IT WAS A HAPPY DAY!

I met my first time home buyer at her soon-to-be NEW house at 8:45 a,m. this morning  to complete a buyer walk through and follow up on a home inspection repair.  At 9:00 a.m. my buyer began signing the stack of many forms required to complete a FHA home loan.   Then the moment of pure joy.  The selling Realtor handed my first timer a key to her NEW HOME.  Oh, Happy Day!  It was big smiles all the way around.   

It all started a few months ago when I gave a speech at my local Toastmasters Club on the $8,000 tax credit.  My buyer who is raising two grandchildren on her own and works full time for the state of Texas has never owned a home before.  She confided in me that  she really didn't know how to get started.    

As a REALTOR, I knew how to help my first time home buyer get started.

That's where I come in and first we discussed at length what it is she really wanted in a home and then we went house shopping.  My buyer first made an offer on a cute very affordable home but lost to another buyer.  A second house was considered and an option contract initiated, but then my buyer realized she really wanted to be close to the children's school.  A third house was put under option, a home inspection complete and repairs negotiated.  Unfortunately, my buyer was concerned that this home was stretching her personal budget and she opted out of this one as well.  I thought the  third choice would have been a charm, however it was....

the fourth house considered that became the winner,

 because of location close to work and the grand children's school    My buyer was really concerned about finances and then we discussed the programs available to help first timers.  She had started at one time meeting the requirements for the City's First Time Home Buyer Program, but now  she saw the need to really make it happen.  Happen it did, my buyer got assistance for some of her closing costs from the City of Abilene.    My client decided also to proceed with another program, a Community Action Program (CAPS) that also provided assistance that could be used against the down payment.   

This first time homebuyer got a great value in her first home at  $1,000 under appraisal, got assistance with closing costs, and downpayment, got a one year residential service plan (home warranty,) and still can look forward to a substantial tax credit.  

 I delivered a pumpkin to the happy homeowner and the two grandchildren this evening.  The second grader was happily playing in the front yard and to show his exuberance showed how he could scale the chain length fence to his grandmother's chagrin.  The fourth grader was chatting on the phone (with a friend I'm sure about her new house! 

IT WAS A HAPPY DAY TODAY!