A simplified guide for a painless purchase of your Los Angeles home
PART 1
Congratulations! So you’ve made the decision to stop renting and purchase a place of your own. The home buying process may initially appear complicated and a bit daunting, but by using the skills of a buyer’s real estate agent, searching the internet, and familiarizing yourself with each of the steps involved, your experience can be a smooth and rewarding one.
1. Analyzing your financial situation.
The first thing to do is to learn how much you can afford to pay for your Los Angeles home. Generally speaking, mortgage costs, or PITI (principal, interest, taxes, and insurance), should not exceed 26-28% of your gross monthly income. Many internet web sites furnish free tools for calculating these expenses for you. You can search under “calculating mortgage costs” or visit www.mortgagefit.com, www.bankrate.com, or www.bcsalliance.com, to name just a few. Remember that in addition to income, your credit rating, on-going monthly expenses, amount of the down payment, and the current interest rate must be factored into your financial analysis. Also take into consideration any HOA(homeowners’ association) dues, maintenance costs, and utilities you’ll have to pay on a monthly basis. You would be wise to investigate state and federal government programs which help qualifying first-time buyers with down payments and closing costs. Visit U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development website for specific information which could be quite beneficial to you.
2. Getting prior loan approval.
The next step, before you ever begin actually looking a home, is to secure pre-approval for a loan. In order to do this, you will need to provide a potential lender with all necessary information about your finances. As a realtor, Eileen Walsh can help you do this.
After performing a thorough and positive analysis of your financial situation, the lender will issue you a letter of approval which states the amount for which you qualify. This letter assures sellers that you are guaranteed a sufficient loan and that the purchase can go through without their worrying about your ability to pay for the property.
3. Determining your needs and desires.
Now it's time to familiarize yourself with the Los Angeles area--in person or via the net. Think about the type of community you’d feel most comfortable in. Older and established? Brand new and shiny? Consider age, style, and size of home you’d prefer. Would a fixer-upper be a good match for you? Is proximity to good schools important? What about the distance to your workplace? Traffic patterns and noise? Ample (and reserved?) parking? Do the community amenities suit your lifestyle?
Make lists for yourself. What are your “must haves”? Where do you want laundry facilities? Is an updated kitchen essential? Do you prefer an open floor plan? Can you maintain a large yard? Prioritize your wants and needs and revise the list when necessary.
As a first-time Los Angeles home buyer, you’ll learn that you’ll have to make some compromises and that the whole process can be time-consuming, but also exciting! Rely on Eileen Walsh to advise you about the advantages and disadvantages of specific locations and house styles and to help you through the loan approval steps. Because of her access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and knowledge of Los Angeles, she can search, with your wish list in hand, through thousands of listings to find the ideal Los Angeles home for you. You can also go to the MLS through this website and search for homes on your own to send to Eileen so she can set up viewing appointments for you.
Now watch this space for future "first time home buyer" postings...