you are unsure about prepaid and closing costs, in addition to wanting to know what your payment would be so you are comfortable before looking. The price will guide the Realtor on which neighborhoods to look in when searching for your home. The Realtor explains all the steps and options that go along with insurance purposes and other expenses. They also can help you with looking at the resell value of the home.”

 

“When looking for your first home, it is helpful to ride around to get the feel for where you want to be, such as in town or further out from town. This helps you get one step closer to narrowing down the search. But most importantly, you want to find a local Realtor who you are comfortable with. You want to be able to trust your Realtor and look to them for advice, as well as having fun and making it an enjoyable experience. I always say that a home not only needs to be a good investment, but also somewhere you can’t wait to get to at the end of the day.”

 

 

 

Mark Douglas, Keller Williams Realty– “First, you need to establish the buying power by talking to a reputable lender to see what you are approved for; you need to search for houses by purchase price. Next, talk with a Realtor who knows the area in which you want to buy.”

 

“If searching online, don’t rely heavily on certain popular realty sites. These sites like to set a certain value on a home but the criteria is often misleading. It is best to ask an active seasoned agent about a market analysis for both buyers and sellers. A Realtor has access to the multiple listings and most recent sales, so therefore they are the best to go to for tools on appraisals."

 

“When looking for a realtor to represent you, research the area and find out who the local pro is. Make sure your personalities match to make sure the search is more enjoyable. Stay loyal to the agent; you will receive better service because they will also stay loyal to you.”

 

“Get the feel for the neighborhoods in the city you are looking to buy. Save money because you need to have cash before you buy a house; establish good credit. Look into the USDA loan if buying in Bryan County. Check school systems for resell value and rentability.”

 

Some of the expected expenses are:

 

-       - Approximately $300 for a home inspection

-       - Appraisals usually run around $400

-       - Earnest money to put down with offer, $500-$2,500 depending on price of the house

-       -Termite inspections are most likely to have and usually run around $50

-       - Other inspections such as lead paint, mold testing, etc. (Pricing depends on inspection)

 

Matt Hill, Keller Williams Realty – “Don’t listen to what so and so down the street says; listen to the professionals.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zoe Hall, Century 21 Ways Station – “Get a mortgage lender. Be sure that you have set money aside for closing costs; most people don’t realize how much you have to pay upfront when purchasing a home. Pay off your bills and establish a good credit history. When searching for houses online, the best website to search is the MLS (Multiple Listing Service), www.mls.com. MLS is current while other sites are not updated. Keep in mind that the listings may not be up-to-date with browsing the web on certain realty sites. You can always contact a realtor because they have the current listings on what is available.”

 

 

 

 

 

Willaim Gaines, Coldwell Banker Platinum Partners - "There are many questions that first time home buyers have. My advice is to never be afraid to ask. There is such thing as a dumb question, so always ask if you are uncertain."