IN THE MARKET TO BUY—
IT’S A NUMBERS GAME
The real estate market is on the rise, and buyers
are facing low inventory on affordable homes.
Whether you are looking to purchase your first home or
in the market for a new home, it is crucial to get all
of your numbers in order before starting the search
for a new home. Keeping these tips in mind will help
make you an ideal buyer:
● The BIG 20…percent, that is. Most real estate agents will start to
take you seriously only after providing a pre-approval letter. If you are
thinking that a home purchase is in your future, start to look at your
finances. You’re going to need cash, and a lot of it. To avoid PMI and
paying additional fees on top of your mortgage, aim to put down 20
percent. If you have relatives or really great friends who are willing to
assist you in reaching the 20 percent mark, make sure you look at the
rules of receiving “gift money.” Many banks only accept up to a certain
percentage of your down payment to be gifted.
● What is FICO and why is 720 important? If you are in the market to
buy, the letters F-I-C-O are familiar to you. Fair Isaac Corporation, or
FICO, is a well-known software for calculating an individual’s credit
score. When getting pre-approved by banks for a mortgage, it is
important to have a good score. What is good? 720. According to FICO,
the median score in the U.S. is 723. If you are looking for great credit,
shoot for anything higher than 723 (think in the 800-900 range). Most
banks will offer similar options if you are at or above 720, but if you dip
below, it may be best to start by trying to improve your credit before
buying a new home.
● Pick your budget range. It is almost impossible to search for a home
without knowing what you can afford. Most likely you’ll fall in love with
the house of your dreams with an updated kitchen, a claw-foot tub
and a man cave, and go to put an offer on it only to find out it exceeds
your allowable budget provided by a mortgage lender. Heartbreak will
ensue, but you’ll get back on your feet with the realization that you can
still get the home of your dreams; you’ll just need to narrow your search.
By this point, your Realtor will be able to provide you with options that
fit the bill. All real estate websites also provide the convenient option to
search by neighborhoods in your price range.
● Make an offer by choosing your numbers wisely. When you’ve
finally found THE ONE, it’s time to make an offer. Make sure you do your
homework—find comparable houses that were recently sold in the
proximity to see if the asking price is fair. When comparing, be sure to
take into account number of bedrooms and bathrooms, updates made
to the house, and other factors that may determine house price. Once
you decide on a fair price, you’ll include earnest money with your offer
to show good faith. This money will be held by your Realtor until the
deal is finalized, then will be put toward your down payment.
Norwin | Summer 2017 | icmags.com 19