Navy Fellas Realty Group

Real Estate, Residential sales and purchase

The Right (And Wrong) Reasons To Buy A House

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The Right (And Wrong) Reasons To Buy A HouseThere are many people who dream of owning a home, but you need to purchase your home for the right reasons. Simply purchasing a house because other people are doing so is not a strong reason to make such an expensive purchase. What are some of the reasons why you should purchase a house? What are some examples of bad reasons to buy a home?

The Right Reasons To Buy A Home

There are several strong reasons why you should consider purchasing property. If you have children, you may want them to attend a specific school. Therefore, you might be interested in purchasing a house in that school district. If you plan on being in a house for several years, you may be able to financially justify this purchase.

You may also want to purchase a house because you have relatives who want to move in with you. For example, many people like to take care of their parents as they get older. If you believe you can keep your parents out of an assisted living center by allowing them to move in with you, purchasing a house might be a smart move.

The Wrong Reasons To Buy A Home

On the other hand, there are wrong reasons to purchase a house as well. For example, if you believe you should purchase a house because the value of a home is always going to go up, that is not necessarily the case. Just like other financial markets, the real estate market can rise and fall, and there is no guarantee that your house is going to go up in value.

You should also try to avoid purchasing a house just because you feel guilty about renting. If you feel like you are approaching the home purchase process with some misgivings, you need to pause and think twice. Just because you are tired of renting doesn’t mean you should purchase a house.

Think Carefully Before Making A Decision

Purchasing a house is a big decision, and you need to review the benefits and drawbacks carefully before you decide to move forward. Do not hesitate to reach out to an expert who can help you figure out if purchasing a house is right for you. 

 

What Do First-Time Homebuyers Need To Know?

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What Do First-Time Homebuyers Need To Know?If you are purchasing a house for the first time, you are probably excited to imagine what your life might look like in a bunch of different houses. At the same time, the process can be a bit overwhelming. The housing market is competitive right now, the financing process can be confusing, and you might not know exactly what you are looking for. What are a few of the most important tips first-time home buyers need to know?

Reach Out To Experts For Help

First, you need to reach out to professionals who can help you during the process. For example, you should always reach out to a real estate agent with local knowledge. That way, they can help you figure out what house is best for your needs. You should also reach out to a local loan officer for a pre-approval letter. This will make your offer more competitive, and it will give you a budget with which to work.

Figure Out Your Down Payment

You need to figure out how much money you have for a down payment. If you are buying a house for the first time, you might be able to qualify for an FHA backed loan, which may allow you to purchase a house for less than 20 percent down. You may want to talk to an expert about how much money you should put towards your down payment versus how much money you should use to pay off other sources of debt. 

Keep Your Finances Stable During The Closing Process

After an offer has been accepted, you must make sure you keep your finances stable during the closing process. You do not want to pull money from your down payment for other big expenses, and you should not open any new credit cards. You should also try to avoid switching jobs during this time. Your loan officer will do a deep dive into your finances, and you must make sure everything is stable.

Get Ready To Buy A Home

Even though purchasing a house for the first time can be daunting, there are experts who can help you. As long as you have the right team behind you, you should find the right house to meet your needs.

 

The Top Tips To Get Your Offer Accepted

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The Top Tips To Get Your Offer Accepted In A Seller's MarketThe housing market today is very competitive, and you might be wondering how you can get your offer accepted. If the seller has multiple offers on the table, it can be a bit of a challenge. Many people assume that the best way to get an offer accepted is to offer the most money. Even though that is certainly helpful, there are several other tips you should follow to make sure your offer is the one the seller picks.

Get Pre-Approved For A Mortgage

First, you must make sure that you get pre-approved for a mortgage. Unless you are paying cash for the home, you should talk to a local loan officer to get a pre-approval letter. You don’t have to go with that company once the dust settles, but you need to get a pre-approval letter from a lender. That way, the seller will know that you have a high chance of getting approved for the loan.

Offer More Earnest Money

If you are willing to offer more earnest money, that will make the seller more comfortable. The seller is always worried that the buyer might pull out on the offer, meaning that their home will go back on the market. If you increase the amount of earnest money you put down, the seller will feel more confident that you are serious about buying the home.

Give The Seller The Option To Rent Back

If the seller accepts your offer, you will have between four and six weeks before your first mortgage payment is due. Therefore, you won’t have any payments after closing for a while. If the seller is not ready to move yet, or if the seller has not found a new home, offer the seller an opportunity to rent the home back for free. This will give the seller more time to get everything in order before they move. 

Increase The Strength Of Your Offer

In a seller’s market, you need to make your offer stand out. Otherwise, you may have a difficult time finding a house, particularly if you cannot pay cash. If you follow these tips, you can increase your chances of having your offer picked by the seller. 

 

An Overview Of A Buyer’s Agent

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An Overview Of A Buyer's AgentIf you plan on purchasing a home in the near future, you have probably noticed that there are plenty of options available. The market changes quickly, the perfect house may come and go before you get a chance to see it, and you might have a hard time figuring out which house is right for you. A buyer’s agent can be helpful, but do you actually need to work with one? There are several important points to keep in mind.

A Buyer’s Agent Represents Your Interests

You should consider working with the buyer’s agent because they will represent your best interests. Their main goal is to help you go through houses that could be right for your needs, pointing out potential problems while highlighting specific features.

They will help you find a house that suits your requirements and your budget, helping you fulfill as many items on your wish list as possible. They will also draft offers on your behalf, help with the negotiation process, coordinate closings, and handle paperwork. They are important because they can prevent a real estate deal from falling through.

A Buyer’s Agent Is Not Necessarily Required

You are not legally required to hire a real estate agent or buyer’s agent to help you find the right house. At the same time, it is typically better for you to hire a real estate agent to help you with the process. A knowledgeable buyer’s agent is important for giving you a competitive advantage when you are bidding on a house.

They are even more helpful if there is a lot of demand for homes and not a lot of supply on the market. A real estate agent also understands how to fill out paperwork, and they can tap into their referral network to see if there are houses you might be interested in that are not yet on the market.

Who Pays For A Buyer’s Agent

You should also consider working with a buyer’s agent because you don’t necessarily have to pay them. The vast majority of buyer’s agents are paid on commission, and the commission comes from the sale price of the house. This means the seller will pay for your agent and the buyer’s agent. 

 

Using Your Equity To Buy Another House: What To Consider

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Using Your Equity To Buy Another House: What To ConsiderBuying a home is a dream that many people want to make come true. At the same time, many people dream of buying a second home. Perhaps you are looking for a rental property. Maybe you are looking for a vacation home. Regardless, you might be wondering how you can come up with the necessary cash to finance this dream. You might even be thinking about tapping into the equity in your current home to make that happen. It could be your down payment for your second house, but what do you need to know?

How To Get A Home Equity Loan

If you want to take out a home equity loan for a second house, there are a few steps to follow. First, you need to figure out how much money you need. You need to take out enough money for the down payment and closing costs. Furthermore, you can only withdraw 85 percent of the equity in your home. If you don’t have enough equity in the home, you might not be allowed to take out a home equity loan. 

Remember that you will also need to go through the traditional oan application process. Your outstanding debt will be reviewed, and your credit report will be checked. You will also need to verify your income or assets to qualify for a second mortgage. The process is similar to your first loan.

Why Take Out A Home Equity Loan?

There are a few reasons why this might be a smart move for financing a second home. You can probably get a lower interest rate, and you don’t have any restrictions on how you can use the money. With a larger lump sum, you might also be a more competitive buyer in a hot market.

Before you take out a home equity loan, you should work with a professional who can help you find the best loan option to meet your needs. That way, you can compare the benefits and drawbacks of each option before making a decision on what is best for your purchase.

Consider A Home Renovation Loan To Navigate A Challenging Housing Market

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Consider A Home Renovation Loan To Navigate A Challenging Housing MarketToday, there are many people who are having a difficult time purchasing a house. Even though interest rates have gone up, sales are still happening quickly. Therefore, it can be difficult for people to qualify for a mortgage, purchase a house, and get to the closing table before the property is sold. One potential way to get around the hot housing market is to consider a home renovation mortgage. How can a home renovation mortgage help you? 

A Renovation Loan Can Help People Buy A Less Desirable Home

If you want to close on a home, you might be interested in a house that is not as desirable as some of the others. That way, you don’t have to worry about a bidding war. A renovation loan can help you purchase a less desirable home. If you are interested in buying a home that requires some repairs, but you do not have a lot of cash available for repairs, a renovation mortgage is a special loan that gives you the money you need to repair the house.

How Does A Renovation Loan Work?

Typically, the amount of money you can borrow for a renovation loan will depend on the value of the home after the renovations are completed. Therefore, the appraisal process is a bit different. This is the only type of mortgage that will give a homeowner credit for the future value of the property. Therefore, you can borrow more than you would be able to with a traditional mortgage. You can use the extra cash to perform repairs, which can increase the value of the home.

How Many Renovation Loans Are There?

Just as there are different types of conventional loans, there are different types of renovation loans as well. Each has a different set of requirements, but all of them require you to use the extra money to repair the home. Furthermore, all the work you do on the house has to add to the value of the property. If you have questions about how you can use the money that comes with a renovation loan, you should reach out to a professional who can help you. 

 

The Different Foundation Options For Your House

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The Different Foundation Options For Your HouseAre you thinking about purchasing a home in the near future? Or, are you thinking about building one? If so, you must think carefully about the foundation of the home. It is responsible for supporting the rest of the structure, so you need to find the right foundation to meet your needs. What are a few of the top options available?

Basement

One of the first options you should consider is a basement foundation. This is a popular choice because it can create additional living space in your home. It can also act as an additional entrance, which can be useful in some situations. On the other hand, a basement does not always contribute to the square footage of your house. In addition, it can be a bit more susceptible to leaks when compared to other types of foundations. You must make sure you take care of your basement to prevent mold and mildew from growing.

Crawl Space

Another very common type of foundation you may encounter is a crawlspace foundation. A crawl space is not nearly as tall as the basement, so it does not provide any additional living space. On the other hand, it can be used as additional storage space, and it can provide some protection against environmental hazards. You must make sure the crawlspace is ventilated to prevent mold and mildew from growing. Furthermore, it requires routine maintenance to provide structural issues from developing with the house. Always take a look at the quality of the crawl space before you decide to make a purchase.

Slab Foundation

You should also consider a slab foundation for your house. A slab foundation is very quick to build, very difficult for infestations to access, and incredibly durable. The biggest downside is that it does not provide you with any additional storage space. In addition, it may make it hard to access the plumbing if there is a problem that has to be addressed.

Find The Right Foundation 

Ultimately, these are just a few of the many options available if you are looking for a new house. Familiarize yourself with the benefits and drawbacks of different foundation types. Then, do not hesitate to reach out to a professional who can help you find the right house to meet your needs.

The Best Ways To Get To Know Your Neighbors

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The Best Ways To Get To Know Your NeighborsIf you recently moved into a new neighborhood, you might be looking for a way to meet your neighbors. Ideally, you will become friends with your neighbors. They can take care of your pets when you are out of town and water your plants when you are gone. On the other hand, how can you meet your neighbors without the process being awkward? There are a few great ways to do so.

Spend Time Outside

If you want to get to know your neighbors, the best way to do so is to spend time outside. Work on your lawn. Water your plans. Walk the dog. The more time you spend outside, the greater your chances of running into your neighbors. This will make it easier for you to get to know them.

Go To Some Neighborhood Events

Next, you should go to a few neighborhood events if you want to meet your neighbors. There are a lot of communities that have pool parties, barbecues, and events for children. If you go to some of these events, you will have a great chance of meeting the people who live around you, and you can make some new friends.

Ask The Neighbors For Advice

Finally, you should ask the neighbors for advice. If you don’t know when you need to put the garbage cans out, you can ask your neighbors. If you are wondering how often the recycling comes, talk to the neighbors! If you don’t know what to do with old electronics you need to throw out, the neighbors can probably help you. It can take a lot of adjusting if you move into a new area, and your neighbors can help you make the process easier. Then, you can invite them over for a beer or a party to show your gratitude.

Get To Know Your New Neighbors

It can be a bit awkward if you move into a new neighborhood. Your neighbors might appear to know each other already, but how can you get to know them as well? If you follow these tips, you can get to know them quickly, make some new friends in your neighborhood, and have someone to lean on if there is an emergency at your house.

A Guide To Finding The Perfect Property For You And Your Family

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A Guide To Finding The Perfect Property For You And Your FamilyIf you are in the market for a new home, you have probably realized that there are a lot of options available. You may have a difficult time deciding what is right for you and your family, but there are several important factors you need to consider with every home search. Do not forget to reach out to a local professional who can help you assess these factors and find the right option for you and your family.

Location Should Always Come First

There is a saying that the three most important factors in real estate are location, location, and location. Therefore, think about the location of your home first. How far are you willing to drive to get to work in the morning? If you have children, what are the best school districts in the area? How important is it for you to be close to shopping and dining opportunities? Think about the traffic, crime rates, and amenities in the area.

Consider Your Budget

Of course, you need to think about your budget as well. Considering how much you are willing to put down for your house. If you are a first-time homebuyer, you might be able to qualify for a loan for as little as 3.5 percent down. Then, think about everything that will go into your monthly payment. You need to consider not only your mortgage but also the interest rate, property taxes, and home insurance premiums that go along with homeownership. You may want to have some extra money put aside for home maintenance and repair expenses as well.

Think About Size

Now, you can think about how big of a house you need. You should create a list of things that you must have and things that are nice to have. For example, you probably have a certain number of bedrooms that your new house must have. Do you want to have a guest bedroom? Do you want each of your children to have their own bedroom? 

Find The Perfect House

These are a few of the most important factors you should consider if you are looking for a home for yourself and your family. Consider reaching out to a professional who can help you during your home search. 

 

Saving Up for Your Down Payment? Try These Money-saving Tips to Speed Things Up

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Saving Up for Your Down Payment? Try These Money-saving Tips to Speed Things UpOne of the most significant challenges that many people face when preparing to buy a first home relates to saving money for a down payment. While there are many different loan programs with varying down payment requirements, the fact is that it can still be difficult to save up a large sum of money. Some programs may require you to save as much as 10 percent or 20 percent of the sales price of the home.

You can employ a few different tips and techniques to save money for a down payment more quickly, and these are some of the options that others have successfully used to save money for their home purchase.

Make Saving Automatic

One idea that works well for many people is to make saving for your new home automatic. This may be as simple as scheduling a regular draft or transfer from your checking account when your paycheck is deposited into your savings account. Some employers may even facilitate this process by contributing some of your funds into a savings account on your behalf. With this option, the money would go directly into your savings account without you having a chance to spend it.

Take Advantage of Retirement Accounts

If your employer provides you with the option of investing in an employer-sponsored retirement account, you should take advantage of this option. Many will offer a dollar-for-dollar matching program, and this may essentially double the amount of money that is saved in the account.

More than that, the funds from many retirement accounts may be withdrawn without penalty if they are used for a first-time home purchase. There are some rules and regulations regarding this, so you should research this option more thoroughly.

These are among the two best options for saving money for a down payment for your first home purchase. There are other ideas that you can consider as well. For example, you may borrow from a whole life insurance policy, obtain a gift from a family member or even sell some of your personal belongings that you no longer need or use.

When you combine many of these ideas together, you may be surprised how quickly your down payment fund can grow. You can also speak with a  professional to learn more about the actual amount of money that you may need for the down payment and closing costs.