Check Out Reviews and Real Estate News and Updates

Once you've decided that home ownership is the right choice, obtaining a home loan is the next step. With dozens of loan types to choose from, and thousands of loan sources available, getting started down this road can be intimidating. 

Relax, take a deep breath, and stop clicking on all those loan sites offering everything under the sun! First, you'll need to know…

Most lenders will find a way to offer you as much money as possible. While it may be tempting to accept, you need to analyze all of your expenses in relation to income not only now, but 15 or 30 years down the road. Decide what you can afford to pay on a monthly basis, and stick to your guns.

When you're ready to start looking for a loan, note that there are two primary sources: direct lenders and mortgage brokers. 

Lenders actually loan you the money that you pay back to them. Mortgage brokers act as a middleman and actually shop among lenders for you to obtain the best option among all of the choices. 

While this is a nice service, their fee will be buried somewhere within your final loan. Many loan shoppers still find that a broker is worth the cost. After deciding on your loan source, you'll need to decide on the best options for you. Variables will include:

• Interest Rate
• Loan Term (Length, Usually 15 or 30 Years)
• Points (One Point Is 1% of Your Loan)
• Cost of Loan
• Broker Fees, if Applicable
• Prepayment Penalties
• Application Fee
• Credit Report Fee
• Appraisal
• And More

This part will be easy, assuming you have all the necessary documents. You'll need:

• Two to three years’ worth of W-2 forms, or business tax forms if you're self-employed, for each person signing the loan
• Personal tax forms for the past two to three years
• At least one month of pay stubs for each person signing the form
• At least two months of bank account statements for both checking and savings accounts
• Most recent 401K or retirement account statement
• At least two months of brokerage account statements
• Account numbers for all credit cards and their account balances
• All loan information for other outstanding loans (car, student, etc.)
• Proof of any additional income, such as child support, pension, etc.
• Addresses where you've lived for at least the last five years

Think of your home as a product or service. You need to "package" it attractively to create demand. Here are some fast, inexpensive changes that should make your home stand out among similarly priced homes in your neighborhood:

Your yard and the exterior of your house are the first impressions that potential buyers have of your home. 

Yard - Keep your lawn neat and well-trimmed with well-proportioned shrubs. Consider replanting flowers or creating a flowerbed to enhance the appearance of your yard. If it is the fall, make sure the lawn is raked at all times. 

The Front Door - Make sure your door is tightly on its hinges! Furthermore, the door should be neat and clean. Paint or stain it if it needs it. If the door is in poor shape, consider replacing it. 

Finally, a holiday ornament on the door, like a wreath, adds a nice touch. Consider adding an inviting welcome mat. 

Home Exterior - Check for flat-fitting roof shingles, straight lines on gutters, shutters, windows, and siding, and solid caulking around roofs and seams. Apply fresh paint where it needs it. Also, make sure the windows are crystal clear; potential buyers often peer through the windows.

Lights - During the evening, or whenever you have potential buyers in the home, make sure all of the lights are on. This makes rooms look more inviting and spacious. Also, make sure curtains are always up to let as much sunlight in as possible. 

Smell - I recommend using a vanilla air freshener that applies directly to your air filter. This gives your home that "new model home" aroma.

Remove Excess Furniture - Remove as much furniture as possible. This can make your rooms look dramatically larger.

The Living Room - Strive for a lived-in, cozy feeling. Discard worn, chipped, and frayed furniture. Add lamps if it is dark. Open curtains. Set out fresh flowers.

The Kitchen - Many buyers judge the housekeeping by the oven and stove. Appliances should be spotless and everything should work perfectly. Replace or repair anything that sticks, squeaks, or drips. Clear clutter from countertops and sinks.

The Master Bedroom - After the kitchen, this is the second-most appealing room to a buyer. Remove excess furniture to make it appear larger. Show the true size of the closets by removing or packing items that can be stored elsewhere. Make the beds before you leave in the morning.

Bathrooms - Make sure bathrooms are always neat and clean. Remove clutter from sink countertops. Make sure showers are free of scum and tile grout. Most buyers pay close attention to this!

Bonus Room or Garage - Clear out as much clutter as possible (consider moving it into storage). If you have an extra sofa or loveseat and coffee table, consider creating a living area.

Make sure that the exterior and interior are both looking their best. Appeals to potential buyers' senses are critical: make sure the lights are on, the home has a pleasant aroma, and perhaps soft classical or jazz music playing on the stereo. 

Pictures play a big role in attracting a buyer to your home. Digital photos work the best. After all, it will probably be one of the biggest investments you make, so you obviously want to get the highest return possible. 

As your neighborhood real estate expert, I wrote this report to help educate you and help maximize the marketability of your home. These ideas are based on my collective experience. I hope you find them to be valuable. So let’s get that house in order, on the market, and sold for the highest price possible.

Fix It Up!

This may seem obvious, but the best way to make your home more attractive to buyers is to clean it up and fix it up. You know that spring cleaning that most of us do maybe once or twice a year? You should keep your home "spring clean" throughout your search for a buyer. 

Mop and wax the floors. Keep the windows, walls, and baseboards squeaky clean. Dust regularly. Clean out the garage, the stove, the refrigerator, and all showers. You never know where someone will want to snoop around. 

Also, ask a friend or neighbor about any smells in the home. You may be used to a certain odor that new visitors notice. Any home that has been lived in for a good period of time will have minor dings that most of us learn to live with. Fix these problems. 

Nicks and marks in doorways and walls, doors that stick, or faucets that leak may not seem like a big deal to you, but they could give the impression that your home has not been well maintained. 

Finally, use a few "tricks" to make your home more attractive. Using higher-wattage light bulbs will make rooms brighter. Getting rid of most of the small decorative items in the home will make rooms feel cleaner, less cluttered, and more livable. 

Clearing closets of extra clothes and other items will also make them seem bigger.

Be Flexible!

There's a reason that most homes in Charleston, South Carolina and around the country are on the market for 60 days or more before they're sold. It's just not that easy to find buyers in a hurry to make a purchase and willing to pay the premium that most sellers request for their home. 

First of all, price your home correctly. Know the value of your home and other real estate in the area. Then, make sure to be ready for offers. Decide what price and terms you'll be willing to accept. Don't refuse to drop your asking price, especially if you haven't received an offer within the first 30 days.

Finally, always have the home ready for a showing. It can be annoying to do so at the spur of the moment, but you never know which one is going to be "the one." 

I will be happy to assist you throughout the sales process. I keep close tabs on real estate values, and I will be able to provide comparable sales statistics for any neighborhood in the Charleston area. Give me a call today!