Roger Shults

Step 1: Start gathering a down payment The very first step every home buyer should tackle is to figure out their finances. Buying a home (particularly for the first time) requires a mortgage, where a lender fronts you the money and you pay them back over time. However, in order to get a mortgage, you'll need to put down some sort of down payment. So how much do you need? Ideally, a down payment on a mortgage should be 20% of the home's price to avoid added fees, but if you don't have that much, don't worry. A mortgage down payment can be as low as 10%, 5%, or even 0% for certain types of mortgages like VA loans or a USDA loan. Step 2: Check your credit score In addition to having a down payment, a home buyer will need a decent credit score. This three-digit number is a numerical summary of your credit report, a detailed document outlining how well you've paid off past debts like for credit cards and college student loans. A lender will check your score and report in order to estimate the odds that you will deliver your monthly payment to them, too. In turn, they will use this info to decide whether to loan you money, as well as how much and at what interest rate. If a lender sees some late payments or other blemishes in your credit report, this can lower your odds of getting a loan with a great interest rate, or perhaps even jeopardize your chances of getting any loan at all. So, it's essential to know your score and take steps now if necessary, to increase your score. Step 3: Get pre-approved for a mortgage Before you head out home buying, you should seek pre-approval from a lender for a home loan. This is where you meet with a loan officer, ideally a few at various mortgage companies. Each mortgage lender will scrutinize your financial backgrounds—such as your debt-to-income ratio and assets—and use this info to determine whether they're willing to loan you money, and what size monthly payment you can realistically afford. This will help you target homes in your price range. And that's good since a purchase price that's beyond your financial reach will make you sweat your mortgage payment and puts you at risk of defaulting on your loan. As a buyer, just keep in mind that mortgage pre-approval is different from mortgage pre-qualification. Pre-qualify, and you're undergoing a much simpler process that can give you a ballpark figure of what you can afford to borrow, but with no promise from the lender. Getting pre-approved is more of a pain since you'll have to provide tons of paperwork, but it's worth the trouble since it guarantees you're creditworthy and can truly buy a home. Before they even meet with a lender, one step homebuyers can take to begin understanding what they can afford as a monthly mortgage payment is to plug their info into an online home affordability calculator. This will calculate the maximum amount you can afford as a monthly payment. Step 4: Find a real estate agent Want a trusty home-buying guide by your side? Most buyers will want a great real estate agent—specifically a buyer's agent, who will help you find the right houses, negotiate a great real estate deal, and explain all the nuances of home buying along the way. The best part? Their services are typically free to home buyers (since the seller pays the sales commission). Contact me today for professional real estate services that have been voted #1 by home buyers and sellers in Elbert and Douglas County. Step 5: Go home buying! This is the fun part! As a buyer, you can peruse thousands of real estate listings on sites such as realtor.com, Zillow, and the Real Estate Professional’s MLS, then ask your me (your realtor) to set up appointments to see your favorites in person. Since the sheer number of homes can become overwhelming, it's best to separate your must-haves from those features you'd like, but don't really need. Do you really want a new home or do you prefer a fixer-upper? Make a list of your wants and needs to get started, and whittle down your options. Step 6: Make an offer Found your dream home? Then it's time to make an offer to the seller. Consult with me, your Realtor, to make an offer to get into your dream home. Step 7: Get a home inspection A home inspection is where you hire a home inspector to check out the house from top to bottom to determine if there are any problems with it that might make you think twice about moving forward. Think termites, faulty foundation, mold, asbestos, etc. Sure, a lot can go wrong, but rest assured that most problems are fixable. Step 8: Get a home appraisal Even if you got pre-approved for your home loan, your lender will want to conduct a home appraisal. This is where they check out the house to make sure it's a good investment. It's similar to a home inspection, but for your lender. Here's more about the home appraisal process and what to expect as a buyer. Step 9: Head to closing Closing, which in different parts of the country is also known as “settlement” or “escrow,” brings together a variety of parties who are part of the real estate transaction, including the buyer, seller, mortgage representative, and others. Closing is the day you officially get the keys to your new home—and pay all the various parties involved. That will include your down payment for your loan, plus closing costs, the extra fees you pay to process your loan. Closing costs can be sizable, averaging anywhere from 2% to 7% of the home price. Here's more on closing costs for home buyers. Step 10: Move in! Done with closing? Got your loan? Congratulations, you've officially graduated from a buyer to a homeowner! See, the home-buying process wasn't so scary after all, right? Now it's time to kick back and enjoy the many benefits of becoming a homeowner. (Provided by realtor.com)

1. Find a great real estate agent Think you can sell your home yourself, and pocket the cash you would otherwise pay an agent? It can be tempting, especially in a hot market, but resist the urge, "For Sale by Owner" transactions are almost always a disaster, leading you to sacrifice both money and time. That said, don’t just blindly hire the agent who most recently sent you a flyer or the one your uncle’s friend's co-worker's cousin used. Contact me today for professional real estate services that have been voted #1 by home buyers and sellers in Elbert and Douglas County. 2. Consider your curb appeal Make sure the first thing prospective buyers see of your home entices them to want to see more. Yes, for better or worse, buyers do tend to judge a book by its cover. By investing some effort in fixes like planting colorful flowers and repainting your front door, the outside of your house can beckon them to come on in. 3. Declutter living areas Less is definitely more when it comes to getting your house ready to show. Do a clean sweep of counters, windowsills, tables, and all other visible areas, and then tackle behind closed doors: closets, drawers, and cupboards—since virtually nothing is off-limits for curious buyers. And if the house is overflowing with stuff, they might worry that the house won’t have ample space for their own belongings. Take the excess and donate or pack it up for storage space. The bonus to taking care of this now is that it’s one less chore you’ll have to do when it’s actually time to move. 4. Depersonalize your space The next step on your declutter list? You want to remove any distractions so the buyers can visualize themselves and their family living in the property. He says that includes personal items and family photos, as well as bold artwork and furniture that might make your home less appealing to the general public. The goal is to create a blank canvas on which house hunters can project their own visions of living there and loving it. 5. Repaint walls to neutral tones You might love that orange accent wall, but if it’s your potential buyer’s least favorite color, that could be a turnoff, you’re pretty safe with a neutral color because it's rare that someone hates it, but the other benefit is that a light color allows [buyers] to envision what the walls would look like with the color of their choice. 6. Touch up any scuff marks Even if you’re not doing a full-on repainting project, pay special attention to scrubbing and then touching up baseboards, walls, and doors to make the house sparkle and look cared-for. 7. Fix any loose handles A small thing, sure, but you’d be surprised by the negative effect a loose handle or missing lightbulb can have on a buyer, it can make them stop and think, “what else is broken here?" 8. Add some plants Green is good because plants create a more welcoming environment. You might also want to consider a bouquet of flowers or bowl of fruit on the kitchen counter or dining table. 9. Conduct a smell test Foul odors, even slight ones, can be a deal breaker, and the problem is that you might not even notice them, try inviting an unbiased third party in to try to detect any pet smells or lingering odors from your kitchen. If the smells are pervasive, you might need to do some deep cleaning, because many buyers are on to your “masking techniques” such as candles or plug-in room deodorizers. 10. Clean, clean, clean And then clean some more. You want your property to look spotless. Take special care with the bathroom, making sure the tile, counters, shower, and floors shine. 11. Hide valuables From art to jewelry, make sure that your treasures are out of sight, either locked up or stored offsite. 12. Consider staging Does your house scream 1985? Nothing invigorates a house like some new furnishings or even just a perfectly chosen mirror. The key is getting your home staged by a professional. Home stagers will evaluate the current condition and belongings in your house and determine what elements might raise the bar. They might recommend you buy or rent some items, or they might just reorganize your knickknacks and bookshelves in a whole new (that is, better) way. (Provided by realtor.com)

I began investing in real estate in 1996 at the age of eighteen. Since that time I have purchased and sold hundreds of properties in multiple states & all types of markets. I understand market swings and knows what it takes to help you take advantage of today’s real estate trends. Whether you are buying or selling, residential, commercial, or vacant land, I will get you the results you need.

I worked as a loan officer from 2000-2005 earning the respect and trust of clients as well as distinction as one of the top loan officers in the country. My understanding of lending has provided solutions to many real estate transactions. A REALTOR since 2007, I have helped many people like you successfully buy and sell property. With my in-depth knowledge and experience working with banks, trustees, attorneys, corporations, foreclosures, and short sales, I am well positioned to serve you; contact me today to schedule an appointment.