For Home Buyers
Buying a home is an exciting time in one's life. Making the smart move of choosing a REALTOR® is your first step to ensuring that your new home and community meets your needs. My services and experience range from financial aid to helping you find the home that best suits you and your family. For your convenience, I also provide listings by email. I pride myself on repeat business and hope you'll come to understand why.
How I Can Help
Before you start looking
Closing Costs
- Assure that you see all the properties in the area that meet your criteria. I want to be sure that you're sure. A happy buyer will become friend and client for life, this is my major goal!
- Make sure you don't pay too much for your new home and help you avoid costly mistakes.
- I have 20 years experience listing and selling real estate. I will guide you through the entire home buying process, from finding homes to look at, to getting the best financing, completing structural inspections and working with your attorney to be sure you are protected. I am there from start to finish. I don't just disappear after the closing--you will hear from me on a regular basis and you will always know where to find me!
- Answer all of your questions about the local market area, including schools, neighborhoods, the local economy, and more.
- If you want more information on what to expect when you work with a Realtor, I can forward you a copy of a Consumer Information Statment that State and Federal Law requires you read and sign prior to working with a Realtor. Just call me at 732-682-5051 or e-mail me at derlinga@optonline.net and I'll send you the form right away.
Before You Start Looking For Your New Home, sometimes it can be a process knowing what to expect financially.
- Check your credit rating. Straighten out any errors before its too late. I can arrange you to speak or meet with a mortgage representative that can evaluate your entire financial situation and review your credit report.
- Determine a comfortable monthly budget for your new purchase, including down payment and monthly payment.
- Find a loan program that meets your needs and get pre-qualified (preferably pre-approved).
- Choose a REALTOR® that you trust and who understands your needs.
- Determine what neighborhood best matches your needs, this may take several visits to the town and neighborhood you are thinking about.
- Identify important features you need your new home to have. This includes number of bedrooms, room sizes, baths, single family home versus townhome, etc.
Estimated Costs to Expect prior to closing (not including your deposit monies):
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Mortgage Application Fees and/or appraisal fee; these must be disclosed to you in writing by law.
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Inspection costs (generally structural, wood destroying insects, septic inspection if required; although the seller is generally responsible for providing a well certification and certificate of occupancy, occasionally buyers agree to take responsiblity for all inspections (especially the case with short sales and foreclosures). Prices vary by inspector, it is a good idea to ask for recommendations and check to see that they are licensed.
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Homeowner's insurance prior to closing (usually a 1-year policy), this does include the 2-3 pro rated escrows usually collected at the time of closing.
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Mover's or truck rental. Don't forget it costs money to move!
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Homeowner Association Initiation. Most Homeowner Associations charge 1-6 months maintanence or a flat fee at closing. These vary from association to association so be sure you know what to expect. They are generally due at closing, but you will also have to pay from 1-4 months maintenance fees to be paid and/or escrowed at closing, these vary depending on your lender's requirements.
- It is important to note that these closings costs are NOT included in your deposit monies. There are fees and services you will need in order to complete a purchase of a property, that generally average 3%-4.5% of the mortgage amount. Thanks to new Federal regulations, any mortgage lender you chose must give you a very detailed estimate of closing costs and they must be accurate to within 10%.
