Mary Shakeshaft

Tips For Buyers

Buying a home should be a very positive experience and I can help guide you with information that elevates you, as an educated buyer, to making solid choices. 

Empower yourself with knowledge and information. Set an appointment with me as your realtor to talk about the process and your expectations.  I will help you become a prepared buyer. The purchase of a home is a tremendous investment, both monetarily and emotionally. The purpose of this page is to in provide you with some tips that will help your transaction progress smoothly and result in you being a happy homeowner.

Remember, if you have any questions I am always just a phone call or email away.

• Get help. Your home is likely to represent one of the largest investments in your life. In order to make sure that the transaction goes smoothly it is of vital importance that you choose the right agent to represent your interests. I have the experience and personality that makes you feel comfortable.  I will educate you on the process, and provide you with information that helps you make solid real estate decisions today!  I stay connected with you to be your resource also in the future! 
• Get pre-approved. Do you already know how much home you can afford? There is nothing more frustrating than looking for a home, finding the perfect home, and then discovering that it is out of your price range. Speak with a lender to learn about the different financing options available to you. I can recommend a lender who offers great service and someone you can trust to advise you.  Had a long day?  Apply in Your Jammies!
• Avoid major purchases. In order to determine the amount of home you can afford a lender uses your debt-to-income ratio. This ratio is the percentage of your pre-tax income that you spend on debt. Your debt ratio will include: monthly housing costs, car payments, credit cards, student loans, and any other installment debt. If you take on more debt such as buying a new car right before buying a home, you will  impact the amount of the loan that the lender will finance, or possibly become unqualified to buy!
• Sign up for Property Watch. You will need to know what the Pikes Peak area homes for sale inventory is, and how much it will cost!  While you can browse all the active listings from my website, I really like to help you personally with this step so you can hone in specifically on the homes you will want to consider.  When you contact me, I will interview you and set up a personalized client website to get the information on the homes fitting your search criteria delivered right to you for your review!  mailto:ShakeshaftHomes@gmail.com or call me for a personal chat 719-332-3782 and I will set that ball in motion! The best homes move fast, even in today's market, so make sure you are prepared with your financing in order and that you are on top of the available inventory!
• Ask Questions. No one knows the home better than the seller of the property; however it is not always immediately available.   If you find out the seller's motivation for selling you might be able to negotiate a better deal on the home. Try to find out the last time service was performed on the roof, furnace, and water heating. Asking the right questions now can end up saving you a lot of money in the long run.
• Get inspected.  Hire a licensed home inspector to do a home inspection. This may be some of the best money spent to give you insight or caveat as to what types of maintanance / problems / or issues the home you want to buy may present.