Home Buying Checklist for
Collier Heights and Cascade
The home buying process can seem overwhelming and stressful, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right information and some preparation, the process can go smoothly and without any hiccups. In our latest post, we sum it all up for you with our home buying checklist. We want to help you find and purchase your first home!
Step 1: Get Financed
Before you start shopping, you will need to know how much home you will be able to buy. Shop around with a couple different lenders and see what is available to you. There are all sorts of programs out there, you can even find ways to get help with your down payment. Talk to friends who have recently purchased, and find out which lenders they used and how the experience was for them. Of course, every situation is different, but don’t be afraid to look around a bit at what the lenders are able to offer you.
When you work with a lender, you will need to know the down payment you are able to make. Do you have 20% for a conventional loan? Or the 3.5% for an FHA? Are you financially prepared to take on a mortgage, interest, insurance and property taxes? Some people might spread themselves too thin in an effort to get approved on paper. However, it is critical that you are honest with yourself here and stay within your means. Just because you are approved for a certain amount, doesn’t mean you need to spend it all. As a parent would say, “Make smart decisions.”
Once you know what you can afford, you can work with a lender to get approved. Most lenders will tell you what you need to do to get that approval. They can even help put together an action plan to help you reach your goals.
Step 2: Go Shopping
Don’t just look for listed homes, look at recently sold ones too. What can you really get for your money? People can list properties for any price they want. It doesn’t mean they are actually selling at those prices. Pay attention to the market and annual trends. Bid with intelligence and be well-informed. Don’t succumb to impulsive moves that will end up costing you down the road.
Before you make an offer, find out EXACTLY what is included with the home. Is the seller including any furniture? What about the appliances? You cannot assume they are included unless you have it in writing. You wouldn’t want to find out on the day you move in that you need to go buy a refrigerator or washer.
You will want to make sure the seller has a home warranty in place to cover any major repairs that are needed over the next year. You need to have the reassurance that something isn’t going to immediately go wrong right after you move in. Home warranty to cover major repairs over next year
Have an inspection done by a professional, licensed inspector. Once your inspection is done, talk to a licensed contractor about the cost of repairs. You can take this to the seller to negotiate who will pay to fix the home or work the repairs into the final sale price
Step 3: Buy Your Dream Home in Meadowbrook Acres
Most lenders you will work with require an appraisal on the home before they will let the funding go through. The home needs to meet their requirements in order for you to make the purchase. Once your financier has approved, you will want to get detailed closing costs and review all associated fees.
Schedule a final walk through, checking all switches, fixtures, outlets, etc. (Some small things can be a sign of bigger problems!) Final walk through test all fixtures, switches, outlets faucets, etc.
Once you are satisfied with everything, you are ready to sign your contract.
Congratulations! It’s time to move in!
Are you ready to buy or sell a house in Collier Heights or Cascade? We can help you answer all of your questions and find the home of your dreams. Contact Kevin Polite, Solid Source Realty, Inc. or give him a call today 404-299-7100!
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Decatur Real Estate For Sale 30030 and 30032
ABOUT
Kevin Polite is a Solid Source Realty, Inc. Realtor and the exclusive agent for HausZwei Homes. He specializes in Decatur 30032 and Decatur 30030 including the neighborhoods of Midway Woods, Belvedere Park, White Oak Hills and Meadowbrook Acres. He is also very active in East Atlanta and Atlanta homes in the fast appreciating areas of West End and Westside Trail along the Atlanta Beltline. You will receive personal attention throughout your transactionas he guides you through the home buying or selling process.Call Kevin Today and find out why so many consider him the best agent they have ever worked with.
HausZwei Homes refreshes and re-energizes homes for resale and for rent mainly in the Decatur area including Meadowbrook Acres, Greater Towers, Belvedere Park, White Oak Hills, East Lake, East Lake Terrace and Midway Woods. We have future projects slated for East Atlanta, Sylvan Hills, the Cascade area and along the Westside Trail along the Atlanta Beltline. You won’t find beige and boring in our homes. We maintain the traditional 1950’s ranch style of the home, but add a clean, modern and up-to-date touch to them. We love brick homes and are not afraid of adding color to them. Our kitchens feature European designed IKEA cabinets. You’ll notice the attention to detail in both our homes for sale and our homes for rent. Many of homes are a short drive away from Downtown Decatur and its many shops and restaurants. Others are close to East Atlanta Village. We will soon start our remodels in Sylvan Hills, the Cascade area and Atlanta homes in the fast appreciating areas of West End and Westside Trail along the Atlanta Beltline.
We give back to the community. We are an active sponsor of Friends of Dearborn Park, a DeKalb park located in Midway Woods in Decatur. We support teachers at Peachcrest Elementary School. We have donated time and money to Towers Action Group (TAG). There are many dogs that need adopting and DeKalb Animal Services is busting at the seams with pets that need a loving home.
For more information on these groups go to www.facebook.com/FriendsofDearbornPark and www.facebook.com/TowersActionGroup and dekalbanimalservices.com/adopt-a-pet/dogs-for-adoption
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This is taken from our trip to Palm Springs during a moped tour of Mid Century Modern homes.
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Our first remodel that started it all. Loved it so much I live in it.
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From my Atlanta Journal-Constitution Real Estate Advertising days. Remember the Sunday Homefinder.
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This is my Ralphie. This 112lb lovable Black Lab mix pretty much runs the family. We adopted Ralphie from Lifeline. There are many dogs that need a loving home. http://dekalbanimalservices.com/adopt-a-pet/dogs-for-adoption
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GladysKravitz is typical of the nosy neighbor who’ll wonder how you sold your home so fast!
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Kevin Polite will help you find that Mid Century Modern Home
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Dearborn Park is located in Decatur in the Midway Woods neighborhood. I live in and have sold many homes in this neighborhood.
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HasuZwei Homes gives back to the community. Dearborn Park tree planting in which we donated all of the trees, shrubs and materials. See more photos at www.facebook.com/friendsofdearbornpark
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More volunteer work. This is with Towers Action Group (TAG). We donated paint to help this business on Memorial Drive in the Meadowbrook Acres and Belvedere Park neighborhood. www.facebook.com/TowersActionGroup/
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This is a photo from Mrs. Hines class at Peachcrest Elementary in the DeKalb County School District in Decatur 30032. HausZwei Homes donated money so that the kids in her 2nd grade would have materials for their art project. We believe strongly in support the art in education.
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Many of the homes we sell in Decatur, GA are near Downtown Decatur.
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East Atlanta is a hot area with tons of activity in the Village (EAV) including the annual East Atlanta Beer Fest.
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The Beautiful Restaurant in Cascade Atlanta has been serving great food for many years. It’s one of the many attractions in the Cascade area.
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Busy Bee Café on MLK Dr. is another fixture in Westside Atlanta. Their Fried chicken has been featured on many Food Network shows. Shown here is their collard greens, black eyed peas, mac n cheese all washed down w the uptown (half lemonade half sweet tea) woo wee. I won’t say which of the two ‘tween Busy Bee and The Beautiful is my favorite. It’s too much fun deciding which.
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Even Bernie Sanders loves him some Busy Bee southern cookin’ Soul Food.
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Sylvan Hills has many Craftsmen homes and Sylvan Middle School is widely respected and the teachers go the extra mile.
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Westside Atlanta Beltline. Are you looking for a home near the Beltine? There is a program available to help you down payment assistance. Please call me Kevin Polite, 404-299-7100 for more information.
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Did you inherit a home, about to go into foreclosure or have a home that just wouldn’t be profitable if you sold it with a real estate agent? Being a REALTOR®I understand both side of the equation. We have partnered with and recommend the following if you are in one of these situations:
WWW.WEBUYHOUSESINDECATUR.COM
WWW.SYLVANHILLS.CASH
WWW.WEBUYHOUSESCASCADEATLANTA.COM
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