How do you become a smart home buyer so you can fulfill your American dream of homeownership?

If you are reading this article you obviously want to get educated about the home buying process and become a smart home buyer. This article might seem lengthy but with all the half-truths, lies and nonsense on the Internet, if you read the entire article you will learn some invaluable information that is not only honest but will help you save thousands of dollars on your next home purchase. 

Hopefully you haven’t made the mistake of previewing homes without proper representation… so you don’t wake up in the middle of the night anxious and stressed out worrying about whether or not you really know what you are doing by going about the home buying process all by yourself.

Everyone wants to get a good deal when they purchase a home, but unfortunately not everyone does. Let me ask you this simple question: Do you cut your own hair or do you go to a professional for their expertise? The reason I ask is because most people don’t know how to cut their own hair so they go to a professional because they know that if they do it themselves, they’ll mess up their hair and will look foolish for a couple of weeks until their hair grows back.

There are a lot of home buyers who have convinced themselves that they don’t need the expertise of a Realtor when they decide to purchase a home. Most people are willing to utilize the services of a professional when they cut their hair because they don’t want to look foolish with a bad haircut, yet many home buyers think buying a home is a pretty simple deal and can do it themselves and won’t utilize the expertise of a Realtor and the majority of them end up with a serious case of buyer’s remorse.

Let’s see, the cost of a haircut from a professional: $10 - $125 in order to prevent looking foolish and the cost of buying a home without proper representation...... losing a couple thousand dollars for paying too much for a home and feeling foolish for many years to come; (yes I know this is a silly analogy but it does hold true).

Believe it or not, most home buyers make the assumption that they'll get a better deal from a seller and/or home builder because they think the seller and/or home builder will "cut them a deal" since they're not represented by a Realtor and don't have to pay a commission to a Realtor representing the home buyer.

Is this true? Absolutely not; the second the seller and/or home builder hears that the home buyer isn’t working with a Realtor, in their mind they are thinking they won’t have to pay a commission to a Realtor which means more money in their pocket plus there is a humongous chance the home buyer doesn’t have a clue about the process or have any negotiation skills.  

If you don't want to be taken advantage of or have buyer’s remorse, keep reading..... 

Buying a home is a very difficult job for someone who does not understand the process. This involves a lot of time, effort, and due diligence, as well as specialized skills and knowledge. That is why most people turn to a Realtor for help.

Today, many home sellers use a Realtor who works for and represents them, negotiates for them and looks out for their best interests. Home sellers are using a Realtor to sell their home in order to get them the best deal possible. This makes it even more important for you to have an expert on your side looking out for your best interests. 

Are you thinking of buying a FSBO (for sale by owner), a home being sold by the owner without the help of a Realtor? Oh boy, you are in for a wild ride and an expensive lesson. Many home sellers think the internet will provide them with all the information they need to sell their home, list it for sale, download a simple purchase agreement and voila….. the home is sold. If that’s the case, as you are searching the internet looking at homes, you might as well search for a good real estate attorney too, because as your transaction moves along and you realize you are getting the bad end of the deal or the crap has just hit the fan, you can call a real estate attorney and pay them for their expertise.  

Since buying a home is the largest purchase most people will ever make, who would you prefer to represent you and only you, and assist you in finding and purchasing the perfect home that meets your needs at the price you want to pay….a Realtor representing the seller…. the home builder’s representative….or someone who works only for you?

As your Realtor, I represent you…the Buyer, no one else and I will make certain:

  • I assist you in finding the perfect home that meets your needs. 
  • That you make informed decisions by helping you understand the home buying process by explaining every step in detail so that you understand what is going on and you never feel left in the dark.
  • I will also assist you with evaluating property, negotiating price and terms, obtaining financing, home inspections and much more.

When you work with me, you will never feel pressured to make an offer on a home regardless of how many homes we may view. I believe that since you are the person who will be living in the home and making the mortgage payments, you should feel confident, comfortable and excited about making an offer on a home and you should never feel pressured or like you are making a mistake.

Why should you allow me to represent you as your Realtor?

  • As a Realtor, I have a legal and ethical obligation to provide 100% loyalty to you, my client.
  • I will also keep any and all information about your finances and your real estate transaction confidential.....forever.
  • My services to represent you do not cost you a single penny. In fact, the seller and/or home builder of the home you decide to purchase will compensate my team and me for looking out for your best interests.
  • I will provide you with the true facts as to the value of a home based upon a Comparative Market Analysis of comparable homes that have sold in the area in order to help you formulate an offering price and negotiating strategy.
  • I will negotiate on your behalf throughout the entire home buying process offering advice and information every step of the way.
  • I can recommend title companies, home inspectors, mortgage lenders and other professional services you will need for a stress-free transaction.
  • I will show you homes that meet your criteria, are within your price range and are located in the part of the city you want to live.
  • With the high cost of gas today, I will drive you from house to house in my vehicle, saving you the headache of driving plus you don’t pay for gas.

Why use me as your Realtor when you can work with the seller's Realtor that is selling the home for the sellers, maybe they can get you a better deal?

  • The seller's Realtor is working to get top dollar for their primary client.....the seller. 
  • Also, if you were selling your home, would you drop the price just because the buyer is not represented by a Realtor, or would you be interested in getting top dollar for your home?
  • Why not use the home builder’s representative who works in the sales office and shows you around the model homes? Since you aren’t working with a Realtor, won’t they give you a better deal? 
  • Here's the truth that home builders hope you never discover: they have already included a commission for a Realtor into the price of the home. Yes you read that correctly, the commission to pay a Realtor to represent you is already figured into the price of the home that the home builder's representative quoted you. Why does this matter or how does this benefit you? It means you have the option to have a Realtor on your side looking out for your best interests to walk you through the home buying/building process, answer any questions and negotiate on your behalf..... and it doesn't cost you a penny. That sounds too good to be true, but it’s the honest truth.
  • If you think the home builder's representative is going to subtract a Realtors commission from the sales price of the home and pass the savings onto you because you aren't working with a Realtor, good luck negotiating that from the sales price, I've never seen it happen.
  • Additionally, to whom do you think the home builder’s representatives loyalties are going to be? Get the best deal for their employer who pays them every two weeks...... or...... get the best deal for someone who just walked into their sales office and they just met? 

Still not convinced that you should use me as your Realtor? From the perspective of the home seller and/or home builder:

  • You are either buying your first home or haven't bought one in several years so how good could your negotiation skills be?
  • How up-to-date is your knowledge about today's real estate market?
  • How often do you deal with the RANM (Realtors Association of New Mexico) forms and contracts (13 to 26 pages long).....or the home builders contracts which can be just as long?
  • What if the home is located in an HOA, a PID or a SAD?
  • Do you know how much earnest money you should include in the Purchase Agreement? What happens to your earnest money if the deal falls through?
  • Do you know what to do if the home appraisal is above or below the agreed upon purchase price?
  • How do you know if a seller is exempt from FIRPTA? What is FIRPTA? Whose responsibility is the tax-remittance onus (cost: $0 to $1,000,000)?
  • Do you know which type of inspections you should be asking for? Who should pay for these inspections (cost: $250 to $950)? 
  • What type of Survey do you need? Metes and Bounds Survey, Staked Boundary Survey, Alta Survey or Improvement Location Report? Who should pay for it (cost: $300 to $5,000)?
  • Which Closing Costs should be paid for by the seller or home builder (cost: $500 to $9,000)?
  • Do you know which Closing Costs are required to be paid for by the seller or home builder according to the mortgage lender?
  • How, when, and why can you back out of a signed Purchase Agreement without losing your earnest money and without being sued by the seller or home builder?
  • How much experience do you have reviewing a Closing Disclosure?

When it comes time to making the decision about purchasing a home, working with a Realtor who can provide you with the most accurate information and guidance can save you thousands of dollars.

Please read this next sentence more than once because it will prevent you from having some sleepless nights: it is very important to work with a Realtor you know you can work with because buying a home can take months and if you can’t tolerate this individual or their personality or you don’t feel you can TRUST them, your home buying experience is going to be absolutely miserable.

Are you ready to become a smart homebuyer by working with a trustworthy Realtor that will get you the best deal possible and provide you with the exceptional service that you deserve?

Click on the following link so we can get started on fulfilling your American dream of homeownership:

http://www.yourtrustworthyrealtor.com/web/pgcnfID_7285/Dream-Home-Finder

To view my credentials: http://www.yourtrustworthyrealtor.com/web/pgcnfID_7564/My-Credentials