Now that you’ve decided to buy a home in the Memphis, Tennessee, determining what specific type of neighborhood or investment you’re interested in is a good place to start. List your space needs, including:
• living space requirements (i.e. how many bedrooms, bathrooms)
• type of property (i.e. town home, condo, rancher, acreage)
• proximity to schools, recreation, waterfront, views
• available financing
Buying a home in Memphis Tennessee is an important lifestyle and investment decision.
You want to buy at the best price possible. You want your monthly payments to be as affordable as possible. You want your home to increase in value as much as possible.
To make sure all that happens, it is important to look beyond your individual purchase before you buy. You need to look at the larger market conditions. What is happening around you (house price trends, mortgage rate movements, new home construction) will have an influence on your purchase. The more you know the more control you have.
It’s vital to be realistic when you’re thinking about a down payment and setting a price range. It’s a good idea to talk things over with your real estate sales professional. Your realtor will provide you with the advice you need in buying a home in Memphis, Tennessee.
In addition, being prepared and well-informed can help you reduce stress and make the process a success. American Home Shield, a national home warranty company based in Memphis, Tennessee offers these tips for first-time homebuyers.
• Get mortgage information from more than one source. Mortgage rates vary from broker to broker and even from region to region. Mortgages are available from banks, mortgage specialists, credit unions and even online. Be sure to comparison-shop to get the best rate.
• Invest some time in finding out how much of a loan you qualify for, your credit rating, your down payment, whether to use your RRSP as a down payment. Lenders like to find out how long you or your spouse has worked at a particular place. Procure a letter from a bank/lending institution stating how much you’re qualified to borrow.
• Try to negotiate. Before making an offer, determine your target purchase price, as well as the maximum price you are willing to pay. Real estate is an industry of negotiation. Therefore, don’t hesitate to stand firm when asking for your ideal price. Possible upgrades and the closing date also are negotiable.
• Be acquainted with an agreement with an agreement of purchase and sale and go over the clauses with your realtor. A verbal offer carries no legal weight at all – So be prepared to make an offer in writing.
• Factor additional costs into your plans. There are various extra costs involved in buying a home, including closing costs, attorney and lender fees, home inspections and insurance. In addition to making a down payment, be sure to set aside enough money to cover these additional costs and any upgrades you’ll want to make to the home.
• When looking at homes, jot down important features to avoid confusion. List the homes in order of preference and eliminate from your list those that do not meet your requirements.
• Schedule a professional home inspection. Regardless of the age of the home, get an impartial opinion on its condition and value from a reputable home inspector. This inspection should uncover any defects that may be costly to repair. If you are unhappy with what the inspector finds, you have the right to ask the seller to pay for certain repairs or to lower the asking price.
• Purchase a home warranty. Even after a thorough home inspection, there is always the possibility that a major home appliance or system will break down after closing.
According to “Home Repair & Remodel Cost Guide,” there is a 68 percent chance that a major home appliance or system will fail in any given year. With an average cost of $1,085 to replace one of these appliances or systems, repair costs can begin to add up.
A home warranty is your best defense against unexpected and costly repairs. A good home warranty takes care of the repair or replacement costs of any covered home system or appliance for a nominal service-call fee.
