first time home buyer | Bradshaw GroupBradshaw Group

Category: first time home buyer (6)

Mar

Tips for First-Time Home Buyers

Buying your first home is an exciting process! We understand it can be a little overwhelming at times, too. With that in mind, here are some tips we have gathered over the years to help you manage the process.

When you watch home-buying shows on TV, it sometimes seems like people find their dream home and then “poof” have a contract and are moving in. While those steps certainly happen when you’re buying a home, there are steps in between you should be prepared for.

The illustration above gives you a general idea of the process – from selecting an experienced realtor to closing. What’s unique when buying a home are the market conditions. Home inventory has been low in Kansas City for several months. As spring approaches and more homes come on the market (if the market performs as expected), you will want to be ready to make an offer when you find the home for you.

First time home-buyers don’t always have their finances and paperwork readily available, since you haven’t been through the process before. If you know you want to purchase a home soon, this is the time to select a lender and get your financing in order. When you’re certain you’re within 30 days of buying, go ahead and lock your rate.

Make Your List of “Musts”

What are your absolute “deal-breakers?” What items are “wishes,” rather than “musts?” If you are able to narrow your search parameters and target area, your search might go more smoothly. Like anything else, when you see too many options, a home search can become confusing or overwhelming!

Get to Know the Market

Research your target area – how quickly are homes selling, what are the sold prices for homes similar to what you are looking for? I can provide you with market comparisons to help you through this step. Together we can determine an idea of what you can get for your money in the area you want to live before you even start looking at homes. Having expectations that match the market will make your experience easier and more successful!

Let Me Manage the Details

There is a lot of back-and-forth between the first offer being made and closing. Ranging from negotiations, to inspections and re-negotiation, I have the experience and resources to handle this part of the process for you. As a life-long Kansas City resident, I have built a trusted network of vendors (inspectors, contractors, lenders, etc.) that I rely on. As your buyer’s agent, you can share in the benefits of experienced and reliable vendors to keep things moving smoothly.

Have FUN!

I love helping people find their dream home and there’s something special about your first home purchase! Try to keep your eye on the big picture during the process and you will enjoy it more. Buying a home is one of the largest investments you will make. Naturally, there is some stress that comes with that. But that’s my job – to help you manage through any bumps you may encounter and to use my experience to meet your goals.

If you’re ready to buy, give me a call any time at (913) 980-2434. I would be happy to meet you and discuss your search and come up with a plan to get it underway!

May

Tools for Home Buyers

You’ve made the decision to buy a home, but now what? There are a few steps I recommend my buyers take before they get serious about a home search.

First, get your finances in order. Find a lender you trust and run the numbers. Your lender can serve as a valuable resource to you and should be able to help determine what you can comfortably afford. If you plan to make an offer on a home soon, this is the time to get pre-approved. This can really speed up the offering process, as many sellers won’t consider a contract without proof that financing is in place.

Next, when you’re searching online, keep this mortgage calculator from Reece & Nichols bookmarked. With your loan information, you can enter figures for homes you’re interested in to ensure they are within your budget. Your agent can also help give you an idea of what homes in the area are really selling for by looking at comps.

Once you’ve done some of this leg work, you can move quickly with your purchase. Check out my real estate app to help you find homes in your desired neighborhoods. The app puts our home search tools right in the palm of your hand – including a feature called Home Scan that uses technology along with your device’s GPS and compass to overlay property information onto your live camera feed. You can literally scan your surroundings for homes for sale and view radar display to show direction and proximity from your current location.

If I can help you or someone you know with a home purchase, please let me know. I can be reached any time at (913) 980-2434. Happy house-hunting!!

Apr

NEW LISTING: Get to Know Roeland Park!

A small community filled with opportunities for recreation, education and commerce – that’s Roeland Park! This city is just minutes from several of the metro’s most popular attractions, including the Country Club Plaza, Power & Light District and Crown Center. Yet at just 1.62 square miles and a population around 6,000, you can live near these amenities with the feel of a smaller community.

Roeland Park boasts 18 acres of parks, and art aficionados will love the popular Art in R Park, a program started in 2007 by the city to showcase art in public places for the community to enjoy. You will find sculptures on display throughout the city!

Roeland Park is served by the Shawnee Mission School District, and Roesland Elementary School, St. Agnes Elementary School and Bishop Miege High School are located in the city, as is a branch of the Johnson County Library. City residents can take advantage of the nearby Cedar Roe Library!

Click here for more quick facts about Roeland Park!

Sound like a place you’d like to live?

Call me at (913) 980-2434 to see this BRAND-NEW listing!

This move-in ready 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom ranch features an updated kitchen and bathroom. The home provides beautiful natural light and large sized bedrooms, and the sunroom and deck are perfect for entertaining! Other highlights include newer thermal windows and roof. Stop by and see for yourself at an Open House this Sunday (April 7) from 1 to 4 p.m.

Nov

Low Rates, Quick Sales

Traditionally, this is not one of the busier times of the year for buying a home, but the historically low interest rates are really driving movement in the KC market. The thing to keep in mind if you’re interested in taking advantage of these great rates is that you should be prepared to act quickly when you find a home you love. Even though this is considered a buyer’s market, the inventory throughout Kansas City is a little low, so when you find a home you want to buy, there’s a fair chance it’s going to go fast. In fact, in the past month I had two listings in Olathe that sold this way – the first in 4 days, the second in 9 days.

That said, don’t let this intimidate you. With the rates the way they are, you can likely save some on your buying budget or get a little more house for your money than you might have expected. If you are ready, it really is a great time to buy.

Check out these happy first-time homebuyers at the closing table. Congrats to Nick and Rachel who just closed on their first home in Independence last week!

Give me a call if you want to learn more at (913) 980-2434. If you want to speak with someone specifically about mortgage rates and lending, I’d recommend my friend Lauren North with Plaza Mortgage HomeServices Lending.

Nov

Open House Today (11/20) in the Waldo Area From 1-4 PM

Greetings KC!

We got a treat for you today! Come check out this updated charming 3 bedroom/2 bath home in the Waldo area 7537 McGee St. This home features updated kitchen & bath, hardwood floors on both levels, large master suite, huge back yard, and a great deck for entertaining. This home is priced to sell! Come see for yourself.

For additional info on this home or other homes in the KC area, check out KCHouseHunters.net

Thanks KC!