Frequently Asked Questions
I am thinking about selling my home. Can you walk me through the process and the timeline?
Yes! We love questions like this one as we have a ton of educational materials, roadmaps to home selling, and checklists to help along the way. We work with home stagers, professional photographers, and show our expertise and first class service every step of the way! We have a video walk through of the unique, aggressive and strategic marketing we do for your home to assist you in getting every penny possible of what it's worth. We also stay in communication with you every step of the way. You never stop hearing from us. We'd love to meet with you to take the grand tour of your home (pun intended) and to share our process with you in further detail - virtually and/or in person. Whatever is most convenient for you.
Is it possible to buy and sell at the same time?
It absolutely is possible and we walk you through the options. We have a whole list to cover with you. If you are looking to buy a new home, but need to sell a home at the same time, we definitely want to consult with you on what type of scenario is best for you. In many cases, if you list your property first, will can have far more control on the entire transaction, including the timing, possibly possession in your current home, and getting you into your next property when convenient for you. On the other hand, some are able to buy first, complete the moving process and then sell after you are moved out and the property is vacant. At the end of the day, you have options ... many options. We can help!
What if you have been looking for a home, but can't find what you're looking for?
If you can’t find what you are looking for, you might want to consider expanding your search. If your desired location is too competitive, expand your search and you might find some amazing gems in growing neighborhoods. Working with a real estate agent who really knows the area is the best way to find a home that fits your budget and lifestyle. We here at Grand Allure Home Group can set you up on our MLS Portal. You will be notified of new properties that hit the market within your price point and you can favorite homes on the portal, ask questions via the portal and more. This will help you understand the quality of homes suitable for your finances. Finding a home is often a compromise between what you want and what you can afford and making sure you're comfortable.
What if you are not ready to buy a home?
We want you to be comfortable every step of the way. If you're not ready, take advantage of the free advice and guidance we can provide future home buyers. If indeed, you are not ready because you have tanked your credit, your advised lender will put a plan in place to position you for success. We work together as a team to assist you wherever and whenever you need it.
Have I missed the high mark in selling? Is it still a good time to sell my home?
We will absolutely never talk you into a buying a home or selling your home and although we're not economists, we follow economists to consistently get the pulse on the economy Nationally. We have you covered from a local perspective, but keeping an eye on how the rest of the Country is doing and what they're doing is important too. At this time, we have seen the market shift slightly into more of a balanced market. Homes priced right and in good condition are still selling quickly. Homes are continuing to build equity as a home supply and demand issue is still looming. Home prices are estimated to appreciate in the single digits this year, while the past several years appreciating in double digits. However, the value and equity is still there. If you feel it's time to sell, we can share our marketing plan and strategy to get you every penny of what it's worth to make a move to best suit your future needs.
What if I am overpaying? I really don't want to overpay for a home in this market.
If you’re going to buy a home in this expensive market, you absolutely must find out how much house you can really afford. Commit to staying within that budget amount no matter how much pressure you feel. To feel confident about buying a home, follow these tips: Limit your house payment to no more than 25% of your monthly take-home pay. This payment includes principal, interest, property taxes, homeowner’s insurance and, if your down payment is lower than 20%, private mortgage insurance (PMI). Plus, don’t forget to consider homeowner’s association (HOA) fees when preparing your budget. Save at least a 10–20% down payment. A 20% or more down payment helps you avoid PMI—an extra fee added to your mortgage to protect your lender (not you) in case you don’t make payments. Anything less than 10% will drown you in extra interest and fees. However, you still have options and we have great calculators and worksheets to share with you as do our recommended lenders for you.
How can I lower my mortgage payment for the first two years?
We get asked this question a lot and it's very relevant right now with the increased interest rates. While we are not lenders, we arm ourselves with the data and educational components about the special programs offered in various market conditions that will allow home buyers to lower their mortgage payments for the first two years. This example is in a 2-1 buy down loan program where the cost of the loan payment reduction is paid at closing by the seller. The fees collected at closing will cover a portion of the monthly payments for the 2-year buy down term. If you buy now, you will have the confidence of knowing that you will have fee-free financing if you decide to refinance your loan in the future.
What if I don't have enough money for a down payment?
Many believe that they must have 20% for a down payment on their new home. Remember, you don’t always need 20% down. We'd love to connect you with some of our recommended lenders to review your options and the down payment options and loan programs.