Best Neighborhoods near CU Boulder to Buy a House

March 19th, 2012

Whether you’re getting ready to retire or a student enrolled at the University of Colorado, if you’re thinking of investing in real estate off campus near CU Boulder you may have started looking at and comparing neighborhoods located close to the University. If you’ve already come this far in your home search, then you’ve probably discovered that there are many viable options when searching for a neighborhood in which you hope to purchase property.

Boulder neighborhoods near CU are popular for a number of reasons. Most obvious, or course, is that these off campus neighborhoods provide students and faculty of CU with a wide range of housing options within a close proximity to University grounds. This very same reason explains why these off campus neighborhoods near CU Boulder have continued to drive returns to real estate investors for decades.


View Best Boulder Neighborhoods Near CU Boulder in a larger map

Best Off Campus Neighborhoods to Buy Real Estate Near CU

University Place – A family oriented community in Southwest Boulder, University Place is another spectacular neighborhood located close to CU Boulder campus.  As one of Boulder’s historic neighborhoods, most homes in University Park are single-family, residential homes with a median price of around $725,000.

Ninth Street – In the shadows of the Foot Hills sits Ninth Street, a popular Boulder subarea located northwest of CU. A family-friendly community that is close to recreation and shopping.

University Hill – University Hill, known as “The Hill” has a large and lively student population.  A large number of the homes on University Hill near CU are owned by real estate investors or property management companies and occupied by college students who pay rent.

Lower Arapahoe – Situated just South of Canyon Boulevard, Boulder, Colorado’s Lower Arapahoe enjoys an excellent location between the foothills of Boulder Canyon to its West and The University of CU Boulder just a few blocks east.  Condos, Townhomes, and single family residential homes are all common in Lower Araphahoe.

Downtown Boulder – Downtown Boulder has long been a favorite home-buyers looking to purchase property near CU Boulder.  Boulder’s historic downtown area is located under a mile from University grounds.  Students living in houses located in Downtown Boulder have the luxury of living close to the Regional Transportation District Transit Center, a host of options for dinning and shopping and an array of activities.

Goss-Grove – A small and friendly community, Goss Grove that is located near Pearl Street and the 29th Street Mall, just north of CU Boulder.

Whittier – Central Boulder’s Whittier neighborhood occupies an excellent location just two miles southwest of CU Boulder.  Whittier is one of Boulder’s earliest  and favorite neighborhoods.  With such a close proximity to the Pearl Street Mall and Downtown Boulder, there’s no shortage of nearby amenities for college students living in Whittier.

Frasier Meadows – Located just off of the Boulder-Denver Turnpike (Highway 36), at Baseline Road and Foothills Parkway, Frasier Meadows is a popular choice for CU students looking to purchase a home near CU Boulder.  Fraiser Meadows has a rich variety of home styles, condos and town homes that can vary widely in price.  Because the Fraiser Meadows neighborhood is located just blocks from the University of Colorado’s Williams Village North dormitorium, students that buy a house in Fraiser Meadows can take advantage of the campus activities that take place there as well as the University dinning services and the CU rec center at Williams Village.

Lower Chautauqua – Lower Chautauqua sits below Chautauqua park and is one of the most sought after locations to live in Boulder.

Interurban Park – Boulder’s Interurban Park neighborhood is located right of of Baseline Rd., a few blocks south of the well-known Chautauqua Park and community.  Most homes in the Interurban Park area are less than a mile from CU’s University Memorial Center.

University Heights – Located just over an arm’s reach from the outer east side of CU Boulder’s sprawling campus, and only a few minutes walking from the University’s engineering department, University Heights is a popular Boulder neighborhood subarea. Nearby Arapahoe Village Shopping Center, Scott Carpenter Pool and Kittredge field provide plenty of shopping, recreation, and entertainment for members of the University Heights community in Boulder, Colorado to enjoy.

Arapahoe Ridge – Parallel to Foothills Parkway, Boulder’s Arapahoe Ridge neighborhood is located 3 miles east of the main campus at CU Boulder.  Arapahoe Ridge Park sits on the southern border of the family friendly community with the Flatirons Golf Course running along the entirety of its northern limits.

Mapleton Hill – One of Boulder’s most desirable neighborhoods to live in, Mapleton Hill is an nice community composed primarily of single family homes and condos.  Residents living in the family friendly community of Mapleton Hill in Boulder live aside some of Boulder’s most popular features and favorite attractions, including the Pearl Street Mall.

There are, of course, many other options for those looking to buy property off campus near CU Boulder. However not everyone that wants to live in boulder  want to live near the University after moving off campus.   For those whom would rather live a bit further from campus, there’s no shortage of student friendly neighborhoods and communities in South Boulder and North Boulder.

Alternatively, nearby cities such as Louisville, Longmont, Erie or Broomfield all offer great options for CU students buying real estate.  Whatever your particular preferences, if you’re in the market for an off campus house near CU Boulder, ColoradoHomeHelper.com has a staff of experienced Boulder real estate agents on hand to answer your questions and assist you in the home buying process.

 

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How to Find Affordable Housing in Northglenn, Colorado

February 16th, 2012

Northglenn boasts dozens of smaller neighborhoods, as well as convenient shopping centers, top-notch schools, parks, open spaces, lakes, and outdoor recreational facilities. Northglenn is a tight-knit community. In fact, many of the original residents who lived in Northglenn when it was establisted in 1969 still reside there. Yet Northglenn is always growing, and now has 36,000 residents. Northglenn residents welcome those who make the move or relocate to their city.

Affordable Northglenn Housing

Northglenn is chalked full of recreational and outdoor activities. It is located in close proximity to some of the best ski towns in the West, as well as plenty of places to hike, camp and more. Northglenn is connected by the Greenway Trail system, 28 miles of off-street biking and walking paths. These paths lead to the Denver area, giving Northglenn bikers, walkers and joggers easy access to both downtown Denver and other areas of the city. With 300 days or more of sunshine a year, Northglenn is a happy and great place to live, for both individuals and families alike.

In Northglenn, the housing market is declining slightly, which might mean lower prices for those looking to purchase a home there. The median sales price for homes in Northglenn in the fall of 2011 was $148,750, which is a slight decrease from 2010. The average price per square foot of real estate was $132 in 2011, which is actually a slight increase. Northglenn has plenty of houses, apartments, condos and townhomes available for those who are considering a move or relocation to the city.

ColoradoHomeHelper.com features Northglenn housing on their website, with various search items that help you sort and sift through the hundreds of housing opportunities available. The website allows you to search by a variety of options including minimum price, maximum price, number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, acreage, square footage and more. ColoradoHomeHelper.com is constantly updated with the most current Northglenn homes on the market, and is maintained by real estate professionals who are experts at watching Northglenn housing trends.

Northglenn is a friendly city with plenty of business and recreational opportunities for citizens. Finding housing might seem overwhelming, but ColoradoHomeHelper.com breaks down housing options into an easy-to-read and understand format, allowing those searching to find exactly what they are looking for. ColoradoHomeHelper.com allows you to find affordable homes at the very lowest price possible.

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What Should You Do as a First Time Home Buyer?

February 4th, 2012

As a first time home buyer, it is crucial that you use all the resources that are available to you in finding the right home, best mortgage broker and the lowest mortgage rate. Many people feel they can go ahead with the home buying process on their own, without understanding in full the benefit that the right real estate agent or mortgage broker can have A real estate agent is one of the most knowledgeable people you can use when looking for a home. We don’t recommend seeing a real estate right off the bat, but simply after you have looked around at the various homes in the area.

Advice for First Time Home Buyers

A real estate broker knows the neighborhoods in which homes are the cheapest and knows where to go for information regarding the property information. An agent knows the home buying process inside out and would be able to help you right from the start of the home search. Real estate agents have affiliations with mortgage brokers, so this could benefit you in a great way. Real estate brokers want you to be able to purchase the home, so getting your mortgage approved is one of their biggest concerns. As a first time home buyer, you need to know your needs for the purchase. Do you want to purchase a home close to where you live now? Do you want to buy a home near the city center? All these questions need to be answered.

When visiting various open houses to see the staged homes, you need to look carefully at the various improvements done in the home. These improvements will be included in the final price of the home. The biggest concern for a home buyer is the resulting renovations needed after the purchase of the home. The best practice is to hire an inspection agent to analyze the home. The inspection report will be given to you and will outline the various issues with the home and the estimated costs to repair them. As a note, it is important that you get all the information concerning property taxes and other bills. Once you are satisfied with your inspection report and the details of the home, you can move onto the mortgage portion of the process.

When getting a mortgage, you need to make sure that you walk into the lender’s office with a good chance of getting approved. In order to be in a great position, you should consult with a mortgage broker first. A mortgage broker will look through your finances and tell you if anything looks like it may bring down the chances of getting approved. A common example is the debt to income ratio for a particular family. Additionally, a mortgage broker has access to interest rates offered by all the lenders in the region, so you will definitely be getting the best rate possible.

If you take the opportunity to use the various resources available to you, your home buying process will be very efficient and save you time and money.

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How to Find Affordable Housing in Thornton, Colorado

February 3rd, 2012

Thornton, Colorado is a city in the Denver metropolitan area that is consistently ranked as one of the most desirable places to live in the United States. Thornton is just 10 miles north of downtown Denver and is located right along interstate 25, which makes it easy to access any Colorado city along the front range of the Rocky Mountains. Many people living in Thornton commute to work in Denver, Colorado, making Thornton an idea place to live for businessmen and businesswomen looking to live slightly outside of downtown, but still remain close to their work.

Finding Affordable Housing in Thornton, Colorado

For those looking to live in Thornton, there are hundreds of housing options and the housing market is increasing in value. The average price per square foot in Thornton is $116, which is an increase of 1.8% compared to 2010. The average listing price for Thornton (according to Trulia.com) was $247,607 the week of December 21st, 2011.

For those searching for a home in Thornton, Colorado, ColoradoHomeHelper.com is a great place to start. The website allows you to click around and search based on specific qualities you are searching for in a home. Whether you are looking for a certain square footage or acreage, or a particular price range, or a specific number of bedrooms or bathrooms, ColoradoHomeHelper.com allows you to customize your search and select condos, apartments, houses or townhomes based upon specific qualities.

When considering a move or relocation to Thornton, it is tough to know how to find a home or who to trust. ColoradoHomeHelper.com is updated by knowledgeable realtors who understand trends in the real estate industry and specific details about the Thornton market. For those searching for a home, ColoradoHomeHelper.com is a one stop site you can trust as you begin your search. It is well-organized and easy to sift through as you look through hundreds of housing options. ColoradoHomeHelper.com helps you find the most affordable housing options and the lowest price possible. Plus, those who use ColoradoHomeHelper.com can narrow down their search to be certain they are getting actually what they want.

Thornton, Colorado is a thriving city with a strong commitment to environmental issues and quality of life for citizens. Thornton residents have access to a city rich in culture, with excellent proximity to nearby hiking, biking, and walking trails, as well as skiing, snowboarding, rock-climbing and dozens of other recreational activities. Thornton is full of breath-taking views and residents have easy access to nearby cities, like Denver and Boulder. The options for business, education, recreation and the housing in Thornton are endless.

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Why Is a Home Inspection Important?

January 26th, 2012

If you are planning on purchasing a home or any sort of property for that matter, it is important that you hire a reputable property or home inspection specialist to professionally expect the house you intend to buy. As one might expect, it is typically the buyer who takes initiative to hire a home inspection specialist, but that is not always the case. When a home owner is desperate to sell a home for instance, he or she may opt for a home inspection to attract buyers that are hesitant to have a inspection done. Moreover, choosing to pay a little more for a home inspection now, and getting it done without a buyers request will increase your credibility and that of the home you’re selling.

Why Home Inspection’s are Important

Home inspection reports can be hugely beneficial in the buyers decision to buy a property as it details information about the home they plan to purchase, which without the home inspection report might otherwise be hard to find. Whether you’re a first time home buyer purchasing a condo or townhome to live in, or a serial real estate investor scouting a property to make your next big venture, its always important for home buyers and real estate investors to keep in mind the importance of a home inspection.

For most people, buying a home is the largest purchase that they’ll make in their life. But its not just a purchase; it’s an investment in your future, your family and financial well-being. Because average home buyers in America put such a large portion of their life’s earnings into their property, wise home buyers want to make sure that you are getting a nice home that is fairly valued and has no noticiable damages or repairs needed. Getting the best value on a real estate purchase is so important to some, that people who feel they’ve found their dream home will often walk away without hesitation or leaving any room for negotiation if they believe the home is overvalued. On the flip side of the coin, several instances have occured where a home buyer purchases a property under the false impression that it was in tip-top condition and no serious restorations or renovations will need to be made in the near future. Unfortunately, in such cases, it is normally only after the buyers have closed on what they belive to be a great home and finalized the deal that the buyers begin to take notice of what are sometimes only small imperfections, but at other times can be large damages requiring costly home repairs. The degree of the renovations needed in a home will vary, from small to large. Small scale renovations include cabinet changes, and switching out doors. When one speaks of large scale home renovations, on the other hand, what is normally required are things like roof repair, brick replacements, driveway upgrades, etc. By skimping on the costs associated with the home inspection process, or failing to complete the necessary steps to secure a good home inspection, you may end up spending thousands in the end.

When we say home inspection, we actually mean an inspection that is done by a government certified professional. Inspections aren’t just done with the basic senses. Instead certified government inspectors use tools and equipment specifically designed to properly inspect a home aput a fair value on the house. That being said, there is a certain level of expertise to be achieved in the home inspection process. Even if your friend is an experienced builder, he may not have the means to provide you with a qualified inspection report. The inspection report will be greatly useful in the actual home buying process, as we shall discuss briefly below. Perhaps the best way to find a good certified home inspector is to ask professionals in the real estate market. Home inspection evaluators can be booked through local Realtors or at real estate offices. Surprising to many, home inspections are actually relatively affordable, at least in comparison to otherexpenses that most home buyers are forced to face when buying real estate. For a small to medium sized home, a fair price for a home inspection performed by an experienced professional should cost anywhere from $300 t0 $500.

For larger properties such as office buildings, apartment complexes and shopping malls; prices will be considerably higher. These large scale projects often require more than one certified inspector to do the job correctly and get the best possible evaluation of the property, taking
into account any problems that may arise. Using the home inspection report that will be provided to you once the inspection is complete, you will be in a much better position to bargin for the selling priceyou hope to see. This will only apply if there are not any major issues with the home being sold, such as the immediate need to replace the roof. The report will also be useful in the sense that you have an idea of how much money you would need to spend on short term renovations and long term renovations. So, as you can see, it is crucial that a home buyer hires a professional to inspect the home they intend to purchase.

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How to Find Affordable Housing in Westminster, Colorado

January 17th, 2012

Westminster is a growing suburban city located in close proximity to Denver. The Westminster community offers a wide variety of housing, excellent schools and plenty of public facilities. The city is constantly growing and expanding, drawing people in for the hundreds of recreational options and great mountain views. Westminster attracts families and individuals alike, who are ready to purchase a home in a beautiful and booming area.

How to Find Affordable Westminster Housing

Westminster is also known for its rich history and historical monuments. The city boasts historical buildings dating back to the late 1800’s, which different architectural styles and builds. In fact, Westminster’s Bowles House Museum and the Pillar of Fire building are both listed on the National Register of Historical Places. Westminster’s city hall and its entire metro area give Westminster a more modern feel and the backdrop of Mountains to Westminster’s west

The average house or condo value in Westminster in 2009 was $225,000 and the average gross rent was $921. Statistics show that Westminster is growing, and the values of houses are increasing. For those who are looking to find a home in Westminster, going to ColoradoHomeHelper.com is a great start. The website allows those searching for a house, condo, apartment, townhouse or any place to live to narrow down their search. ColoradoHomeHelper.com allows you to break down searches by the number of bedrooms or bathrooms, maximum or minimum price, acreage, location or dozens of other home features. The website is updated by select realtors who remain completely up to date with the most recent trends in real estate. ColoradoHomeHelper.com allows you to find affordable homes at the lowest possible price.

Those who are looking to move to Westminster, Colorado should begin their search at ColoradoHomeHelper.com. Westminster is an attractive city, drawing residents in with its proximity to the major business centers in Denver and Boulder, and hundreds of recreational activity options. From hiking to skiing to climbing, Westminster residents are surrounded by plenty of outdoor and recreational activities. With all of these recreational and business options, it is no wonder Westminster is growing at a rapid rate. For those considering buying a house, condo, apartment, townhouse or another home in Westminster, beginning with ColoradoHomeHelper.com ensures you can narrow down your searching properly and find exactly what you are looking for.

Whether you are looking for a townhome, condo, house, or apartment, ColoradoHomeHelper.com is a one-stop search option for housing needs. Finding a home in Westminster, Colorado that you can afford is important, and ColoradoHomeHelper.com is striving to make sure you find exactly what you are looking for, at the lowest price possible.

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How to Find Affordable Housing in Broomfield, Colorado?

January 14th, 2012

How to Find Affordable Broomfield Housing

Broomfield, Colorado is located in the North metro area between Denver and Boulder. It is a quick drive to both cities, giving Broomfield great proximity to major shopping, an international airport and plenty of outdoor, recreational activities. It is a booming city and many families are choosing to move to Broomfield for its quality of education, outdoor activities, safety and more. Broomfield offers quality parks, open space and trails. In fact, there are 63 parks within Broomfield city limits, as well as thousands of acres of open space. Broomfield also boasts high-quality educational institutes, both private and public. This is a huge factor for families with children who are considering moving to Broomfield.

The Broomfield housing market is booming, with pricing increasing slightly from 2010. The number of home sales increased 11.3%. With nearly 500 resale and new homes currently available in Broomfield and an additional 150 foreclosed, bank-owned or up for auction houses. The average price per square foot for Broomfield, Colorado is $155. In this economy, a growing market is a sign of a great community and a good place to live.

Broomfield’s housing market offers everything from affordable first-time homes to multi million dollar mansions and everything in between. For those who are considering purchasing a home in Broomfield, begin by going to ColoradoHomeHelper.com. The website helps you narrow down your search and sort it by price, type of housing, number of bedrooms, or a variety of other search criteria. ColoradoHomeHelper.com is updated by a group of professional realtors who understand the Broomfield market, and can help those searching for a home find what they are looking for.

ColoradoHomeHelper.com is a one-stop search tool for those looking for a home in Broomfield, Colorado. You can completely customize your search to ensure you are prioritizing search results based upon exactly what you are looking for. ColoradoHomeHelper.com has pictures of the properties for sale, as well as detailed descriptions of the home’s features. These listings allow you to find a house with what you are looking for at the lowest price possible. From townhomes to condos to large mansions, ColoradoHomeHelper.com makes the search easier.

Broomfield offers quality business and retail opportunities to residents. Broomfield residents have countless options for recreational activities and proximity to both Denver and Boulder. The city is always looking towards the future, figuring out the best improvements that can be made For those considering buying a house in Broomfield, visit ColoradoHomeHelper.com.

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How to Stage a Home to Sell

January 10th, 2012

Are you in the process of selling your home, or have you tried to sell your home with no luck? Did you know that properly staging your home to sell is essential to quickly and successfully selling your home. Below we share effective home staging tips and advice to help you stage your home and show it to buyers.

One useful piece of advice that I like to pass on to sellers clients is that, as a seller you should try your best to put yourself in the shoes of the buyer and pretend you are buying the home. As a buyer, what would you expect from a home and what would you like to see? These are important considerations that should be taken into account when selling a home, even before it is listed for sale. Often when a house remains on the market for some time, or ends up selling for significantly less than what the seller had anticipated, it is because the home wasn’t up to par with other homes on the block and was not properly put together, or prepared to be sold by the seller.

Effective Home Staging Tips for Sellers

Home staging has increased in importance in the last decade, partially because it does help with the sale of a house and in a tough market real estate agents will take the little help they can get. As a seller, you want to be able to sell your home as quickly as possible, for the highest dollar amount, without having to relist it a number of times. One thing many sellers think about when selling their home is the final sale price, but this should never be the only thing you consider. The way your home looks and feels will play a great deal in the actual decision making process of the buyer. Some real estate brokers hire home stagers to come in and give ideas and tips on improving the overall look of the home.

To save money, however, you can do most of the work on your own rather than hiring a stage. The final goal of the home staging process is to make the house look presentable and sellable. Begin from the basement of your home and begin clearing out the things you do not need or use regularly. If you know that you will be throwing away something during your move, it is best to get it out of the way by getting rid of it early on. By clearing the things you do not need, it will reduce clutter, maximize space and improve the overall feel of your home. Make sure that your basement is completely clean, from the carpets to the wall to the ceiling. It is recommended that your home be freshly painted and any small issues that can be seen be fixed before it is put on the market. If the carpets have seriously stained or damaged it is best to simply replace it, as it will drastically improve the appearance and feel of your property.

Next you’ll want to turn your attention to the bathrooms, kitchens and closets. In terms of the bathroom, make sure that it is as clean as it can be. Don’t cut any corners here. In many cases, it’s not a bad idea to change the toilet bowl and sink, and/or paint the bathroom. The kitchen is also very important. It should be painted and well lit with clean ranges, fridges and dishwashers. Home buyers will come in and open cabinets, so make sure all hinges work properly. As you can see, the one of the most important parts of successfully staging your home comes from cleaning and, when necessary, applying fresh paint to your house. To make the house look bigger than it really is, it is important that your remove all the large furniture’s and armoires. When selling a house, you want it to show like a brand new home, with no cracks, marks or stains.

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How to Find Affordable Housing in Boulder, Colorado

January 8th, 2012

Boulder, Colorado is an inviting city, nestled in the mountains, located about 30 miles north of Denver. The city boasts some of the best recreational options in Colorado, drawing families, individuals, and students from all around the country. With its close proximity to skiing, camping, hiking and more, Boulder residents never run out of options for adventure. In fact, according to BoulderColorado.gov, Boulder was named a “Top 10 Travel Destination for 2012” by Lonely Planet, and one of America’s Best Adventure Towns by National Geographic.

How to Find Affordable Housing in Boulder

Finding affordable housing in Boulder, Colorado may seem challenging, but ColoradoHomeHelper.com offers advice and options for people who are searching for great deals and offers on Boulder homes for sale. From townhomes to condos to large, spacious mansions with acres of land, ColoradoHomeHelper.com’s advanced search tools help home buyers find Boulder housing at the lowest possible price.

In 2011, the average price per square foot of land in Boulder, Colorado increased by 2%, bringing the average to $253 per square foot. The median home price in Boulder in 2011 was $391,000 and the average home sales price actually decreased by 6.2%. The average listing price in December for housing prices in Boulder, Colorado was $715,773, with housing options offered for a large range of prices both above and below the average home price.This trend suggests that 2012 could be a great time to buy housing in Boulder, Colorado, which is considered to be one of the most artistic, happiest, and sustainable cities in all of the United States.

Finding Affordable Homes in Boulder, Colorado

Finding affordable homes and great deals on homes in Boulder, Colorado does not have to remain an impossible feat. ColoradoHomeHelper.com allows you to choose the area of town you would like to live in, whether it’s in some of Boulder’s faster growing neighborhoods, like Gunbarrel, Newlands, Whittier, Glenwood Grove (North Iris) or North Broadway (Holiday), or in the dozens of other welcoming neighborhoods found in Boulder, CO. ColoradoHomeHelper.com breaks searched down by the number of bedrooms or bathrooms, maximum price, minimum price, acreage, or dozens of other requested features. ColoradoHomeHelper.com is constantly updated with the best prices, lowest offers, foreclosure opportunities and additional housing opportunities.

ColoradoHomeHelper.com is updated by Colorado realtors who specialize in working to find people affordable housing and the lowest prices on homes for sale in the Colorado market. Whether you are looking for a townhome, condo, house, or apartment, ColoradoHomeHelper.com is a one-stop search option for all your housing needs. Finding a home in Boulder, Colorado that you can afford is important, and ColoradoHomeHelper.com is striving to make sure you find exactly what you are looking for, at the lowest price possible.

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How To Get Ready For The Home Buying Process

December 28th, 2011

Buying a home can be a very stressful process. However, if you take a few simple steps get prepared properly ahead of time, you can smooth closing every time.

Tips to Prepare Yourself for the Home Buying Process

The very first step in getting prepared is to order a copy of your credit report. Don’t go pulling out your credit or debit card to pay, however. The government required the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian and Transunion) to set up a website to provide everyone with one free copy of their credit report each year. Go to AnnualCreditReport.com and you can order your report for free. You will have to know a bit about what is on the report in order to identify yourself, but the process is fairly easy.

Once you’ve made sure your credit is okay, then you need to find a lender to help you determine how much of a loan you qualify for. Gather your financial information and sit down with a loan officer to get pre-approved. Once the loan officer has accurate information from your paycheck stubs, W2s, or tax returns and your account statements, the lender can get an automated approval for the maximum loan amount and sales price you qualify for. Once you have that figure, drop the price down so that you will have a house payment equal to 25% of your take home pay. This will guarantee that you don’t run into financial trouble even if maintenance and repair costs are higher than you expected.

Although your loan officer will get an automated underwriting approval with the minimum down payment, do everything possible to save or gather (sell your motorcycle, your bass boat etc.) as much money as you can for extra down payment and to cover closing costs. The more money you have available, the better deal you will get from your lender and maybe even from the seller.

Once you have your financial ducks in a row, and you know what price range you should be shopping in, you can now put some serious thought into what type of house you want and what sort of neighborhood you would like to live in.

Another step that will help make your home buying process smoother is to hire a buyer’s agent to represent you. All the real estate agents with signs in front of houses and homes for sale in the real estate ads represent the seller. They have what is known as a “fiduciary duty” to protect the seller’s interests over yours. You can counter this by hiring an agent specifically to represent you.  This agent is known as a buyer’s agent.  Ask friends and family for recommendations and then take the time to interview a few buyer’s agents to find a good one that meets your expectations and that you are comfortable working with.

When a real estate transaction goes wrong, it usually goes very, very wrong and damages everyone involved.  Use this advice to lay a solid foundation before you start looking at homes and making offers.  This should help to make your real estate purchase go smoothly.

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