Happy New Year!

2010 offers a great opportuity for home buyers.  The home market is up!  Selection is great and quality of available homes has improved. Interest rates are still very low and the first time buyers tax credit has been extended to April 30.  

If you're thinking of making a home purchase, now is the time to act.  Find out how you can take advantage of the many advantages of today's home buying market.

Get your HOME BUYER'SEDGE now!  Contact Edd to begin your home search TODAY!

Expect  Exceptional Buyer Service from Edd Van Damme.

Accredited Buyer Representative  National Designation / Learn about our ONE STOP selection of Complementary Buying Services

Certified Residential Specialist National Designation / Trust your real estate transaction to a professional

Shopping for a home – What should I expect?

You’ve prepared your financing, oriented your self to the market and the buying process, and prepared a plan to begin your search.  Now it’s time to begin shopping for home.  As you head out the first day on a home tour, what should you expect to encounter?

•       Your Realtor®  and you will prepare a tour/itinerary of homes that meet your shopping criteria in the location(s) you have selected.  You should expect listing sheets for each property and a map identifying where the homes are located to be provided to you in advance by email / fax or hard copies at the first property.
•        You may meet at the first property to begin your tour, or your Realtor® will pick you up for the tour or, at your option.
•        Homes on your tour may be vacant or occupied.  If they are occupied, a specific appointment is usually necessary to tour the home.  Occupants may be present or not.  It is usually appropriate NOT to discuss the home or your opinions about the home with the occupants.
•         As you enter properties be ready for a host of different experiences!  The condition of homes can range from inviting, well prepared and staged properties to complete disasters.    In today’s market, it is most often not possible to determine the condition of properties prior to your visit, especially with foreclosed homes, which tend to fall toward the lower end of the scale.
•        Determine if the home(s) meet your basic needs and the requirements of financing.  FHA and VA financed homes require that all functional items in the home be present and working to qualify for financing.  Many homes, if vacant, may be missing functional items (ie: air conditioner).  Identify and note anything that may need repair or replacement.
•         You should tour 5-6 homes and then review your criteria with your Realtor® to ensure you are on the right track.
•        When you’re ready to place an offer on a home, your Realtor® will discuss the particulars of the offer with you.  However, the content of the offer is totally your decision.  Your Realtor® will complete the offer forms and obtain your initials and signatures as needed.  You will need to provide an Earnest Money check to your Realtor® to be held until/if your offer is accepted. Your Realtor® will present your offer and monitor it for a response.
•        If you are placing an offer on a traditional property (for sale by an individual or organization) you should expect a reply in 24-48 hours.  If the property is a lender owned (foreclosed) property, response could be several days to over a week. If the property is a short sale, response could be several weeks.
•       Multiple offers on foreclosed properties are common.  You may be asked to re-submit your “highest and best offer”.  At this time you may change your offer price or any other terms of your offer to enhance it against other offers. It may take several offers on foreclosed properties to have one finally accepted.  Competition from cash buyers is keen.  Any concessions asked of the seller/lender will usually decrease the viability of your offer. (i.e.: closing costs, repairs)
•       The seller may counter your offer price, or other terms.  You may accept the counter offer, reject their counter offer and withdraw or counter back with other terms.  Your Realtor® will represent you in these negotiations, hopefully resulting in a fully executed purchase contract that will be presented to a title company, with your earnest money check, to open escrow.
•      If the property is a lender owned foreclosure, the lender will likely provide an addendum to the purchase contract that you must review and agree to (within a stipulated period of time) in order to have a fully executed contract.  This becomes a part of your purchase contract. 
•      If the property is a short sale, the sellers lender must approve the terms of your offer prior to full execution of the contract.  This step can, and often does, take considerable time. 
•   Once written approval has been achieved, escrow may be opened.

           The opening of escrow begins the Closing Process which can take from 30 to 60 days or longer.

The Key to successful shopping is COMMUNICATION.  Stay in close contact with your Realtor® on all aspects of your home shopping!

If you are you looking for a home in:

Phoenix/Ahwatukee, Tempe, Mesa, Chandler, Gilbert, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Queen Creek, Apache Junction, Phoenix Metro, Glendale, Peoria, Avondale, Tolleson

I'll help you SHOP SMART for just the right home.

Welcome to your POWERFUL PARTNER! 

This website is designed as a HOME BUYER INFORMATION RESOURCE, a place to find the DETAILS and it's exclusively for the Home Buyer in Phoenix and many of the Valley of the SUN communities.  If you don't find what your looking for, complete an INFORMATION REQUEST and I will work to answer your questions personally and quickly!.

Visit often, I will be updating information frequently to bring you the tools, resources and details you need to Buy Wisely!    TODAY is a great time to buy YOUR home in the Valley of the Sun!  Buy Wisely!  Read On!

When buying a home, choose to be represented by a Realtor® that specializes in BUYERS ONLY.  It's a powerful partnership with focus on YOU!

Edd Van Damme, Realtor®                                                                                                                    EXCLUSIVE  ACCREDITED BUYER REPRESENTATIVE  602-402-9968   ValleyoftheSUN@ymail.com

$8000 TAX CREDIT Extended to April 30, 2010

If you are a first time home buyer or have not owned a home in the last three years, you should be eligible for up to an $8000. tax credit When you contract for the purchase of a home by April 30, 2009.  For more details call or e-mail me for your own information brochure.

The Real Estate Mastery Series

Come to my FREE BUYERS Seminar  Learn how to take advantage of this GREAT BUYERS MARKET!

Seminars Forming Continuously   If you're interested,  complete the information below to be notified of the next seminar time and date:

FAQ

• Can I buy a home now if I don't have a lot of cash available?

YES!  Although you will need cash for an earnest deposit on a offer and some up front costs.  Believe it or not - Programs STILL EXIST where you will not need cash for a down payment or closing costs!

• With all the financial mess, are home loans still available?

ABSOLUTELY!  Home loans are available to qualified buyers at all price ranges.  Let me help you get pre-qualified today! (see Home Financing for details)

• How much does it cost to hire a Realtor® to help me buy a home?

All Realtor® services for buyers are at no cost to the buyer. ( see BUYER Representation ) for more details.

• I hear buying a home can be real complicated.  What are the steps I should follow if I want to get started?

The home buying process can be involved, but it should also be FUN!  To find out what your should know about the buying process see:  TEN Step Buying Program.  Then contact me for any questions you have.  (see Contact Edd Van Damme)