Mortgage Tips Archives - Page 17 of 46

Imagine that you are exploring your city or a new city and you stumble upon your dream home. It is perfect! With an open kitchen for entertaining, a backyard oasis for relaxation, and all the space you’ve envisioned. Just as you’re ready to make your move, someone else beats you to it because your finances weren’t prepared. The good news is you can avoid it with a little preparation.

Here are some steps to get you house-hunting ready:

1. Understand Your Budget

Before you even check out the first home listing, take a hard look at your finances. Getting pre-approved for a mortgage is essential. Pre-approval not only gives you clarity on what you can afford but also shows sellers that you’re serious. Plus, it saves you from falling in love with a home that’s beyond your financial reach.

When determining your budget, factor in all the costs, property taxes, homeowners insurance, and potential HOA fees so there are no surprises.

2. Gather Your Documents

Prepare essential documents like recent pay stubs, W-2s, and tax returns. If you are self-employed, be ready to provide two years of tax returns, profit and loss statements, and bank statements. Sellers and lenders want assurance that you’re financially ready. Having these documents on hand speeds up the process and puts you one step ahead of other buyers.

3. Identify Your Priorities

Not every house will check all your boxes, so it’s important to distinguish between your must-haves and nice-to-haves. Are you looking for a specific school district? A spacious home office? A big yard for your pets? Write down your priorities and keep them handy when touring homes.

This list helps you stay focused, ensuring you don’t settle for less or get swept away by features that don’t align with your needs.

4. Build Your Dream Team

House hunting is a team effort. Surround yourself with experts who have your best interests at heart:

Mortgage Professional: That’s where I come in! I’ll guide you through the pre-approval process and help you choose the best loan options for your goals.
Real Estate Agent: A knowledgeable agent will help you find the right home and negotiate the best deal.
Home Inspector: They’ll make sure your dream home doesn’t come with hidden nightmares.

Having this team in place ensures that when you find “the one,” you’re ready to act swiftly and confidently.

Do not rush the process. Buying a home is a big decision, and taking time to prepare can save you from costly mistakes. By being proactive, you’ll be in a position to act decisively when the right opportunity comes along.

Ready to take the first step toward homeownership? Let’s connect and discuss your goals, budget, and timeline. Together, we’ll ensure you’re ready to secure the home of your dreams.

Lee Vanvolkenburg

15:43 23 Nov 23

Michael and his team were wonderful to deal with. They were excellent with communication and always available to answer questions. Thank you all!

williams lovos

22:54 16 Nov 23

We close on the house tomorrow! Thank you David and Michael for making my first home buying a smooth process. I had several out of the ordinary situations that would had easily not been possible to get the loan in the time that they were able to approve it. My wife and I are forever grateful for the work the team did. Thank you again!

Mario Silvestri III

16:45 16 Nov 23

Rex Perkins

16:56 15 Nov 23

Everything had been going well over the past two years since refinancing an existing mortgage. The application process, approval, servicing website, everything had been very smooth, nothing but the best service. I then had a minor issue arise. We had a wind loss claim on our home and, unfortunately, I had put off getting the check cosigned until the last minute. An issue arose as part of a minor miscommunication in terms of where the check was to be forwarded for endorsement.To make a long story short, I feared that this miscommunication and misdirected check coupled with my procrastination were going to result in the check expiring and a huge hassle on my part to go through the process again. Mr. Inkman nor his branch were in any way involved with my account or account management, yet, the check inadvertently ended up in their draft loss department and I feared this would further delay things. I was a bit frantic.One of those that I emailed was Mr. Inkman. In an era when customer service is not as valued as in the past, I was very skeptical I would meet the deadline. But, to my surprise, Mr. Inkman took it on his own to personally get things done and get the issue resolved. It appears that he tracked down the overnighted check personally, directed it for signature, packaged and overnighted the check back to me. All the while remaining professional and pleasant and providing consistent email updates on the status. It doesn't even look like he delegated, rather taking the initiative and seeing it through on his own.To me, that's not just doing a job, that's going above and beyond in terms of leadership, professionalism, and customer service. We could not be more happy. And, as a further sign of good will, the Fairway CEO actually emailed me personally to follow-up and assure resolution. Been very happy with Fairway since my refinance, Mr. Inkman's efforts only further reinforce that opinion.

Samer Fallouh

15:01 15 Nov 23

Debbie Salas

21:47 03 Oct 23

This transaction probably would not have happened without Michael. Whenever we hit a stumbling block, he found a way around it! He kept us informed and was a positive light all the way through to the end and beyond.Thanks

Eric Kieffer

22:46 16 Aug 23

Did business with Michael about 20 years ago and he was happy to help us again. He and his team did a great job. See you in another 20.

Let’s Chat! How to Get Prepared for Your House-Hunting Journey

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