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What You Need to Know about Financing Your New Home

Published on December 30, 2016 by Smith Marketing

House hunting is fun and exciting. Searching for homes and imagining the future you and your family will have there is an amazing experience. But before you start looking for a house for sale in Greensboro, you have homework to do. Make the entire experience more pleasant by getting your financial ducks in a row beforehand. Here’s what you need to know about financing your new home.

Get preapproved for a mortgage.

This is truly the most important step. You need to meet with a mortgage broker at your preferred financial institution and find out what amount you will be able to borrow for a home, if you qualify to do so. Don’t set yourself up for the disappointment of finding the home of your dreams and then finding out that you can’t get a loan to buy it.

Save, save, save. And then save more.

One of the best things you can do to prepare to finance a home is to build up a solid savings. You will need this money for closing costs, a down payment, and other expenses that come with moving into a new home. You can never save too much, but there are options for down payment assistance that may be available to you, especially if you are first time home buyer.

Determine a Realistic Price Range.

Based on your preapproval amount and a good hard look at your finances, you can come up with a price range for house hunting. You always want to spend less on a home than you are preapproved for to allow room for other bills, expenses, and home maintenance.

Bump Up Your Credit Score.

You can improve your credit score by keeping balances low on lines of credit, avoiding credit checks, and making payments on time. You can read more information about your credit score and request a free copy of your credit report at annualcreditreport.com.

Now You are Ready to Look at Houses.

Once you have covered all of these points, you are ready to look for a house for sale in Greensboro. Smith Marketing of Allen Tate Realtors has a huge database of houses for sale in Greensboro and the surrounding area. Contact Smith Marketing and Allen Tate Realtors at (336) 215-7880.

The Most Effective Way to Find Your Next Home: Hire a Real Estate Agent

Published on December 20, 2016 by Smith Marketing

These days, where technology rules and do-it-yourself advice is right at your fingertips, it can be easy to think you can find your next home on your own. However, the most effective way to find your next home is to hire a real estate agent. Real estate agents have knowledge and experience or “tricks of the trade” you could say, that give you an advantage. If you want access to the most homes for sale in the Triad, hire a real estate agent.

A real estate agent offers definite advantages:

  • Inside info. A real estate agent has access to insider info that only real estate agents have access to. Agents network with other agents to help clients buy and sell houses, meaning you may be offered opportunities you could not find on your own.
  • Knowledge of the community. When you’re looking for a certain type of neighborhood or community, a real estate agent will know the area well enough to help you find what you’re looking for.
  • Financial know-how. A real estate agent will have a good knowledge of the prices of homes in different neighborhoods and can help you make an educated decision regarding offers, price range, and financing.
  • Paperwork/closing assistance. Your real estate agent can handle a lot of the necessary paperwork and is willing to be present at your closing to make sure everything goes smoothly and that you understand the paperwork you are signing.
  • Negotiation skills. Throughout the process of looking at houses and making offers, you need a real estate agent’s negotiation skills. Your agent acts as the go-between from buyer to seller.
  • Experience. All of these things come from the experience your real estate agent has had in the business. The more experience your agent has, the better he or she will be at all of the above.

Get Insider Access to Greensboro NC Homes for Sale by Smith Marketing and Allen Tate Realtors

When you work with Smith Marketing and Allen Tate Realtors, you get access to the biggest database of Greensboro NC homes for sale. Use the online property search and call (336)451-4921 or (336)663-1320 to be matched with an experienced real estate agent.

Real estate agents from Allen Tate in Greensboro

Qualities to Look For in a Real Estate Agent

Published on December 11, 2016 by Smith Marketing

When it comes to buying and selling homes, your real estate agent makes all the difference. You need to find an agent you can connect with, who has certain qualities that will help you sell your home and find a new one that meets your requirements. When choosing from real estate agents in Greensboro, look for these qualities.

Communication. One of the most important aspects of the client/agent relationship is communication. You need an agent who keeps you up to date, who contacts you before you contact them. You need to be able to easily get in touch with your real estate agent. And on a deeper level, your agent must be able to adequately express important information regarding the buying and selling of homes.

Good listening skills. In addition to good communication skills, your real estate agent should listen well to your thoughts and needs when it comes to selling your home or buying a new one. When your agent listens to what you want in a home they are more likely to show you homes you will like.

Adaptable. A real estate agent needs to be able to adapt their behavior and technique to suit each individual client. Each client and each home is different, and needs to be handled as such.

Detail oriented. Your agent should know the important details about selling your home and helping you find a new one. A good real estate agent will be aware of the your selling and buying time constraints and your motivation behind buying or selling, using that key information to be successful.

Highly recommended. Ask for recommendations or references from the agent’s most recent clients, as many as 20 if you wish to get a good feel for their reputation.

Want to Find Real Estate Agents in Greensboro with these Qualities?

Try Smith Marketing and Allen Tate Realtors. Real estate agents who listen to your wants and needs combined with experts who know how to list your home to get it sold make a winning combination. Contact Smith Marketing and Allen Tate Realtors.

An Introduction to Luxury Living in the Grandover Area

Published on December 2, 2016 by Smith Marketing

Would you like to wake up and look out over manicured fairways, lush forests, and green meadows? Don’t wait for your next vacation. Wake up to resort life every day at the Grandover in Greensboro. Residential life at Grandover allows you to live within walking distance of all the resort amenities, but away from the hustle and bustle of the resort. Luxury homes are available in many styles including single family homes as well as low-maintenance townhomes and enclave-style homes.

Grandover Offers Resort Amenities Just Outside Your Door

With two golf courses, a junior Olympic size swimming pool, club house, tennis courts, fitness center, and day spa, living at Grandover is like being on vacation with all the comforts of home. There’s so much to do at Grandover, you’ll never have to leave. But when you do decide to venture out, you’ll find everything you need at a convenient distance such as shopping, dining, and entertainment.

Looking for a Great Location to Build a New Custom Home? Grandover in Greensboro has Ready Home Sites.

If you’re looking for just the right home site to build your custom home, check out the available lots at Grandover. You’ll have room to build a luxury home with plenty of yard space to spare. And with so many recreational opportunities available at Grandover, you’ll find it easy to get out and stay active.

Maintenance-Free Living at its Finest

It’s not difficult to find maintenance-free homes in the Greensboro area. But Grandover has much more to offer, such as townhomes and enclave-style homes where yard maintenance is taken care of, and resort amenities are also included. Relax and enjoy life as if you are on a never ending holiday.

Experience the luxury lifestyle of Grandover in Greensboro. Contact Smith Marketing of Allen Tate Realtors at (336) 215-7880