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R ETIR EMENT LI V ING
Beautiful, maintenance-free apartment homes
are available now at Fox Run.
The Brighton Large one bedroom
Tips To Get Ready For
Buying A Home This Season
StatePoint
B
uyer-friendly 30-year fixed mort-
gage rates and an improving job
market are good news for spring
homebuyers this season.
Yet, even with these favorable condi-
tions, many home purchase contracts will
get held up at closing by financial issues.
This doesn’t have to be the case. There are
several things you can do before and after
submitting a contract to help make sure
you walk away from the closing table with
the keys to your new home in hand.
Freddie Mac Senior Vice President
Christina Boyle recommends doing the
Living Area
12’3” x 17’9”
Linen
Bedroom
12’4” x 13’0”
Walk-In
Closet
DW
following before seriously hunting for a
home this spring:
• Learn your current credit history
and score. You don’t want any surprises
down the road. If you have no credit his-
tory, or have had credit problems in the
past, you can take steps to build, improve
and maintain strong credit. Contact a
HUD-approved housing counselor for free
advice.
• Talk to your lender about apply-
ing for a mortgage and getting a pre-
approval letter. This letter gives an esti-
mate of how much you might be able to
borrow and demonstrates to home sellers
that you’re a serious buyer.
Bath
Kitchen
8’7” x 8’1”
continued on page 34
Home-Hunting Tips
In A Seller’s Market
W/D
The McKinley Extra large two bedroom
StatePoint
A
New
design
Bedroom
11’11” x 20’11”
Living/Dining Area
14’0” x 22’8”
Bedroom
11’5” x 13’6”
Walk-In
Closet
Walk-In
Closet
Closet
Linen
DW
Closet
Bath
Bath
Kitchen
7’4” x 5’10”
Pantry
Laundry
W
D
Call 1-800-917-8169 for your free brochure
or to schedule a personal tour.
11330693
Novi | 1-800-917-8169 | EricksonLiving.com
32 March 31 • 2016
2061680
re you on a serious hunt for a
new home? Whether it’s your
first time as a real estate buyer or
you’ve done this many times before, you
may experience a learning curve. After all,
the market is forever in flux, and experts
advise that, these days, there are some dis-
tinctive challenges involved in becoming a
homeowner.
“If you want to snag your dream home
in a seller’s market, then you’d better be
on your game,” says Grant Simmons, who
drives the consumer marketing strategy
for Homes.com, a leading online real
estate resources site, with close to 3 mil-
lion real estate listings for sale or for rent.
Simmons is offering expert tips to give
buyers a leg up in today’s competitive
marketplace.
• Know what you want: Make a list of
the features you desire in your next home
and then separate them into wants and
needs. Having your priorities in order
will help you better determine whether a
house truly suits your needs and where
you’re willing to compromise.
• Use your imagination: Buying a live-
in ready home offers convenience, but you
can potentially save thousands of dollars
on the front end on an ugly or tired home
with great bones or personality. Choose a
real estate agent with vision who can help
you find the diamond in the rough in your
desired location. Remember, there can be
large returns on small, affordable updates.
• Know the deal-breakers: In a seller’s
market, you may feel pressured to sign on
the dotted line as soon as you find that
home you really like. Before committing
to a mortgage, do your due diligence. A
shoddy roof, bad plumbing, foundation
issues, outdated wiring and water damage
are costly headaches you may not want to
take on in a new home.
• Do smart research: The Internet is
your friend. So rather than cast a wide
net, conduct smart searches. Sites like
Homes.com make real estate searches
easier by connecting buyers with timely
and accurate listing information, as well
as the listing agent. The site also features
comprehensive, valuable data on the qual-
ity of life in local neighborhoods, includ-
ing market reports, commute calculators,
school scores and cost-of-living analyses.
For more information, as well as such free
resources as downloadable house-hunting
checklists, tips and mortgage calculators,
visit www.Homes.com.
• Get serious: Busy real estate agents
with a tight schedule prioritize serious
prospective buyers. Be first on their list.
Before you discover your dream home,
get your financial ducks in a row, because
when competition is fierce, you can’t
afford to wait for mortgage approval.
It may be a seller’s market, but with
smart research, foresight and planning,
you can make a wise purchase.
*