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People Seem to Assume that Everyone Can Buy in a Buyer's Market

By
Commercial Real Estate Agent with Location Innovators Llc

You need to have cash or be qualified from a lender to purchase real estate. It's as simple as that. How about this? Make sure you have your financing ducks in a row before you even start looking at real estate. Why would you do it any other way? If you look, you will find.

I have trusted relationships with experienced, honest mortgage consultants who will educate you, find the best financing product for your situation, stay in communication with you, and work with us as a team in pursuing your real estate investing goals. It's so important that you work with a lender that you trust will be there through the entire transaction and will not leave you sitting at the closing table without your funds.

Lenders have tightened their guidelines. No documentation loans are gone, 100% stated loans are gone, 100% investor loans are gone, sub-prime loans are gone. Loose guidelines from the past 5-10 years are gone and the pendulum is swinging an equal distance back. High LTV 2nd mortgages, jumbo 30 year mortgages and high LTV/low documentation loans are harder than ever to qualify for or find a lender who will allow it. Now more than ever, you need to have a good relationship with a lender and Realtor who can help you navigate through the constantly changing guidelines.

BUY IF YOU CAN AFFORD TO BUY!

It really is the best time to buy if you go about it the right way. There are amazing opportunities available and interest rates are so much lower than the last time we experienced a true buyer's/investor's market. Conventional financing or FHA government loans are currently the best methods of financing. FHA loans are not just for first-time home buyers, but know that you are going to have to put money down to purchase real estate right now. There are methods available that help people get loans and/or receive gift down payment assistance. My trusted lending partners know about these opportunities, not everyone else does or they might not be doing it above board.

Many Realtors (including me) will not spend their time taking you to look at real estate unless they know that you can afford what you are looking for. And that's not because we don't want to work with you, it's because our time is valuable, you are not our only client (if you were, we could not afford to stay in business), and we need to run our business like a business. I don't have time to serve the general public, I make time to serve my clients who are committed to working with me, will trust my knowledge, and will allow my experience to guide us in the transaction. Anyone can become a Realtor, not everyone can be as good at it as I am.

 

Comments(6)

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Steve Loynd
Alpine Lakes Real Estate Inc., - Lincoln, NH
800-926-5653, White Mountains NH

Kirstan

You make some excellent points in your blog, this is something we need to sellers as well, when one asks why haven't you shown my house lately I say did you want me to interrupt your life for someone with no chance of buying the place or only show to qualified buyers? This service requires some planning and asking buyers to do their part is only fair. Good For You!

Apr 13, 2008 05:08 AM
Linda Lipscomb
Linda Lipscomb RE/MAX Lexington Henderson County TN - Lexington, TN
731-695-1118, Lexington TN Homes

Kirstan,

Great post.

You are right on!!!

Could I use your post in a local newspaper advertisement???

Linda

Apr 13, 2008 05:09 AM
Lance Holtman
Loan Simple - Centennial, CO
Great blog... good info, keeping thing in perspective.

One comment: although the guidelines have tightened, 100% stated is still available.

Lance
Apr 13, 2008 05:14 AM
R. B. "Bob" Mitchell - Loan Officer Raleigh/Durham
Bank of England (NMLS#418481) - Raleigh, NC
Bob Mitchell (NMLS#1046286)

With all the mistakes that are on credit reports and the fact that underwriters are afraid of their shadows now and questioning EVERYTHING, it's a better idea than ever to get your credit package approved ahead of time.  If something comes up, it's a lot easier to fix it with the luxury of time.

 

Bob Mitchell

ValueList Real Estate Services, Inc. 

Apr 13, 2008 05:17 AM
Cape Coral Florida Golf Course and Waterfront Homes
Gulf Coast Realty Network, Inc. - Cape Coral, FL

An interesting point to make here.

In the past, many buyers refused to provide financing or cash evidence because it was so easy to do AFTER the contract for sale/purchase.  Buyers would say, "Don't worry about it, I've got the cash."

In the present, where most of the BEST deals are bank-owned properties (already foreclosed), you cannot even make an offer without proof of funds or a bona-fide Pre-Approval Letter.   And I do mean Bona-Fide!

Incidently, in the present, there seems to be a definite trend toward Buyers Agent status, rather than transaction broker status in some states.

 

Apr 13, 2008 05:36 AM
Alexander Harb
Knights Investing - Mesquite, TX
Dallas, Texas Real Estate Investing

That is the TRUTH...any real estate agent worth their salt will
NOT take you to look at homes to buy if you are NOT qualified
for a loan unless they are either:

  1. VERY foolish
  2. Desperate to look busy
  3. Think that being busy
    means being successful
Apr 13, 2008 06:45 PM