"From Cabins to Castles, I do it all!"

Buying a home is an exciting and complex adventure. To save you time and mone, my speciality is representing Buyers throughout the entire buying process. This comprehensive process will save you time and money, as well as make the experience more enjoyable and less stressful. You'll receive  the latest housing information for Brighton and the surrounding Livingston county areas.  I provide traditional and cutting edge - state of the art technology - using all the buying resources available,  enabling you make the best buy possible. Contact me today for a no cost or obligation initial meeting.

Top 10 Tips to Successful Home Buying

Tip #1: Research Is The Key To Discovery

Home sellers won't call you with an offer to assist in buying a maintenance home with a wonderful mortgage. You don’t have to find the gems yourself! Employ a Realtor to save your time looking at different homes, schools, and neighborhoods. You’ll end up with your American dream. Avoid the nightmares of learning by yourself!

Tip #2: Make A Plan And Get Pre-Qualified

Every important decision needs to be clearly thought out. Developing a home buying plan can help you focus on the important factors and organize the entire process. You may even want to use a binder with sections on house hunting, home financing, service providers, etc. Loan pre-qualifying helps you determine the home price you can afford and presents you as a genuine prospect to the seller. A lender typically uses the 28% formula (your monthly mortgage can't exceed 28% of your monthly income) in approving your loan. Planning your actions and getting pre-qualified will keep you out of the panic mode and allow you to take advantage of opportunities. A thorough plan will save both time and money!

Tip #3: Value, Value, Value

The days of 10-30% annual appreciation have passed. Homebuyers in the 1970's benefited tremendously from what seemed like ever appreciating home prices. Nowadays, you're looking at slow growth while guarding against the possibilities of falling prices, skyrocketing ARM rates and corporate layoffs that can dramatically affect your home values. Yet, the classic rule of buying the worst house in the best neighborhood still applies. If you buy with an eye towards improvement, you can customize the home to fit your needs. The saying, "you make money when you buy a home, not selling one," should keep you focused on the long-term importance of the purchasing price.

Tip #4: Create A Top 10 List Of Amenities

When shopping for a home, list the features (fireplace, fenced yard, new appliances, etc.) that are most important to you in deciding on which home to buy. Establishing "your criteria" early on will save time shopping for inappropriate homes and may keep you from buying a home on a whim. As detailed in Tip # 3, your top reason for buying a home should be the value you are getting. Some of your top 10 amenities may logically be sacrificed if an incredible value is available.

Tip #5: Fixed vs. Adjustable Rate Mortgages

Which type of loan fits your particular needs? If this will be your first home or a "transitional home" , one you plan to own for a short time, an ARM may be the best type of loan. If it's going to be your dream home or one you plan to raise a family in, then you will want the stability of a fixed rate mortgage. If you select an ARM, make sure the teaser rate is understood and what the real rate will be.

Whichever loan you choose; make sure that you scrutinize all the closing costs. If you are required to have a mortgage escrow account and private mortgage insurance, make sure you understand the terms and cancelation procedures (your Real Estate Agent has publications to assist you. A good mortgage reduction plan can save you tens of thousands in interest costs, and shorten your loan term, with only small extra principal payments. If you experience negative changes in your job, health, or marital status, you can revert to the standard payments in your mortgage contract.

Tip #6: Sign A Contract That Protects You

I’ll make sure that the purchase agreement that is written on your dream house allows you to arrange financing, inspect the home and negotiate any problems that you uncover. Ensuring that the contract you sign will minimize potential legal battles will let you swim in your new pool with your family and neighbors instead of with the sharks.

Tip #7: Put Yourself In The Seller's Shoes

You are about to make one of the most important decisions that will affect both your life and the life of the seller. Your Realtor is in a position to understand the reasons the seller bought the home, their reasons for selling. By using your Realtor’s knowledge and experience, you'll be in a better position to evaluate the home and negotiate a better deal. In the end, the home buying process including utilizing your professional’s knowledge and experience comes down to the individuals buying and selling the home. A closer look at the seller may help you in deciding whether and for how much, to buy a particular home.

Tip #8: Develop A Mortgage Shopping Chart

One of the biggest decisions to make before making a contract to buy a home is how to finance the purchase. There are 100’s of lenders competing for your mortgage business. The days of simply walking into the community bank and negotiating with the loan department manager are over! Today, you can apply for a loan over the Internet or even use a mortgage broker to shop for your loan with access of hundreds of lenders. When choosing a lender, you want to avoid apples to oranges contrasts. Compare fixed rates to fixed rates, not fixed to ARM's. Create a chart that lists different types of loans, fees from providers (including a mortgage broker.)

Tip #9: Get A Quality Home Inspection

Although it is hard to believe, more people pay for inspections before buying used cars than when making the biggest investment of their lives - their home. Paying for a qualified home inspection before you buy a home is not just spending "a little extra" for peace of mind; it's absolutely essential for anyone who doesn't want to spend thousands of dollars for unseen repairs.

Tip#10: Peace Of Mind: Home Protection Plans

To protect both you as a buyer, as well as the seller, it is a good idea to purchase a home protection plan. What exactly is it? A home warranty, or home protection plan, is a service contract, normally for one year, which protects the new homeowners against the cost of unexpected repairs or replacement of their major systems and appliances that break down due to normal wear and tear. This is a negotiable contract between the buyers and sellers which does not overlap or replace the homeowner's hazard insurance policy. This home warranty can save the new homeowner lots of headaches, as well as put seller's fears to rest. The warranty covers mechanical breakdowns, while insurance typically repairs the related damage. For example: if a hot water heater burst and destroyed a wall in your home, the warranty would repair the water heater and your insurance would pay to fix the wall.

Remember, The good one's don't last long!  Don't Delay.... Act Today !

Contact me today. Direct # (810) 923-4361 E-mail: Bill@BillFear.com

At  RE/MAX Platinum, we provide all the realty resources under one roof, that you'll ever need for your successful real estate purchase, i.e.: closing department, title company, mortgage financing, and an appraisal company.  When you're buying, feel free to contact me and I will put my knowledge, skills, tools and resources to work for you and make your real estate experience hassle-free.

Buying a home in the Brighton or the Livingston county area, may be the biggest investment you will ever make. So whether you're buying a starter or dream home or an investment property, in Brighton, Hartland or Howell,  why not take advantage of my 25 years of experience to save time and money. As a local market specialist and a Nationally Accredited Buyers’ Representative (ABR) I research the market daily in Brighton, Hartland, and Howell, and encompass the entire Livingston County area,to assist you, every step of the way,so you can make the most informed decisions possible. 

Contact me today at (810) 923-4361 E-mail: Bill@BillFear.com    

In today's competitive real estate market, Timing is Everything. Many good homes are sold before they are advertised! Beat other homebuyers to the hottest new homes for sale with my New Listings Notification service that's located my Dream Home Finder.

If you're looking for Residential, Commercial or Investment Real Estate, in Brighton or the Livingston County area, Bill Fear is your source for real estate in Southeastern Michigan...Bill specializes along the US-23, I-96 corridor encompassing the communities of Brighton,Hartland, Howell, Pinckney, Fowlerville, South Lyon and other areas of Southeastern Michigan.

Buying a Home

Buying a home is probably the biggest investment you will make, with long-term financial ramifications. It calls for many informed decisions and for good advice from a real estate professional. When buying a home, you can learn from the knowledge and skill of a Real Estate Agent.

What can a Real Estate Agent do to help you buy the right home ?

• I will help you determine how much home you can actually afford. Often, I can suggest additional ways to accrue the down payment and explain alternative financing methods. I’m able to introduce you to a mortgage counselor and arrange to have you "pre-approved" which can improve your negotiating position and enable you to achieve your home-buying objectives faster and with less stress.
• Providing client level services, they can work for you as a buyer's agent and help negotiate the best price and terms for you. Or, they can serve as a seller's subagent (or disclosed dual agent), acting as a liaison between you and the seller to present offers and counteroffers until an agreement is reached.
• I will help you work out a realistic idea of the home best suited to your needs - size, style, features, location, accessibility to schools, transportation, shopping, and other personal preferences.
• I have access to a listing of all available homes in the multi-list system, can evaluate them in terms of your needs and affordably, and will not waste your time showing you unsuitable homes.
• I can often suggest simple, imaginative changes that could make a home more suitable for you and improve its utility and value.
• I’m able to supply information on real estate values, taxes, utility costs, municipal services and facilities, and may be aware of proposed zoning changes that could affect your decision to buy.
• Although the law does not normally require an attorney to review documents or oversee real estate closings, I’m able to provide you with a list of knowledgeable real estate practitioners to choose from if you would like to use the services of an attorney.
• I’ll help familiarize you with the closing process and they will obtain closing figures in advance of closing for your review.
• I’ll provide you with a list of qualified home inspectors, pest inspectors, surveyors, and help to coordinate inspection appointments.