When you understand current market conditions, you are better able to position yourself as a Seller. It helps to know if you are in a Seller's, Buyer's or Balanced market when setting your asking price. In a Buyer's market there is a lot more competition and Buyers have plenty of choices and room to negotiate, forcing you to be very competitive when setting your price.

Here are some of the steps I will take to find your perfect home:

Determine Your Wants and Needs
This is the single most important step. By asking you a series of questions I will establish what you are looking for. My goal is to not waste your time by looking at properties that are not in your price range or homes that don't meet you needs. Throughout the buying process I will maintain your confidentiality and represent your best interests.

Help You Get Pre-Qualified
This step will show you how much you can afford.  This is accomplished by speaking with your financial institution and establishing what monthly payments you will be comfortable with. This step is an essential step in purchasing a home.

Explain the different type of Agency's offered in South Carolina                       Most buyers and sellers do not realize there are different types of agency's or the benefits of hiring an agent. When we meet at my office you will also be given an "Agency Disclosure" which will explain the details in addition to what you can expect as a client versus customer. The more information you have, the better decisions you can make in finding your dream home.

Home Shopping
We will use every available method to locate a property that matches your search parameters.  This will include properties listed with our office, offered through other real estate companies, as well as unlisted properties.  We will disclose all known facts about the property that are likely to affect your decision. When we find the home that meets your criteria, I will assist you in writing an offer and act as a liason between you and the seller.

Choosing a Lender

Along with choosing a loan, you should consider the variety of sources for loans as they each offer advantages and disadvantages depending on the loan amount, the interest rate, your down payment amount, and much more. Major categories of mortgage lenders include: Savings & Loans Savings and Loan Associations (S&Ls) are the largest traditional lenders of residential home loans. They remain a major source of funding for home loans. S&Ls are often called Savings Banks in the Eastern U.S. Commercial Banks Commercial banks offer attractive loan terms, particularly if they evaluate their entire banking relationship with you. Some commercial banks have their own real estate lending departments and will service your loan. Other commercial banks sell their loans to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, two major government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs) that specialize in buying residential loans from lenders. Mortgage Bankers Mortgage bankers borrow money from banks or pools of investors, underwrite the loans, and sell them to investors for a profit. They often receive a fee from these investors for servicing your loan. Loan servicing includes collecting monthly payments, sending out loan statements, and collecting late payments. Mortgage Brokers Mortgage brokers circulate, or 'shop,' a loan application among lenders to find the most attractive terms for the borrower. In exchange, a lender pays the broker a fee. Homeowners You may find that the current homeowner is willing to offer financing in exchange for selling the home. This means that the seller becomes your lender. A common means of financing is for the seller to accept a note. A note requires you to make monthly payments to the seller instead of a bank or other lender. Credit Unions Since credit unions are owned by their members, they are called cooperative financial institutions. Since they are nonprofit institutions, credit unions may offer attractive loan rates to their members. Like commercial mortgage lenders, credit unions sell their loans to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to maintain access to new sources of loan funds. The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA) regulates the credit union industry. When selecting a lender or broker to finance your new home, be sure to do your homework on the company or institution. As interest rates have continued to decline, more and more lenders have appeared in the industry. As rates begin to increase, more and more of these new lenders may go out of business. Always check to make sure your lender is qualified and has the resources to service your note for the life of the loan. Choosing A Loan - Click here for more information Lenders Suntrust Mortgage: Ed Bocchino - 843.655.8078 WR Starkey Mortgage: Chuck Sands - 843.504.1803 Palmetto First Mortgage, LLC - Jill Schaffner - 843.450.5455 RESPA Disclosures Help you Shop for a Mortgage