• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Accessibility Statement

Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterFollow Us on InstagramFollow Us on YouTubeRSS Feed

Kimberly Howell Properties

San Antonio Real Estate

office@kimberlyhowell.com
(210) 493-6888
  • Blog
  • About Us
  • Agents
  • Buyers
    • Neighborhoods
    • Relocation Information
  • Sellers
  • Listings
    • Available Rentals
    • Homes for Sale
    • McNair Custom Homes
    • Open Houses
  • Contact
  • Rental SearchHomes for Rent
  • REALTORS®Find an Agent
  • McNair Custom HomesNew Construction
  • Property SearchHomes for Sale
You are here: Home / Archives for benefits

benefits

Why work with a licensed real estate agent?

March 19, 2012 by khproperties 3 Comments

Jabberwocky - Fredericksburg, Texas

Lewis Carroll famously said, “If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there!” This is especially true for home buying. Personal due diligence in preparing an organized plan with a sound real estate agent will give you countless advantages as you navigate your way through the process. Why work with a licensed agent?

First and foremost, a real estate agent belongs to a professional society. This benefits you immeasurably. How? Once you have established an agency relationship, real estate experts are obligated to you by means of a fiduciary connection – an ethical association of confidence and trust for life. And through their professional connections, they have limitless resources to help you expeditiously locate the home that suits your needs. And through their professional experience, they can provide opportunities to obtain it at the right value and financing. They are also measured in the art of negotiation and have vast skill with the plethora of situations and their related forms. Most importantly, they will allow you to be ready when the opportunity arises. Too many people miss out on their dream property because they are not ready!

How can you prevent unpreparedness? Well, let’s take a look at some key points that can assist you. A contributing factor to readiness is financial preparation. You will have to understand your fiscal strengths and weaknesses. One way to do that is to obtain a pre-approval letter from a lender for the price range you qualify for. Agents have contacts with many lenders who can help you find the right loan to suit your needs.

What will lenders look at? In general, lenders traditionally look at several key factors. First, they will have to know how much cash you have access to and how readily available it is. Available cash will determine the loan type. They also look at current income and potential for income along with debt and credit history. These factors will help determine your loan to value ratio (LTV). Most lenders will allow 28% – 33% of income to be committed to a mortgage and no more than 36% – 41% combined with mortgage and credit debt.

Are you an existing homeowner? Can you own two homes at one time or do you need to make the deal contingent on selling your current home? If buying is dependent on selling your current home, you will have less leverage when negotiating for market value.

What if you can own two homes, should you buy first or sell first? Usually the best option is to put your home on the market and then start house hunting. The goal is to try and limit the time between the closings on selling your house and buying another. Your agent will be invaluable in assisting you with the options associated with this situation.

As you can see, we have just brushed the surface on several considerations that will assist with your preparations in purchasing a home. They ranged from establishing a fiduciary relationship to financing to selling and buying at the same time. Just remember, hope of getting lucky in finding a good deal is a method, but luck comes around a little more often when a “prepared buyer” works with a “real estate professional.”

image courtesy of Life Will Find A Way

Filed Under: Buying a Home Tagged With: real estate agent, buying a home, benefits, lenders

Primary Sidebar

McNair Custom Homes Video

Recently, we had the pleasure of working with McNair Custom Homes and The IMG Studio to put together a video about McNair Custom Homes and their building philosophy. We love the way it turned out. We hope you … [Read More...] about McNair Custom Homes Video

Confused About The Housing Market?

Confused About The Housing Market? Lean On Your Realtor

If you’re thinking about buying or selling a home, you probably want to know what’s really happening with home prices, mortgage rates, housing supply, and more. That’s not an easy task considering how … [Read More...] about Confused About The Housing Market? Lean On Your Realtor

Homeownership Is An Investment In Your Future

Homeownership: An Investment In Your Future

There are many people thinking about buying a home, but with everything affecting the economy, some are wondering if it’s a smart decision to buy now or if it makes more sense to wait it out. As Bob Broeksmit, … [Read More...] about Homeownership: An Investment In Your Future

Ready for Homeownership?

What You Need To Know If You’re Ready For Homeownership

If you’re a young adult, you may be thinking about your goals and priorities for the months and years ahead. And if homeownership ranks high on your goal sheet, you’re in good company. Many of your peers are … [Read More...] about What You Need To Know If You’re Ready For Homeownership

Prioritizing Your Wants and Needs

Prioritizing Your Wants And Needs As A Homebuyer

There’s no denying mortgage rates are higher now than they were last year. And if you’re thinking about buying a home, this may be top of mind for you. That’s because those higher rates impact how much it costs … [Read More...] about Prioritizing Your Wants And Needs As A Homebuyer

Search Our Site

Real Estate Topics

  • Buying a Home
  • Homeowner Tips
  • KHP News
  • Local Events
  • Local Laws
  • Miscellaneous
  • Mortgages and Financing
  • Open Houses
  • Real Estate
  • Real Estate Market
  • Renters and Landlords
  • San Antonio Places
  • Sell Your Home
  • Technology
Our real estate agents can help you with properties anywhere in Texas. If you need assistance finding agents in other parts of the country, please contact us.

Search Homes

Explore Cities

  • Alamo Heights 35 Listings
  • Bandera 385 Listings
  • Blanco 193 Listings
  • Boerne 709 Listings
  • Bulverde 420 Listings
  • Canyon Lake 476 Listings
  • Castle Hills 22 Listings
  • Castroville 92 Listings
  • Cibolo 375 Listings
  • Comfort 58 Listings
  • Converse 691 Listings
  • Fair Oaks Ranch 52 Listings
  • Floresville 241 Listings
  • Garden Ridge 11 Listings
  • Helotes 147 Listings
  • Hill Country Village 4 Listings
  • La Vernia 170 Listings
  • Lakehills 142 Listings
  • Leon Valley 23 Listings
  • Live Oak 82 Listings
  • Mico 123 Listings
  • New Braunfels 1565 Listings
  • Olmos Park 9 Listings
  • San Antonio 10907 Listings
  • Schertz 295 Listings
  • Seguin 641 Listings
  • Selma 76 Listings
  • Shavano Park 14 Listings
  • Spring Branch 430 Listings
  • Terrell Hills 16 Listings
  • Universal City 96 Listings
  • Windcrest 32 Listings
  • Hollywood Pk 2 Listings

Stay up to date with the latest from Kimberly Howell Properties.

San Antonio real estate and property information provided by Kimberly Howell Properties. Kimberly Howell Properties does not assume any liability or responsibility for the operation or content of any of the linked resources, nor for any of the interpretations, comments, graphics, or opinions contained therein. All information deemed reliable, but not guaranteed.

KJH Properties, Inc. is a licensed real estate brokerage in the State of Texas, Equal Opportunity Employer, and supporter of the Fair Housing Act.

TREC Information About Brokerage Services | TREC Consumer Protection Notice | Privacy Policy

All content © 2009-2023 Kimberly Howell Properties, unless otherwise noted.