The 8 Step Home Buying Process for a First Time Home Buyer

When you are considering buying a home, its not just a case of finding a home and all is well, there are many extra responsibilities that come with that Home Buying Process and purchase. Maintenance and upkeep, utility bills and extra-ordinary costs that may come your way. These are the steps involved in the home buying process, particularly with the first time home buyer in mind!

Step 1: Are You Credit Worthy?

A few months before you are ready to buy a home, it would be a good idea to check your credit scores and repair any bad debt or pay up accounts so that you can qualify for a mortgage at a good rate. Your credit scores would normally be between 300 and 850 and the higher the score the better loan you will qualify for. Check your credit report and be sure that there are not any errors on it and if you need to query items on it, you should do that straight away. You are entitled to one free credit report a year.

Step 2: How Much Home You Can Afford?

My suggestion would be to contact a good mortgage loan representative and let them figure out how much you can qualify for. There are many different mortgages rate options - fixed rate, adjustable rate and interest only mortgages. Be confident that you understand the pro's and con's of all. Be sure to ask your mortgage representative and your broker about the size of the down payment you may need. Today you don't always need a 20% deposit as there are opportunities to own with little or no downpayment. Your real estate broker may be able to ask the seller to assist you with closing costs so that you can use your funds for a good down payment - talk to your broker about this. Make sure that you have a mortgage pre-approval as this will give a seller confidence in accepting your offer.

Step 3: Choosing the Correct Real Estate Agent for You.

When choosing a Real Estate Agent to represent you, you may need to talk to two or three to see who you most relate to, who will give you their best attention and one who will take your circumstances and your finances into account when negotiating for you. Go to the meeting with a list of questions and find the one who makes you feel most at ease, who has experience and who will represent you well.

Step 4: Choosing the Perfect Home.

Make a list of the non negotiable items that must be in your home AND in the neighborhood. Then decide on the neighborhood - taking into consideration things that are important to you - e.g. distance from work, shops and schools, safety. Ask about the home appreciation in the area and visit the neighborhood in the daytime and the evening to get a good feel for the area.

Step 5: Make an Offer on the Home

Now that you have found the perfect home, you are ready to make that offer. In todays market, the Sellers are frequently on the receiving end of many offers if their property is priced correctly and you may want to prepare yourself to consider an offer that is fair and right for the Seller. If you have chosen to go with a Mortgage pre-approval, you should be one of the more favored offers the Seller will consider. You would be required to make an earnest money deposit, however small - to show good faith to the Seller. The earnest money deposit would form part of the purchase price.

Step 6: Closing Costs:
Closing Costs can be a surprise if your mortgage banker | Agent haven't gone over the cost of purchase with you. These costs can include title fees, home inspection, attorney fees, property taxes, title insurance, appraisal fees and more. Sometimes the Seller will assist with those costs, but you would be responsible for them and you should budget accordingly.

Step 7: Close on Your Home
It would always be a good idea to get a home inspection done on the property you are going to purchase. It ensures peace of mind as far as the property's structural soundness and condition.

Choosing the closing date needs to be fair and able to meet the needs of both you and the Seller. Ask your Real Estate Broker for their opinion in this matter as the seller may still have to find a home or close on their new home and the dates must be viable for all parties.

Step 8: Time to Move.

The closing is now completed, and its time to move in to your new home. Its a wonderful time to put your own personality, colors and charm into your own space. There will always be things to do to a new home, but take a week or two to familiarize yourself with your surroundings before you make hasty decisions and costly mistakes.

Its so lovely to own your own home! Congratulations! Its the fulfillment of The American Dream!

Hi, I am Don Johnson from the Don Johnson Real Estate Team. I would love to assist you in your home buying process. I am a licensed Property Inspector, a Licensed Contractor and a Licensed Real Estate Broker with lots of experience across the board. I would love to assist you in your home process. Contact me for a confidential coffee and chat, I would be happy to answer all your questions. Don@DonJohnsonRealty.com or call 919-473-3578 

SEARCH FOR YOUR NEW HOME HERE

GOOD NEWS FOR WAKE COUNTY REAL ESTATE MARKET!

Good News For Wake County Real Estate Market

New Listings increased by 4.3% in March compared with March 2012, however there is a shortage of inventory in the market place today. We are desperately looking for homes to meet the needs of the buyers looking for homes in our region.

Sellers who are sitting on the fence, not sure whether to sell or not, should seriously consider getting there properties onto the market, before the Summer Holidays, as they could be on the receiving end of a multiple offer scenario, giving them, sometimes, more than their intended asking price.

Ray Larcher, President of the Triangle MLS, Ic. had this to say, "As Spring blooms so does the housing market with all major indexes moving in a positive direction. The tightened inventory levels, combined with strong demand are fueling price gains in many areas."
Larcher continued, "New home construction is also on the rise with new building permits increasing at a steady pace. In addition, record-low mortgage rates and rising rents are supporting the housing recovery."

EVER WONDERED HOW MUCH YOUR HOME IS WORTH?
HOW LONG IT MIGHT TAKE TO SELL YOUR HOME?
HOW MUCH YOUR NEIGHBOR SOLD FOR?
WHAT PROPERTIES ARE ON THE MARKET IN YOUR AREA TODAY AND HOW MUCH THEY ARE ASKING?
DO YOUR RESEARCH HERE - PRIVATE AND CONFIDENTIAL!

6700 St Johns Ct, Raleigh - View Virtual Tour - Motivated Seller - Price Reduction

6700 St Johns Ct, Raleigh NC - View Virtual Tour

UPDATE - Seller is ready to accept offers and has approved another price reduction to $209,900.  This is a must revisit to this charming cul-de-sac home close to everything. Walk to Harris Creek Elementary, Wake Tech campus, grocery, retail, dining or enjoy dinner on an oversize deck replete with a built-in fire pit.

Each of our listings at the Don Johnson Real Estate Team receives a custom virtual tour.  We take pride in making sure all of our listings are in great showing condition - giving buyers exactly what they want.

Take a look at this wonderful home.



See more information about this listing here.

10 Things You Can do to Improve The Curb Appeal of Your Home Before you Sell

10 Things You Can do to Improve The Curb Appeal of Your Home Before you Sell

If you are considering Selling your Home in Cary in the coming Summer Months, it may be a good time to spruce up the outside of your home and increase the curb appeal.

To begin with, go and stand at the street and look at your home objectively.  Consider what you can do to give your home the curb appeal that would welcome buyers into your home. What would make it picture perfect? Can it be done cost effectively?

Here are a few things that could make a difference, without damaging your pocket and can be done over a period of time!

1. In the garden it would be best to be free of the winter debris, cut back and prune the shrubs to encourage new spring growth and consider planting annuals to give instant color to your garden.
2. Wash down the outside of your home and roof if it needs freshening.
3. Touch up paint and repair any broken fences or mail box stands.
4. Check the guttering and re-attach and clean them up, paint if necessary to give your home a pleasant appeal.
5. If your garden furniture is not doing your home justice, maybe its time to refurbish it or if that is not possible and you don't want to replace it yet, put it into storage or get rid of it.
6. Check the driveway for motor oil stains and remove them and touch up garage doors or carport posts and roof.
7. If there are unsightly items in the garden, including garden refuse or rubble, have it removed.
8. Paint your front door and consider hanging flower baskets or adding flower tubs at the front door, giving it a welcome feel.
9. Keep the edges of the garden trimmed and manicured.
10. Feed the plants and mulch the beds, fertilize the grass and ensure it is green and lush.

In a few short weeks you will have a home perfect for welcoming any potential buyer in the Summer.  Remember, late spring and early summer are peak buyer season. 

If you would like some ideas of things you should be doing to the inside, let me come out and have a look and make some recommendations on how you can maximize your purchase price.  Our team specializes in Home Staging and Home Improvement to get homes sold fast.

Sign up for our Market Snapshot to get an idea of what properties sell for in your area, have a look at what prices your neighbors sold for and see how long the average home takes to sell. 

Call Don Johnson 919-714-1571 or Email Don@DonJohnsonRealty.com

1436 Kildaire Farm Rd, Cary NC - New Listing Coming Soon - NOW UNDER CONTRACT

1436 Kildaire Farm Rd, Cary NC - New Listing Coming Soon

UNDER CONTRACT!  Ask us how we can get your home sold FAST with our pre-listing marketing and home enhancements.  Give buyers what they want, and they will come.

For More Information Call (919) 473-3578

The Don Johnson Real Estate Team is currently preparing this home for sale.  Our team takes great pride in ensuring our listings are market ready, giving buyers exactly what they are looking for in a new home.

If you are looking for a new home in the Cary area, this home on Kildaire Farm Road may be the one for you.  Walking distance to Trader Joes, Staples, Fitness Connection, and many other shops and restaurants, this home offers convenient access to many areas of Cary.  Just minutes down the road from WakeMed Cary Hospital, Whole Foods, Wal Mart, and Waverly Place, so many conveniences, just at your doorstep.

Stay tuned for more information as we prepare this home for sale.  If this is a home you are interested in, give us a call for more information on availability and price.

Do You Need to Include Your Parents in Your Living Arrangement? 5 Bedroom Home Options!

How to Combine Finances to Buy a Home with Loved Ones.  Find a 5 Bedroom Home for Sale in Cary to Share.

Have you ever  considered purchasing a home jointly with your parents or siblings and pooling finances  to be able to afford a nice home that can be shared in a muli-generational living arrangement. It is an emerging trend in housing as the cost of living is increasing and families are finding it more beneficial to share costs.

Planning, open-mindedness, and agreements in writing will aid in the success of such a venture.  A qualified Mortgage Lender can review your current situation and advise you on the type of loan, down payment and affordability with combined incomes.  


The next step is finding the right home that will meet everyone's needs, maintain a sense of privacy for all and fit within the budget.  Working with a professional Realtor, like myself, you can view many properties and evaluate the pros and cons of each before making a big decision.  A multi-unit dwelling might also be a great option.


See all 5 Bedroom Homes for Sale in Cary right now and let's discuss your options. With my expertice in construction and renovation, there may just be an opportunity to change a wall or door that can make your privacy the winning formula.

Cary Homes for Sale Listings Search

• Cary Homes for Sale New Listings (47)
• Cary Homes for Sale Foreclosure Listings (10)
• Cary Homes for Sale Short Sale Listings (13)
• Cary Homes for Sale Single Family Homes for Sale (380)
• Cary Homes for Sale Condos & Townhomes for Sale (124)