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Camas and SW
Washington Properties
With over
1000 homes sold you can be sure you are in good hands with James
Kimball. James has been listing and selling real estate in
Camas and SW Washington for over 15 years. James has been
recognized as Top 1% All Agents
Nationwide and is the Area's Premier Choice for High-Quality Real Estate Service.
Seach for
properties in area cities including Camas,
Vancouver,
Washougal,
Ridgefield,
La
Center, Woodland,
Battle
Ground, Amboy
and Yacolt |
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The
Buying Process
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 1)
Plan ahead -- From the moment you think about buying a
home, start planning. Home buying is a time-consuming
and demanding process, and it behooves you to utilize
your management skills early on.
Start by requesting a copy of your credit report.
Carefully examine it for errors, and clean it up
before you talk to a lender. Are you currently
renting? Check your lease for an early release clause.
If you'll be subject to penalties, try to time your
closing with the expiration of the lease.
During this planning phase, consider your life over
the next five to seven years. Do you plan to start or
grow a family? Will an in-law eventually move in with
you? Will you be working from home? The number and
layout of the rooms you require will depend on your
answers.
If you qualify for financing based on a dual income,
will you be able to survive on one salary in order to
fulfill a long-range plan, such as one parent staying
home to raise a child? Once you've answered these
questions, establish a plan. Then direct the process
with reference to the plan. Don't let the process
dictate to you.
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| 2)
Understand the home buying process. Homebuyers need to
ask questions. Lots of questions. So choose a real
estate agent who has experience and is willing to
explain the entire home buying process-from viewing
homes to negotiating, to financing, to escrow and
closing-in detail. |
3) Stay
within your budget when searching for a home. What can
you do to avoid becoming enamored with homes that are
out of your price range? Monitor your expenses for a
couple of months. Then, based on your findings,
develop a budget that truly reflects your lifestyle.
Talk to a real estate agent who can provide insight
into new home expenses and taxes. Then revise your
budget.
It's smart to ask your lender to pre-approve, rather
than pre-qualify, you for a mortgage.
Pre-qualification only tells how much you can afford.
Pre-approval goes a step further. Your lender will
thoroughly evaluate your application-including
verifying employment information and financial
disposition-then clear you for a loan of a determined
amount. Having your loan pre-approved gives you a
sizeable advantage: Your new status as a cash buyer
makes you more attractive to the seller.
Once you learn how much of a home you can afford, stay
within your budget. Just because you've been approved
for a certain amount, doesn't mean you'll feel
comfortable with monthly payments at the high end of
the range. Ask yourself if you can live with these
payments. Do they fit your established budget? If not,
rethink your spending limit. Your new home should give
you great pleasure, not hold you hostage.
When you relay your price range to a real estate
agent, ask to view properties within that range only.
By restricting yourself, you'll avoid disappointment
later on. |
4) During
the home search think with your head, not your heart.
Curb appeal can be a powerful force. It's the buyer's
kryptonite. By disengaging the mental faculties, it
leaves the homebuyer emotionally vulnerable. To
counter its effect, you must be objective. Brutally
objective.
Look at many homes, including an assortment of types
of homes. When you view a property, list the positives
and the negatives. Make certain your furniture will
comfortably fit into the space. Visit at various times
of day to see how much natural light floods the rooms
and check for changes in traffic patterns, especially
at local rush hours. Have an inspector or engineer
pick apart the property. And recruit a friend to view
the home and provide you with objective feedback. Ask
if he or she can picture your family living there and
discuss the whys and why nots. Jot down the points for
later review.
Also, think about how long you plan to own the house.
Would it be difficult to resell? List the negatives.
Could you eliminate or reduce them? |
| 5)
Investigate the area in which you are thinking of
buying. Don't stop your inspection at the property
line. Examine the surrounding area. Is it safe, well
maintained and moderately quiet? Is it convenient to
work, schools and shops? Ask about zoning and that
lovely forest of vacant land across the street. Could
the highway nearby be widened in a couple of years?
How far is the train? Within ear shot? If you're not
familiar with the area, ask friends and colleagues
about it. Do your research. |
6)
Understand the financing. Here's where it helps to be
a quick study. Homebuyers have to contend with an
assortment of mortgage types and the associated
jargon. Your real estate agent can be a great
resource.
Get every detail in writing, in particular, the
lock-in rate, points and fees. And request a copy for
your file. You should also request an estimate of your
closing costs, which generally run between 3% and 6%
of your loan. Inquire about prepayment penalties. Have
the lender attach an addendum to your contract that
specifies that no penalties will be imposed for
prepaying the loan. This step could save you a good
deal of money.
Before you get to the table, read all the documents
related to the purchase of the property, and have a
professional review them. You're signing a binding,
legal document. Make certain you understand the
conditions of the loan.
Most of all, remember to call me at 360-910-1570 as
a resource. Ask me to explain anything you aren't
clear on. I'm here to educate & guide you, and
protect your interests.
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CamasProperties.com 
