Savvy Buyers
Beat out YOUR competition for the best buys in Carlsbad real estate and elsewhere.
View of the Batiquitos Lagoon, La Costa Spa and Resort,
and the ocean beyond in Carlsbad |
Buying a home is exciting! Making the smart move of choosing a REALTOR® is your first step to ensuring that your new home and community will meet your needs, and your buying experience will be a positive one.
My services and experience range from assisting you to obtain financial aid, to helping you find, and acquire, the Carlsbad or other area home that best suits your needs. Since I know you like to be kept informed of what is going on in the Carlsbad market, I also provide listings by email. I pride myself on my repeat and referral business and believe you'll come to understand why quickly.
How I Can Help
Before you start looking
Closing Costs
As Your Carlsbad Agent, these are just SOME of the things I will do:
- Assure that you see all the properties in the Carlsbad area that meet your criteria. I won't show you what I think you should see, but those properties that YOU want to see, in Carlsbad or any other nearby community!
- Guide you through the entire home buying process (including a myriad of paperwork), from finding homes to look at, to getting the best financing (that choice is yours, of course). I will explain the possible pitfalls you might encounter, and will help you find solutions to problems that arise along the way.
- Assist you in getting the home you want at the price you are comfortable with, and help you avoid costly mistakes in the buying process.
- Provide you with monthly statistics from the MLS on housing trends in the coastal communities I service
Answer all of your questions about the local Carlsbad market area, including schools, neighborhoods, the local economy, and more, or let you know where to get the information so you can do your own research. - As an Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) I can represent YOUR fiduciary interests in the transaction, instead of those of the seller. We will discuss this so you can decide if that's right for you!
- For more details, request my FREE report entitled "What a Realtor Does For You."
- Are you relocating to the Carlsbad area or elsewhere in San Diego? Then you definitely should check out my blog, Carlsbad Relocation A to Z, written from both a personal and a professional standpoint, for lots of free information and suggestions.
- If you are buying for the first time (or even if you are an experienced buyer), there are helpful reports available by email on my Buyer and Seller Reports page. I also have a blog for First Time Home Buyers (don't worry, there is lots of helpful information there even if you have bought a home before).
Before You Start Looking For Your New Home:
Check your credit rating (a mortgage broker can help with this). Straighten out any errors before it's too late, but don't make rash decisions about closing credit cards without consulting a professional. I can suggest a couple of mortgage brokers to help you do this.
Determine a comfortable monthly budgetfor your new purchase, including down payment and monthly payment. Be sure to factor in home owner's insurance, condo or Home Owner Association (HOA) fees if applicable, and property taxes. REMEMBER: What that bank says you can borrow and what you can afford on a monthly basis may be very different!
If you are pondering whether to RENT or BUY, you can use this worksheet to examine the financials of both so you will know what makes the most sense FOR YOU!
- Find a loan program that meets your needs and get pre-approved with a lender - your mortgage broker can help with this. That way you know what YOU can afford, and you will be in the best position to make an offer, since sellers usually demand a pre-approval letter with any offer.
- Choose a REALTOR® that you are comfortable with and trust, who understands your particular needs, and who will listen to you. Only agents who are members of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) can call themselves REALTORS®...and they conduct their business in accordance with a detailed, written Code of Ethics.
- Determine what neighborhood(s) is(are) best for your needs or that interest you. Take some time to do this, and spend time driving through these areas to decide if they meet your lifestyle requirements.
- Identify important features you need your new home to have (e.g., # of bedrooms, # of baths, parking). Think about the amenities you NEED, as well as the things you would like to have...and be prepared for some trade-offs. Use my "What's Important to You" Form to help you refine your requirements and needs.
- Use the Internet (my MLS search page) to find homes that meet your criteria. I can also search out homes, screen them for you, then EMAIL YOU the full MLS listing
Attend Open Houses to get a feel for what your money can buy, and to familiarize yourself with different neighborhoods. NOTE: If we are working together, please let the agent at the Open House that we are partners in this endeavor. - When you are ready, I will arrange a tour of homes for you (one day, multiple days...whatever it takes until we find what YOU like and want to buy).
- Since it is easy to get confused when you are out seeing lots of homes, I strongly suggest you bring a DIGITAL CAMERA - photos will help you remember the homes you saw and what you liked and didn't like. If you don't have a camera or forget, I will let you use mine, then send you the photos or set up a viewing gallery or slide show for you.
- Another neat service I provide is my Buyer PRO and CON Checklist. This will help you screen homes in or out based on the pros and cons of each. It will also help you from getting too confused about the properties you see.
Some Transaction and Closing Costs to Expect:
- Lender fees include charges for loan processing, underwriting, preparation and establishing an escrow account.
- Third-party fees include charges for insurance, title search, and home, pest or other inspections.
- Government fees include deed recording, transfer fees, and state & local mortgage taxes.
- Escrow and interest feesinclude homeowner's insurance, loan interest, real estate taxes, and occasionally private mortgage insurance (depending on your down-payment amount).
