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Learn about Buying
What is the best property or home for you?How much home or property can you afford?
What do you do when you have an existing home or property?
How do I begin to search for my home or property?
Do I really need to work with a Real Estate Agent?
How do I make an offer?
How do we know that we are paying a fair price?
What about mortgages?
What is the best home or property for you?
Choosing a new home can be a difficult task. While considering homes to buy, think about both current and future “wants and needs.” It helps to categorize your wants and needs. You should have a “priority” list as well as a “bonus” list.
Think about your lifestyle and profession. Do you work from home and therefore need a home office? Will you potentially work from home and therefore may need a home office in the future? Are there parents or family members who may need your care in the near future? If so, that first floor bedroom suite may be desirable. How about cooking? Do you love to cook and need a kitchen with utility? Or do you order take out and need a larger dining room or family room? Are you expecting children? Not sure how many? If so, the attic that can be converted later gives you options. The list of needs and wants is specific to your life and is important to review in the earliest stages of the buying process. Our agents can help ensure that no important factors are overlooked. As important as the homes’ design and features is its location. The old adage, “location, location, location” is true. Think back to your wants and needs list. Was school district on the list, proximity to work, shopping, relatives? How about parking? Or distance to parks or restaurants? Our agents will help you determine which locations meet your needs.
Frequently, the location that you chose dictates to some extent the style or type of home that you purchase. However, another choice to consider is the type of home that you would like to live in. Do you want a single family detached dwelling that has a large yard? Or would you prefer living in an attached condominium with less maintenance worries? There are many options and our agents can assist you in evaluating each of them.
If you are not searching for a home but, are seeking an investment property, many of the same basic decisions apply. Please use our “search for homes” feature to begin your search or call our office to have a one on one conversation with one of our experienced agents.
How much home or property can you afford?
Once you have made a decision to purchase real estate, and you have thought through your wants and needs, the next step is figuring out exactly how much you can afford to spend or borrow to make that purchase.
While Higgins & Welch is not a lending institution or a mortgage broker, we have worked with hundreds of lenders through the years and can walk you through the process. You can visit the Recommended Lenders section of this website for help in finding a qualified lender.
It is important to calculate how much you can afford early in the process and well before actually visiting properties. This places you in a position to act swiftly when a good housing opportunity arises. It also saves valuable time for you and your agent because it insures that you view only properties within your budget.
A mortgage pre-approval acts as reassurance for the seller that you are financially ready to purchase their property. This is an advantage that you will have during the purchase negotiation.
In today’s digital world, it is easy to obtain a pre-approval for a mortgage loan. A pre-approval is a simple calculation done by a mortgage lender that tells you the amount you'll be able to finance through a loan and what your monthly payment will be. A loan commitment is the actual terms of the loan. To obtain a loan commitment, you will have to provide your lender with documentation on your assets and liabilities.
There are many factors that will effect what you can afford to purchase. The lender will look at factors such as gross income, debt, credit scores, and the amount of your down payment. Other factors include: the type of mortgage product you qualify for, interest rates and current market conditions.
You will want to speak with a mortgage professional. If you don’t have one already, call us or refer to the Recommended Lenders in the Lender Services page of this site. In the meantime, you can complete your own simple calculations by using our easy to use Mortgage Calculator in the Lender Services section of this website.
What do you do when you have an existing home or property?
Although buying a home and selling a home at the same time is very common, that does not mean that it is simple. There are many considerations that must be taken into account and with the help of Higgins & Welch Real Estate professionals you can count on a smooth process.
We will utilize our appraising background to give you a realistic opinion of the range of market value of your property. From there we can talk about a realistic timeline or “days on market” that we can expect until your property will most likely sell. With these arrows in our quiver, we can then begin to look for your new property.
Often it is not possible to buy and sell your homes at exactly the same time. If this is the case there are precautionary measures that can be taken, such as looking into short term rental housing or storage facilities or obtaining a bridge loan from your lender which will allow you to afford the purchase of your new property prior to the sale of your current property.
If you are buying a second, vacation or investment property most of the same rules apply. Benefits of purchasing a second, vacation or investment property include: tax advantages, residual income, retirement planning and/or a stress relieving getaway!
A team of professionals can help guide you through this process: a Real Estate Salesperson to help evaluate your purchase, an accountant to evaluate the tax benefits or repercussions and licensed home inspectors and professionals to evaluate the quality, safety and soundness of your property.
How do I begin to search for my home or property?
Once you have made the decision to make a purchase, and have determined the financial feasibility, you will want to select a real estate agent that is experienced in representing buyers. Higgins & Welch Real Estate has experienced buyers’ agents in many locations. Call us to speak with one today.
When paired with a real estate agent, the agent will help you determine what factors are important to you, help you find a home that fits your needs, arrange and show the properties that interest you, determine a fair offering price and value for that property, and execute all documents needed to purchase your home. Throughout the process your agent will be working on your behalf and in your best interest. At Higgins & Welch this includes – loyalty, honesty, confidentiality, professionalism, and dedication.
We recommend reviewing the properties online that your agent will send to you. If you are interested after viewing them online, drive by and do an exterior inspection of the property and neighborhood. Many times you will know the moment you pull down the street whether or not you are interested in the property. This exterior inspection saves valuable time. If you are still interested in the property, your agent will schedule an interior viewing.
You should take notes that describe the pros and cons of each property. Soon you will have a list of properties that you like least to most. Be sure to communicate all of your likes and dislikes to your agent so that they can hone their property search to better meet your needs.
Please browse our website for more valuable information, to begin your home search or call today.
Do I really need to work with a Real Estate Agent?
Buying a home is one of the biggest purchases and most important decisions you will make during your lifetime. It is important that you have experienced representation to insure that your best interests are at hand. Do you take your car to a mechanic because a mechanic fixes cars each day? Do you take your fine clothing to a dry cleaner for personal care? Do you go to a doctor to diagnose a health problem? If you do, then you probably realize that you want to have a real estate professional who eats, sleeps and breathes real estate, represent you in your purchase.
Our agents will give you the personal service you deserve. Visit Our Agents page of this website or call us today.
How do I make an offer?
After you have found the property that you would like to purchase, your agent will write up the agreement of sale and all other necessary documents. This is an important contractual obligation and should be conducted by a professional that is representing your best interests.
Your agent will walk you through each of the contract documents until you are comfortable with what you are signing.
There is a game that many agents play that consists of multiple back and forth offers and counteroffers – this is common tactic that leads to a potentially stressful negotiation. In most cases, Higgins & Welch Real Estate will suggest a strategy where we pre-determine a fair price and make a best and final offer at the outset. Regardless of what strategy we use, allow your agent to guide you through this sometimes complex negotiation.
How do we know that we are paying a fair price?
One of the advantages of working with Higgins & Welch Real Estate, Inc. is our connection with Higgins & Welch Appraisers, LLC. Many of our agents are also certified appraisers or appraiser apprentices. This gives us a unique insight into determining accurate opinions of fair market value and ensures that you do not overpay for your property.
Our agents inspect your potential new property and compare it to other recent sales of similar properties that are located nearby or in similar locations. Some of the main factors that we review are: location, size, condition, utility, design/style, motivation of the seller, how many days on market and the list to sale price ratio. You can learn more about appraising by visiting the Appraisal section of this website.
Because we complete thousands of appraisals and sales throughout the region each year, we have extensive knowledge of the market and a large database of information at our fingertips. Our agents have also been trained on familiarizing themselves with an area in a short period of time. This competitive advantage will put you into a position of strength during the purchase process.
What about mortgages?
If paying cash is not an option, you will need to obtain a mortgage loan to purchase your property. There are many options for you when searching for a mortgage loan. You can speak with one of our agents about this process or review the Lender Services section of our website. Here you will read about what types of mortgages are available, what type is the best fit for you and about the mortgage application process. There is also a Recommended Lenders page that provides you with a few options to review.
Choosing a new home can be a difficult task. While considering homes to buy, think about both current and future “wants and needs.” It helps to categorize your wants and needs. You should have a “priority” list as well as a “bonus” list.
Think about your lifestyle and profession. Do you work from home and therefore need a home office? Will you potentially work from home and therefore may need a home office in the future? Are there parents or family members who may need your care in the near future? If so, that first floor bedroom suite may be desirable. How about cooking? Do you love to cook and need a kitchen with utility? Or do you order take out and need a larger dining room or family room? Are you expecting children? Not sure how many? If so, the attic that can be converted later gives you options. The list of needs and wants is specific to your life and is important to review in the earliest stages of the buying process. Our agents can help ensure that no important factors are overlooked. As important as the homes’ design and features is its location. The old adage, “location, location, location” is true. Think back to your wants and needs list. Was school district on the list, proximity to work, shopping, relatives? How about parking? Or distance to parks or restaurants? Our agents will help you determine which locations meet your needs.
Frequently, the location that you chose dictates to some extent the style or type of home that you purchase. However, another choice to consider is the type of home that you would like to live in. Do you want a single family detached dwelling that has a large yard? Or would you prefer living in an attached condominium with less maintenance worries? There are many options and our agents can assist you in evaluating each of them.
If you are not searching for a home but, are seeking an investment property, many of the same basic decisions apply. Please use our “search for homes” feature to begin your search or call our office to have a one on one conversation with one of our experienced agents.
How much home or property can you afford?
Once you have made a decision to purchase real estate, and you have thought through your wants and needs, the next step is figuring out exactly how much you can afford to spend or borrow to make that purchase.
While Higgins & Welch is not a lending institution or a mortgage broker, we have worked with hundreds of lenders through the years and can walk you through the process. You can visit the Recommended Lenders section of this website for help in finding a qualified lender.
It is important to calculate how much you can afford early in the process and well before actually visiting properties. This places you in a position to act swiftly when a good housing opportunity arises. It also saves valuable time for you and your agent because it insures that you view only properties within your budget.
A mortgage pre-approval acts as reassurance for the seller that you are financially ready to purchase their property. This is an advantage that you will have during the purchase negotiation.
In today’s digital world, it is easy to obtain a pre-approval for a mortgage loan. A pre-approval is a simple calculation done by a mortgage lender that tells you the amount you'll be able to finance through a loan and what your monthly payment will be. A loan commitment is the actual terms of the loan. To obtain a loan commitment, you will have to provide your lender with documentation on your assets and liabilities.
There are many factors that will effect what you can afford to purchase. The lender will look at factors such as gross income, debt, credit scores, and the amount of your down payment. Other factors include: the type of mortgage product you qualify for, interest rates and current market conditions.
You will want to speak with a mortgage professional. If you don’t have one already, call us or refer to the Recommended Lenders in the Lender Services page of this site. In the meantime, you can complete your own simple calculations by using our easy to use Mortgage Calculator in the Lender Services section of this website.
What do you do when you have an existing home or property?
Although buying a home and selling a home at the same time is very common, that does not mean that it is simple. There are many considerations that must be taken into account and with the help of Higgins & Welch Real Estate professionals you can count on a smooth process.
We will utilize our appraising background to give you a realistic opinion of the range of market value of your property. From there we can talk about a realistic timeline or “days on market” that we can expect until your property will most likely sell. With these arrows in our quiver, we can then begin to look for your new property.
Often it is not possible to buy and sell your homes at exactly the same time. If this is the case there are precautionary measures that can be taken, such as looking into short term rental housing or storage facilities or obtaining a bridge loan from your lender which will allow you to afford the purchase of your new property prior to the sale of your current property.
If you are buying a second, vacation or investment property most of the same rules apply. Benefits of purchasing a second, vacation or investment property include: tax advantages, residual income, retirement planning and/or a stress relieving getaway!
A team of professionals can help guide you through this process: a Real Estate Salesperson to help evaluate your purchase, an accountant to evaluate the tax benefits or repercussions and licensed home inspectors and professionals to evaluate the quality, safety and soundness of your property.
How do I begin to search for my home or property?
Once you have made the decision to make a purchase, and have determined the financial feasibility, you will want to select a real estate agent that is experienced in representing buyers. Higgins & Welch Real Estate has experienced buyers’ agents in many locations. Call us to speak with one today.
When paired with a real estate agent, the agent will help you determine what factors are important to you, help you find a home that fits your needs, arrange and show the properties that interest you, determine a fair offering price and value for that property, and execute all documents needed to purchase your home. Throughout the process your agent will be working on your behalf and in your best interest. At Higgins & Welch this includes – loyalty, honesty, confidentiality, professionalism, and dedication.
We recommend reviewing the properties online that your agent will send to you. If you are interested after viewing them online, drive by and do an exterior inspection of the property and neighborhood. Many times you will know the moment you pull down the street whether or not you are interested in the property. This exterior inspection saves valuable time. If you are still interested in the property, your agent will schedule an interior viewing.
You should take notes that describe the pros and cons of each property. Soon you will have a list of properties that you like least to most. Be sure to communicate all of your likes and dislikes to your agent so that they can hone their property search to better meet your needs.
Please browse our website for more valuable information, to begin your home search or call today.
Do I really need to work with a Real Estate Agent?
Buying a home is one of the biggest purchases and most important decisions you will make during your lifetime. It is important that you have experienced representation to insure that your best interests are at hand. Do you take your car to a mechanic because a mechanic fixes cars each day? Do you take your fine clothing to a dry cleaner for personal care? Do you go to a doctor to diagnose a health problem? If you do, then you probably realize that you want to have a real estate professional who eats, sleeps and breathes real estate, represent you in your purchase.
Our agents will give you the personal service you deserve. Visit Our Agents page of this website or call us today.
How do I make an offer?
After you have found the property that you would like to purchase, your agent will write up the agreement of sale and all other necessary documents. This is an important contractual obligation and should be conducted by a professional that is representing your best interests.
Your agent will walk you through each of the contract documents until you are comfortable with what you are signing.
There is a game that many agents play that consists of multiple back and forth offers and counteroffers – this is common tactic that leads to a potentially stressful negotiation. In most cases, Higgins & Welch Real Estate will suggest a strategy where we pre-determine a fair price and make a best and final offer at the outset. Regardless of what strategy we use, allow your agent to guide you through this sometimes complex negotiation.
How do we know that we are paying a fair price?
One of the advantages of working with Higgins & Welch Real Estate, Inc. is our connection with Higgins & Welch Appraisers, LLC. Many of our agents are also certified appraisers or appraiser apprentices. This gives us a unique insight into determining accurate opinions of fair market value and ensures that you do not overpay for your property.
Our agents inspect your potential new property and compare it to other recent sales of similar properties that are located nearby or in similar locations. Some of the main factors that we review are: location, size, condition, utility, design/style, motivation of the seller, how many days on market and the list to sale price ratio. You can learn more about appraising by visiting the Appraisal section of this website.
Because we complete thousands of appraisals and sales throughout the region each year, we have extensive knowledge of the market and a large database of information at our fingertips. Our agents have also been trained on familiarizing themselves with an area in a short period of time. This competitive advantage will put you into a position of strength during the purchase process.
What about mortgages?
If paying cash is not an option, you will need to obtain a mortgage loan to purchase your property. There are many options for you when searching for a mortgage loan. You can speak with one of our agents about this process or review the Lender Services section of our website. Here you will read about what types of mortgages are available, what type is the best fit for you and about the mortgage application process. There is also a Recommended Lenders page that provides you with a few options to review.