Seattle still has an incredible real estate market in 2009, but....
It is different than it has been in the last ten years or so. Many first time home buyers like to ask their friends and family a lot of questions along the way and tend to rely at times on these lifelines.
Unfortunately, new Seattle buyers might find that asking all the questions in the world might not get them the right answers for this new Seattle market. Buying a house any time is a huge task, but being a first time Seattle home buyer on top of that makes it ridiculously intimidating for many.
These are some of the things an A + First Time Home buyer has already done:
Some of the hurdles in home buying...
- Finding a Seattle real estate broker who will guide you every step of the way. (A good Seattle agent will give you referrals to a good lender who will help you with all the numbers up front - someone they trust that will not deliver unneeded surprises along the way)
- Finding a qualified lender who can walk you through each and every step and won't charge you too much money for the privilege. ( Determine your purchase price budget by looking at what payment you can reasonably afford. Get a good faith estimate so you know what closing costs to expect)
Other Steps along the way that your Seattle Realtor should help you with:
- Locating a property in Seattle within your guidelines
- Structuring a strong offer on your behalf and going through the paperwork with you
- Negotiating with your best interests at heart
- Helping to schedule inspections, appraisal, escrow appointments, etc.
- Providing you with an overall picture of the sales process
- Keeping open lines of communication along the way!!! (I let them know what is going on even when nothing is going on so that they don't wonder)
- Referrals, referrals, referrals! - Inspector, insurance contacts, utility contacts, favorite restaurants or vets and doctors in the area, etc...
- Look at the resale!!! I always council Seattle buyers on their exit strategy - this is an investment as well as a home! How well will this house or condo sell in the future based on some of its attributes....
I like to make up a binder with lots of information for my first time home buyers in Seattle - I want to give them something that might help along the way or clear up any confusions. I also make up a calendar of events showing all of our important contract dates as well as a flow chart of the closing process. I like to look over the Good Faith Estimates from the lender to make sure all charges seem to be in line and have them ask questions if I see anything out of the ordinary.
I really want to be an advocate for Seattle first time home buyers that give me the privilege of helping them!
Do you need info on being a first time home buyer in Seattle? Need a free home buying guide? Want info on the $8000 tax credit? courtney@cooperjacobs.com Cooper Jacobs Real Estate, Seattle real estate, @CourtneyCooper
Courtney Cooper
Seattle Realtor, Owner/Designated Broker/EcoBroker
Cooper Jacobs Real Estate
206-850-8841
(Seattle real estate - search all MLS listings from all companies for FREE), SeattleAfloat.com (Seattle Houseboats), GreenLakeLoop.com (Green Lake Blog), QueenAnneBoulevard.com (Queen Anne Blog), MagnoliaView.com (Magnolia Neighborhood Blog)
About Me:
Seattle real estate has been a big part of my life for well over a decade since I began my career in real estate,but also before that time when I was in the process of purchasing my own first home. Buying your first home can be quite overwhelming,but I have managed to help many first time home buyers along the way.
Move up Seattle buyers and other types of specialized purchasing is a great passion of mine! I love Seattle houseboats and you can find me down on the docks of Lake Union and Portage Bay several times a week. Other aspects of Seattle real estate that I adore include Queen Anne Real Estate,Wallingford Real Estate, Ballard Real Estate, Green Lake Real Estate, Laurelhurst Real Estate, Magnolia Real Estate,andSeattle Waterfront Real Estate.
In addition to being a Seattle residential broker and founder of Cooper Jacobs & Seattle Afloat, I am also a member of CBA (Commercial Brokers Association) and head of the Cooper Jacobs Commercial Division in an effort to provide excellent commercial real estate services to the Seattle commercial real estate industry. With a background in accounting and management, it is my great pleasure to coordinate our Seattle commercial brokers.
About Cooper Jacobs Real Estate's Seattle Branch:
My office at Cooper Jacobs Real Estate LLC is located centrally near all my favorite Puget Sound neighborhoods just a few blocks up from Lake Union in Seattle’s Wallingford. Cooper Jacobs Real Estate is a wonderful place filled with talented Seattle real estate brokers and I count myself extremely lucky that I get to spend so much time with these wonderful people. We specialize in different Seattle neighborhoods and suburbs in both residential and commercial real estate and are all very passionate and excited about each of our favorite Seattle neighborhoods and industries!
©Courtney Cooper ©Cooper Jacobs Real Estate LLC
Courtney: One of the best things I've ever done is to create a series of articles for 1st Time Buyers. Now all I do is direct them to my blog with a link to the series...
Rich - you are the master of these things I know! Your series are what I aspire to when I try and get some of these ideas down - I like that and will look at maybe putting something in the works. I also loved Jo Soss's relo packets - pretty amazing!
Courtney Excellent information - I have a Home Buyer's Guide I developed for first time buyers - I have it as an email attachment, CD and hard copy. I really have to get it online. Karen
First time buyers can get a heck of a deal now!