Basking Ridge Real Estate / Homes for Sale:  
Thinking of Moving? Think Young!
 www.marieyoung.net    908.938.2525 (Cell)

  
11 Tips for First-Time Homebuyers:

1. Be focused and discerning-- don't compromise a must have, but do incorporate some flexibility into your plan after your most important requirements have been met.  It's rare that one home comes with everything on the wish list ready and waiting.

2. Do your homework before you start looking, and discuss with your realtor. Decide specifically what features you want in a home and which are most important to you.  Then, think Young - let Marie filter out all that's not for you.

3. Get your finances in order. Review your credit report and be sure you have enough money to cover your down payment and your closing costs.

4. Don’t wait to get a loan. Talk to a lender and get pre-qualified for a mortgage before you start looking.  Coldwell Banker Mortgage will qualify you in 20 minutes, in total confidence.  1-888-531-9137.

5. Don’t ask too many people for opinions. It will drive you crazy. Select one or two people to turn to if you feel you need a second opinion.

6. Decide when you could move. When is your lease up? Are you allowed to sublet? How tight is the rental market in your area?  Do you have another home to sell?  Can you afford to purchase before selling your home?  If so, for how long?

7. Think long-term. Are you looking for a starter house with the idea of moving up in a few years or do you hope to stay in this home longer? This decision may dictate what type of home you’ll buy as well as the type of mortgage terms that suit you best.

8. Don’t let yourself be “house poor”. If you max yourself out to buy the biggest home you can afford, you’ll have no money left for maintenance or decoration or to save money for other financial goals.

9. Insist on a home inspection and, if possible, get a warranty from the seller to cover defects within one year.

10. Of course, per Opinion, 26, seek legal counsel even though not required.  No one except your lawyer can offer you legal advice.

11. The list goes on and on -- Think Young – call Marie Young at 908.938.2525.

Reprinted from REALTOR^® Magazine Online by permission of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^®Copyright 2005. All rights reserved.                        www.REALTOR.org/realtormag           

One-Stop Shopping for Real Estate and Homes for Sale:
    Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Bernardsville / Basking Ridge
    39 Olcott Square  Bernardsville, NJ 07924 
    Coldwell Banker Office Number:  908.766.2900 X131 
     Cell:  908.938.2525  Marie Young, Realtor, SRES
Copyright 2003 - 2006 Marie Young, Think Young@marieyoung.net  All rights reserved.  Information within site is believed reliable, but not guaranteed and may change without notice. All content and links to content is provided "as is", and without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied.  Read Legal, Copyright, Privacy Statement here.  Links to outside sites will open in a new window.  © 2006 Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation. Coldwell Banker® is a registered trademark licensed to Coldwell Banker Real Estate Corporation. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Owned and Operated by NRT Incorporated.   Click on the Coldwell Banker Logo from home page to visit the Bernardsville office official site.  Real Estate and homes for sale in Basking Ridge, Bernardsville, Bedminster, Far Hills, The HIlls, and Peapack-Gladstone are primary service areas, although I cover most of Somerset, Hunterdon, and Morris Counties as well.