Real Estate Professional Network

New Year's Resolutions for Buyers by Laurel Grandle, REALTOR

Organize your financials and buy a home! It’s no secret that the mortgage lending world is tough out there. But don’t let that stop you from buying a home in 2012. The name of the game is to be super prepared.

In particular:

• Pull your papers together: Spend January gathering up: your past two years’ federal tax returns and W-2s; your last two months’ pay stubs; and statements from bank and other asset accounts, like retirement accounts and investment accounts. You might also find it handy to have marriage and divorce certificates on hand, as well as the statements from any credit, auto or student loan accounts you hold.
• Start keeping a file to collect and keep handy new stubs and statements throughout the year; when you find your dream home, your lender will ask you to refresh your application with the latest versions.
• Compile your cash to close: If you’re serious about buying a home this year, you’ve probably already started saving up - or at least know where and how you plan to access your down payment funds. Early this year, meet up with your REALTOR (Laurel Grandle 865 389 2551) and your mortgage lender (Renee Sunday 865 919 4808) and do a double-check on how much cash you’ll need for your down payment and closing costs to buy the sort of home you’re looking for in a location you’d like.
• Also, touch base with your team on timing matters around any gift money or money from your own retirement accounts that you plan to use toward your purchase. You might need some lead time in order to draw your own funds, specific documentation of where the monies came from, or a couple of months for the money to sit and ‘season’ in your own accounts before the lender will greenlight the deal; the best practice is to make yourself aware of any such requirements as soon as possible.
• Have Renee run your credit report. Again, if you’re planning to buy this year, chances are good you’ve already pulled your own reports from the three bureaus. But as you move down the home buying timeline, it’s imperative to get Renee to pull your credit report and get started now!

This is another task you should check off your to-do list sooner rather than later. If by chance an error or issue does arise, you’ll need some time to remediate your report, whether by paying off that mystery collection, or disputing an erroneous ding on the report.

Thinking of moving? Call Laurel today! She can help you with every aspect of your relocation: 865 389 2551 or her office: 865 690 4300.

visit her web site: http://www.LaurelGrandle.com. You can begin the search for your perfect home right there!

Laurel Grandle sells homes throughout the East TN Area, including Knoxville, Karns, Farragut, Halls, Powell, Loudon County, Knox County. She specializes in Lake homes, Luxury homes, Historic homes, New Constructionand is an expert at matching buyers with the right house, regardless of the area or price range, she has over 25 years of experience and has helped thousands of clients with their real estate needs.

Here is what some of her clients have said about her recently, “Laurel has an unlimited amount of patience. My family has very specific needs and she understood them and worked with us until we found the perfect home at the right price. I don’t think anyone else would have done that for us and we’ll always be thankful we found her and worked with her. She’s wonderful!” Margo

“Laurel has accommodated us on many occasions very quickly, as our schedules change all the time. She was always understanding of the time and date changes and she helped us find a great house.” Williams

“Thank you! It's wonderful having you as our agent and we both think you're a terrific person. Bob was right when he said we'd love you.” Joe

“Laurel really knows the area and the market. She didn’t waste any time…she showed us what we ask for in the location we wanted and made the whole move a very good experience for our family”. Robert

“Before we wrote an offer, Laurel did a detailed market analysis for us and discussed it with us so we understood what a fair price would be. She went over the entire contract in detail and clarified everything for us. We purchased with confidence and we’d never use anyone else IF we ever decide to sell!” Anne

Exit Realty Knoxville (each office independently owned and operated) is your number one resource for all your real estate needs, including listing, sales, referrals; our EXIT agents are committed to serving you—put us to work for you: 865 389 2551