How Can You Get a Competitive Edge When Buying?

There are a variety of opportunities in the Atlanta real estate market for both buyers and sellers. If you're a prospective buyer click here for a full home search, or if you're considering placing your home on the market, get a free home value report, right here.

We currently have an extreme seller's market here in Atlanta. Because of this, many buyers who have gone out and written an offer end up losing or getting outbid. Today, we have two tips to make sure this doesn't happen to you:

1. Get pre-approved: This is not the same as getting pre-qualified, which simply means a lender has looked at your credit and your income, and says you qualify for a loan. Pre-approval means you've turned in many more documents, such as tax returns and pay stubs, and are on more solid financial ground. It will make you look much more favorable than your competitors.
2. Send a personal letter: It's never a bad idea to send a personal touch letter to the seller. This will make you more relatable, as the letter can explain your circumstances and reasons for wanting the house. We've seen this work many times in the past.

These are two simple ways to ensure your offer gets accepted in a competitive market. Under these conditions, it's best to take extra steps to set yourself apart from the competition.

 If you would like help navigating this unfriendly seller's market, don't hesitate to reach out to us. We'll do what it takes to get your offer accepted so you don't miss out on your dream home!

What Does the Zillow and Trulia Merger Mean for You?

There are a variety of opportunities in the Atlanta real estate market for both buyers and sellers. If you're a prospective buyer click here for a full home search, or if you're considering placing your home on the market, get a free home value report, right here.

As you've probably heard, Zillow has acquired Trulia for $3.5 billion. But what does this mean for you as a home buyer or seller?

While we think that these sites are great tools that certainly have a place in real estate, they can often make the buying and selling process a lot more difficult than it needs to be. They simply don't have the information you need to get the most out of your real estate experience.

We've had buyers come to us wanting to see a home only to find out that the home is under contract or no long available. On the selling side, we've had people who are discouraged from selling because the estimate they recieved from these online sites was so low. The truth is, Zillow and Trulia lack access to the necessary resources to put a true value on a home.

If you want accurate and up-to-date real estate information, you are best off working with a local real estate professional here in the Atlanta area. We have access to the resources you need to make your buying and selling experience a walk in the park. Give us a call or shoot us an email - we would love to guide you through the entire process!

What do You Have to do to Get Qualified?

There are a variety of opportunities in the Atlanta real estate market for both buyers and sellers. If you're a prospective buyer click here for a full home search, or if you're considering placing your home on the market, get a free home value report, right here.

When starting to search for a new home, an important step is meeting with a mortgage lender. They will be able to get you pre-approved for a loan so you know what kind of home you can afford. How do these lenders determine that figure? There are 4 basic things that they look for. They are:

1. Credit Score

 The first thing a lender will check is your credit score. Typically, you will need a score above 600.

2. Debt-to-Income Ratio

 The more debt you have compared to your income, the less money you will be able to afford for your loan. 

3. Income

 They will take a closer look at your income to determine if you make enough money to afford payments on the loan. 

4. Down Payment

 Finally, lenders will look at the size of the down payment you plan to put down. There are a number of options out there for how much you can put down, in both conventional and FHA arenas. You can choose how much you want to put down, but regardless of the final number, you will still need some cash in order to purchase a home.

 If you have any questions about getting pre-approved or about anything real estate related, give us a call or send us a quick email. We will give you the answers you need.