There’s No Place Like Home

One of the most exciting moments in life is receiving the keys to your new home. Homeownership is the American Dream and with today’s reduced prices, low interest rates and tax benefits, the opportunity is within reach to many individuals and couples. Below are four steps to ensure success on your journey.


Work As A Team
Traveling down the path to homeownership with your husband, wife or significant other is a challenging and bonding experience. Teamwork and good communication is critical during the home buying process. Traditionally, one person takes the lead on doing research and working with real estate professionals, but both people need to be engaged in the process for a successful outcome to take place. You are in this together, so make sure you are both ready for the emotional and financial commitment of owning a home.

Know What You Want
Learning what your partner in life feels is important in a home can be eye opening. No person or couple is looking for the exact same thing. We are all individuals and often times, couples have different wishes as well. In today’s market, I recommend that buyers think of living in their future home for at least 5-7 years. Within that timeframe, discuss what your future might look like. As a team, come to a consensus on critical must haves in a home and desired areas or neighborhoods are best for your future.

Decide How Much You Are Willing To Spend
Before getting in the car and hitting the open home circuit, first understand what you can afford. There is no reason to dangle the carrot until you feel comfortable with how much you are willing to spend. More often than not, couples qualify for more than they feel comfortable spending on a monthly basis. Working with your mortgage professional and tax advisor, you can truly understand your monthly home expenses after tax deductions. Once you have settled on a comfortable monthly payment, start seeing homes that fit within your price range.

Do Your Homework
There is no better way to learn about the process of buying a home than being guided by an excellent Realtor, but you should also do your individual homework as well. The Internet is a great place to gather information. There are books to read and real estate sections in most newspapers as well. Talk to friends that have recently gone through the process of buying a home and listen to their words of wisdom. Another great way to learn about the process is by attending a home buying class or seminar. Below are available class dates on the San Francisco Peninsula.

Home Buying Seminar: Your Path To Homeownership
Saturday November 6, 2010
Saturday January 22, 2011

To learn more about the class topics and future dates, go to:
HomeBuyingSeminars.eventbrite.com

Article by:
Aimee Snodgrass Klarich
Realtor
Alain Pinel Realtors- Burlingame
650.483.3795
aklarich@apr.com
www.AimeeKlarich.com