Many buyers start out by attending open houses. This is an excellent way to get a feel for the market and to meet a few agents. However, you should never feel pressured to accept just anyone, and you are not obligated to work with the first person you meet.
When talking to an agent, be sure they listen to you and ask questions clearly directed toward understanding your needs and concerns. Your agent should impress you as a dedicated and skilled professional. Because you will be partners in the home-buying process, your agent should be happy to answer questions about agency relationships and buyer representation.
Be sure that your agent explains the standard forms and gives you an Agency Disclosure form to sign. This is consumer information that describes who works for whom. It is required by state law. Liz and Ellie are happy to explain the form and answer any questions you may have.
In order to find what amount of money is reasonable for you to spend on a house, it is important to:
If you aren’t paying for the entire home in cash, you will need to contact a local bank or mortgage lender and ask for a pre-approval letter. This is one of the most important steps in home buying. A pre-approval outlines how much money you’ll be able to borrow in order to buy a home.
Most home buyers have a rough idea of how much they would feel comfortable paying every month on their mortgage. Try this basic mortgage calculator to get a sense of what your monthly mortgage costs might look like. However, there’s no quick-and-easy way to pinpoint that monthly payment because of other factors — down payment percentage, mortgage insurance, property taxes, adjustable interest rates, and so on — which are part of the calculation.
Once you connect with the right agent and have your pre-approval in hand, it’s time to get serious about finding your new home. We tell all of our buying clients the following:
With their complementary communication styles, responsiveness, competence, and ability to truly listen, Ellie and Liz enable their clients to feel at ease throughout any real estate transaction. They would welcome the opportunity to be your next real estate advisors.
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1100 Massachusetts Ave
Cambridge, MA 02138
