“The process was smooth.”

The post Client testimonial Phil appeared first on Nashville Real Estate & Nashville TN Homes For Sale written by Diana Brooks

You have everything in the bag. Pre-approval, ✅. Realtor®, ✅. Comfortable affordable price point, ✅. But where and how do you search for a home? A great way to start is by checking out my website: www.soldbydianabrooks.com 😉. Websites like homes.com, realtor.com, or zillow.com are also great places to begin your search. When working with a Realtor® usually they will have some additional ideas on how to get going. This will help you get off to a great start in your home searching venture. In this article we will suggest a few ways we can get you on your way to home ownership!

Article Highlights

How do you search for a home? Dynamics and tactics

Since you should have already established a good price range it would be good to have some specific amenities or dynamics you prefer like amount of bedrooms and baths, locations/neighborhoods, etc. Of course this could change, but it would help to establish a starting point regarding neighborhoods, shops, schools, nearby family, etc. This comes in very handy when you are on websites and you want to narrow down the search which could at times consist of many homes if you are searching a very wide area.

Once you’ve established areas where you believe you want to live your Realtor® can help by setting up an email drip with the MLS in your area. This will enable you to receive an alert when homes become available in your market at your desired price points.

Scheduling and Determination

Make sure your Realtor® knows your schedule and understands clearly when you prefer to go out and see homes. In this way the Realtor® can set up appointments for you and work out the necessary scheduling so that you can have a good visit at the prospective homes.

Depending on the market, you may find it difficult to find something you truly like. DON’T GIVE UP. At times the search can seem a bit arduous and you may want to quit or change your Realtor®. This is usually not the answer. Patience and dedication will pay off in the long run. Stay the course. Something will come up just give it time. You may also need to think about expanding and/or adjusting your search areas, wants and needs.

DQTs (Diana’s Quick Tips)

1. Homes can be perfect in more than one way
   • Remember, you may not find the “perfect” home in your search. However the homes you find may have all the potential you need and with the “perfect” touch you can make it everything you ever wanted.
2. Enjoy your search but be smart while doing so
   • There is no problem riding through neighborhoods on a sunny day looking for homes. This can be quite refreshing and exciting. Nevertheless, remember a good Realtor® will set you up on a drip email plan and alert you as soon as home hits the market that fits your criteria. Online searching can help you cover a lot of ground and helps tremendously with your research.
3. Don’t give up
   • At times the market can seem challenging and you may feel like you will not find a home. Don’t give up! Keep trying and keep working with your Realtor®.

Reminder: Don’t settle for just anything, but a good home with potential can turn into the dream home you always wanted. 

Now that the home you desired is in sight and you see a path ahead for you to make it yours, what do you do now? Make an offer! How do you do that? We’ll consider this in our next article.

The post How do you search for a home? appeared first on Nashville Real Estate & Nashville TN Homes For Sale written by Bryant Harris

You’ve been pre-approved, you have your Realtor® and you’re ready to get going!!! If you have it your way home ownership is going to happen very soon. You just saw the house of your dreams, and no one will stop you from getting it. You can see it all coming together: The key turning, you walking into your new home and you can smell the fresh paint on the wall. Although you have been pre-approved for much more than you could have ever imagined you don’t care what the price is. YOU WANT THIS HOUSE! Wellllllll….. Let’s pump the brakes just a little bit. Should you give some real consideration to the question What can I afford? Yes.

Would it be practical to purchase a home you are very comfortable and pleased with, but not at the max amount that you are approved for? Example: You’ve been pre-approved for $500k but you are comfortable at $350k. Why not go for the max? If you are having some serious concern, consider a few pros and cons to purchasing at the max approval amount.

A few pros and cons to keep in mind

Pros: 

• You can get the dream home you always wanted
• You are the envy of your friends and relatives
• This could end up being the future home you always wanted instead of the 2nd or 3rd after the starter
• It could be the home you grow old in. You’ll create countless memories and a legacy for generations to come

Cons: 

• The dream home you always wanted has become a nightmare to pay for
• You NOW envy the extra money, time, and vacations your friends and relatives have
• You’re headed to foreclosure and now have to move in with your in-laws
• The heartache of leaving this home makes you feel like it’ll take generations to get over it

DQTs (Diana’s Quick Tips)

1. Count the cost of the investment
   • If your mind is swimming because you perceive that there is a strong possibility that with one small hiccup there could be a house quake, STOP! Make sure all your numbers are in order, and you can truly balance this purchase with your other financial responsibilities. Do adulting the right way. There is no shame in being a responsible adult by purchasing a home you know you can afford and enjoying your investment.
2. Don’t compromise on your purchase regardless of what you decide to get
   • Get the best home that you can get at the price level you decide to buy. Get a home that you will be happy with. If the ultimate dream home is not the current purchase, there is no reason why this home can’t be a pleasant place to lay your head. If you do go for the dream home, make sure everything checks out and don’t get captivated by the glamour and fail to properly count the sheep!
3. Be ready to live with the decision you make 
   • No one can tell you what’s best for you. Be willing to live with the home you purchase and make it a good, open, honest decision.

Remember: Your pre-approval amount doesn’t mean you have to purchase a home at that price.

Now that you have your plan together and you know what you will spend, where do you begin in your search? We’ll discuss this in our next article.

The post What can I afford? appeared first on Nashville Real Estate & Nashville TN Homes For Sale written by Bryant Harris

The post Client Testimonial Melody appeared first on Nashville Real Estate & Nashville TN Homes For Sale written by Diana Brooks

You might be asking “Why do I need a Realtor®? I mean seriously I can search for homes on my own.” It is true that the real estate world has come a very long way. Even though for sale signs and word of mouth still exist, there’s a strong possibility that your next real estate transaction will at least start at your fingertips. There are tons of choices when it comes to searching for a home. Surely you know someone, who knows someone, who just mentioned to someone, about a home for sale three streets over. Most frugal and deal savvy individuals can spot a good deal from a mile away. Those habits and abilities are extremely helpful in the real estate world. In your home hunting adventures there are several things that a Realtor® can help you with that you might find beneficial. We’ll briefly discuss a few here. 

Realtors work for you

Realtors are there to truly work, fight for you and help you get the best deal possible. Besides all the legal jargon and paperwork that your representative should be familiar with, a solid Realtor® will also offer you the best insight and good information regarding the community, price comparisons and solid offers on the table. As of November 2020 up to 88% of buyers purchased their home through a real estate agent or broker. Going into a real estate transaction without good representation, and no prior real estate experience, is not recommended and could cost you thousands in the end.

In the process of buying or selling a home there will be financial negotiations. You always want someone with your best interest in mind helping with the transaction. If you’re selling, what offer should you choose? If you’re buying, Is this a good price? The Realtor® usually will investigate and compare comps to help you get a good competitive price on the table. Once you are in contract the Realtor® will be there to help with home inspections, repairs needed and other unique circumstances that may arise from your specific home hunting adventure. Furthermore, while touring homes your representative should know key things to look for while inside and outside the possible home you desire.

DQTs (Diana’s Quick Tips)

1. Find good solid representation
   •   Ask the questions: “How long have you been in the business? Is this your only job?”
     • If this is their primary profession usually their energy, expertise and experience will be made manifest in how they are conducting themselves with you and your real estate transactions. They will have and know what resources are available to get the job done.
     • True Realtor® experience gives you the confidence you can count on going into the hunt and the deal. If they haven’t been in the business long they can definitely do a good job, but when this person is split between other professions this could, in some instances, prevent them from helping you properly.
2. Look for someone that enjoys doing what they do 
   • If they don’t like their job, at times the negativity can bleed into your home hunting activity. Patience and determination will need to be involved, not just from you, but also from your representation. If the person you’re conducting real estate business with doesn’t like their job, not always, but usually, you will not have an enjoyable house hunting experience. 
3. Understand the person you have chosen as your Realtor®
   • Read reviews and make sure what’s expressed lines up with your principles. There are many message boards available for you. Look for words in the reviews that describe the person’s character. Did their prior clients find that they acted honestly? Did they show integrity? Is he or she knowledgeable, dependable, patient, etc.

The exposure and help that the Realtor® gives to their client is invaluable. Never underestimate the desire of the public to take advantage of you. When buying or selling there is nothing like having someone working on your behalf.

Remember: Realtors® provide knowledge based on their community resources, much needed contract guidance and historical information that can affect the price and value of the transaction.

Next steps

Now you have your Realtor®. What can you truly afford? We’ll tackle this in our next article.

The post Why do I Need a Realtor®? appeared first on Nashville Real Estate & Nashville TN Homes For Sale written by Bryant Harris

So you want to purchase a home, Congratulations! Many say that this is a dream that should be realized at all cost. Why? Let’s face it, renting is like putting your money down the compactor. No return, no results, money gone forever. Homeownership not only is an investment but gives a lot of people a feeling of stability and accomplishment. How can you make sure you are doing things the right way?

In this series of articles, House Hunting, We will discuss many of the things necessary to get you going and also to help with the decision making along the way. Although there are tons of things that one might consider, we will keep the articles precise and short.

Where do you start?

Start out by contacting a mortgage lender. This usually is a totally free service and the lender will assess your ability to purchase a home. If you don’t know a mortgage lender contact me and I can refer you to someone. Your credit and credit history is very important in your quest to purchase a home. According to consumerfinance.gov “The better your credit history, the more likely you are to receive a good interest rate on your mortgage loan.” A good Mortgage lender will give you solid advice on what you need to work on if you cannot get pre-approved. If you are pre-approved the mortgage lender can help tremendously with the rest of the process!

DQTs (Diana’s Quick Tips)

1. Get pre-approved
   • Meaning, get pre-approved for a home loan. Without the pre-approval your home hunting can become an exercise in futility. Sure you can move forward without being pre-approved, however many industry experts express that it is more advantageous to take this step. According to Experian.com “A preapproval letter communicates to the seller that you’re serious about going through with a purchase and that you’ve got financing lined up to close the deal.”
2. Avoid purchasing NEW big ticket items
   • Be very mindful of other purchases you may want to make around the time of your home hunting. An impulse buy or a quick purchase of a car, boat, or some other big ticket credit item, can adversely affect your approval and cause you to miss out on the home you really wanted. For some, if not careful, this might reduce your approval amount.
3. Don’t underestimate the pre-approval

Remember: A good mortgage lender will provide you direction whether you are preapproved or not

Next steps

Once you are pre-approved: Contact your Realtor® – Diana Brooks 😉 !!!

The Realtor® will want to know what type of home you would like to explore buying. A few common questions you may be asked are: What can you afford? Where do you want to live? But a question you may have is: Why do I need a Realtor®, and how do I know which one is right for me? This will be discussed in our next article.

The post Where do I start? appeared first on Nashville Real Estate & Nashville TN Homes For Sale written by Bryant Harris

Considering a CRS for your next real estate transaction? In this video you’ll find some really good reasons why you should.

Diana Brooks is among the 4% of Realtors in the US that have achieved the goal of being a CRS. According to the National Association of Realtors® “Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) is the highest credential awarded to residential sales agents, managers and brokers.” As a CRS Diana has received TOP training to help you with ALL YOUR Real Estate needs and wants. Don’t hesitate to reach out so we can get started in your next big move!

The post What’s a CRS? appeared first on Nashville Real Estate & Nashville TN Homes For Sale written by Bryant Harris