Friday, May 20, 2016

How Much Buying Power Do You Have in Chicago?


Looking to buy a Chicago home? Get a full Home Search
Selling your Chicago home? Get a free Home Price Evaluation

For any buyer, there are a few different things that are very important when determining your buying power. The first is your credit score. It’s the first thing lenders will look at, and it determines how strong of a buyer you are to a lender. The next thing to focus on is a down payment. How much can you put down? The more the better, and if you put at least 20% down, you will eliminate private mortgage insurance. Finally, a lender will take a look at your debt-to-income ratio. The lower those numbers are, the more buying power you will have. An ideal ratio can vary depending on the program, but a good rule of thumb is having 35-40%. The next thing to focus on is assets. The more assets you have, the stronger you are as a buyer.



The first things lenders will look at is your credit score.



The most attractive buyer will be someone with a high credit score, high down payment, and low debt-to-income ratio. If you have any questions for us about buying a home, give us a call or send us an email. We would love to hear from you!

Monday, May 16, 2016

5 Tips to Accurately Price Your Chicago Home


Looking to buy a Chicago home? Get a full Home Search
Selling your Chicago home? Get a free Home Price Evaluation

Today, I’m going to discuss how to price your home accurately in today’s market. Here are five things you should keep in mind.

1. Consider the comparables in the area. What have other homes sold for in your neighborhood in the last 60 to 90 days? How do they compare to your home in terms of size, upkeep, and amenities? 

2. Consider the competition in your area. Always be aware of which homes are for sale in your neighborhood.

3. What are your contingencies? Is there a certain time frame for your move? Do you need to be in the new property by a certain date? There are two issues that affect real estate sales in any market: price and the seller’s motivation.



Price your home correctly from the start.



4. Be accurate in pricing. According to the National Association of Realtors, if you are 3% higher than what the fair market value is, your home could take 20% to 30% longer than the average market time to sell. 

5. Know what offers you’re looking for. Know what you are willing to take before you even begin negotiations with the buyer. 

If you have any questions, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you.