Buying a Home

Buying or selling a home can be a challenging, time-consuming process during which a significant number of your hard-earned dollars are at stake. Protect your family's assets by taking some of the following precautions when you are buying or selling a home:

1. Call on an expert.
   Before making important decisions like the 'asking price' for your home, or an appropriate offer to make on your next property, make sure you are seeking the counsel of a seasoned expert. Few other transactions in your lifetime will have as significant of an impact on your family's financial health and future. RE/MAX® agents are professionals who have established themselves as top performers in their industry; they can apply their expert knowledge to save you time and money.
   
2. Know the pace of the market.
   Your agent will help you to establish realistic expectations of how long it will take to sell your home or to find and purchase an appropriate new property. In fast-paced markets, for example, the most desirable properties often receive multiple offers within days of being listed for sale. Your agent may advise you to become pre-approved with a lender and to be prepared to move quickly when you have identified your ideal home. Making the decision to become a homeowner or to change residences are processes that require significant time and attention. Once those decisions have been made, however, you will need to be prepared to act at, or ahead of, the pace of your local market.
   
   
3. Identify your priorities.
   As a seller, your agent will conduct a CMA, or comparative market analysis, to determine a realistic sales price of your home. Your agent will also help you to evaluate the results of that CMA within the framework of your own needs and priorities. For example, if you need to relocate quickly, you and your agent may choose to deliberately price your home slightly under its market value in order to expedite the process.
   
   As a buyer, your agent will help you to first evaluate your priorities in terms of location, size, cost and neighborhood amenities. Then, your agent will help you to identify neighborhoods and properties that meet your requirements. Your agent's knowledge of the real estate industry in your community will be particularly important as you begin narrowing down a list of properties. For example, school district ratings, historical value trends and the reputation of a neighborhood may affect a property's desirability and the likelihood of its future appreciation.
   
   
4. Ask questions.
   You should interview your real estate agent in the same manner as you might interview any other trusted professional - from doctor to dentist, attorney to financial advisor. Make sure you understand what your agent will do for you and how he or she will be compensated. Don't be afraid to ask an agent about his or her experience in the industry. RE/MAX associates, on average, lead the industry in production (volume of closed transactions) and professional designations (credentials earned through continued education). Your agent wants to make the buying or selling process as comfortable and convenient for you as possible, so don't be afraid to ask questions!

New Construction

WHY YOU NEED AN AGENT WHEN BUILDING A HOME Cost to You Nothing! Any compensation given to REALTOR is recognized by the builder as a marketing fee and has no impact on the final cost of the home. Builders desire, expect and encourage REALTOR participation. Savings to You Are you getting what you're entitle to have ... both in quality and value? Your experienced agent knows what you should receive and what "extras" might be available. Resale...Appreciation & Profit Give your investment the best opportunity for appreciation at resale. Questions concerning site location, builder, design and decor are important. Your agent knows you are building not only for today ... but for tomorrow. You Are Represented With your real estate agent, YOU are represented! Your agent's experience, knowledge, and reputation represents strength and leverage on your behalf. Check this link to find what some of Austin's homebuilders are offering!/<www.hotonaustin.com>

Buyer's Estimated Charges

Conventional VA FHA Assumption Amortization Schedule 20 20 Appraisal 350+ 350+ 350+ Assumption Fee Per Lender Attorney’s Fee 200+ 200 * 200+ Credit Report 65+ 65+ 65+ Discount Points Negotiable Negotiable Escrow Balance Per Assump. $ Escrow Fee 150 150 * 150 150 Homeowner's Assoc. Fee Prorated Prorated Prorated Prorated Inspection Fee Per Lender 0 Per Lender Insurance 1 Year 1 Year 1 Year Prorated Lender Required Reserve Per Lender Per Lender Per Lender Prorated Messenger Fee Actual 50 * Not Allowed Actual Mortgagee's Title Policy 100+ ** 100+ ** 100+ ** Origination Fee Per Lender Per Lender Per Lender Recording Fee Actual Actual Actual Actual Survey 400+ 400+ 400+ Tax Service Fee 100+ Termite Inspection 75+ 75+ 75+ Underwriting Fee 350+ VA Funding Fee Per Lender Warehouse Fee Per Lender Processing Fee 300+ Wire Transfer Fee 25+ Flood Certification 20+ 20+ 20+ TOTAL * A veteran may not pay attorney fees, escrow fees and messenger fees if paying 1% of origination fee. ** Endorsements Requested by Lender.