Working For You 

Whether buying your first home, or selling your current home, we are here to help.  Buying or selling a home can be overwhelming.  Today's market conditions are rapidly changing.  It is important to work with a knowledgeable professional who understands the market conditions and is able to provide sound advice based on market research and experience. Regardless of what has happened to the real estate market during the past few years, home ownership is still a good long-term investment because it helps with wealth accumulation for the future.  

Looking for a home?

Before deciding which house to buy, think about your lifestyle, your current and anticipated housing needs, and your budget. It’s a good idea to create a prioritized list of features you want in your next home – you'll soon discover finding the right house involves striking a balance between your "must-haves" and your "nice-to-haves."

Perhaps the most important decision is deciding on the type of home you want. Do you want a condominium or a co-op? A town house or a detached single-family home? Do you want brick, stone, stucco, wood, vinyl siding, or something else? Do you prefer a new home or an older one?

It’s important to think about your new home’s location just as carefully as you do about a house’s features. Location is a huge part of any move. In addition to considering the distance to work, you need to evaluate the availability of shopping, police and fire protection, medical facilities, school and day-care, traffic and parking, trash and garbage collection,and even recreational facilities.

Through all of this, make sure to talk to a Great Central Realty professional about where you want to live. While many buyers now use the Internet to gain access to listings, it is still a good idea to use an agent. The agent can answer questions and share their professional expertise as well as handle all the paperwork that is involved in the real estate transaction.

Early on in the process, you'll want to get pre-qualified for a mortgage loan. This helps determine how much house you can afford. A pre-approval is a simple calculation done by a mortgage lender that tells you the amount you'll be able to finance through a loan and what your monthly payment will be. When you find a home to buy, a pre-approval assures the seller that you have the financial means to purchase his or her home. The mortgage lenders at Great Central Mortgage work close with our Realtors and they can make the process easy for you. 

The price you can afford to pay for a home will depend on several factors, such as:

• gross income
• the funds you have available for the down payment, closing costs and cash reserves required by the lender
• your debt
• your credit history 
• the type of mortgage you select
• current interest rates

Buying a new home and selling an existing home at the same time has its own set of difficulties. But with planning, you can ensure everything goes smoothly. Before putting your house on the market or committing to buying a new one, take a look at the prices of houses in the areas where you'll be both selling and buying. Your Great Central Realty professional can provide a realistic idea of how much similar houses cost. 

Buying a Second Home?

Many people see buying a second home as an investment opportunity. Buying a second home isn't that much different than buying a first home. The ability to afford it usually depends on your ability to qualify for a mortgage on the second home. Benefits include a getaway for the family on vacations or holidays, a future retirement home, rental income, or just a smart investment. New Bridge Management can help you with managing the property. 

Keep in mind that if you declare it as a rental, your mortgage might be slightly higher. Work with your Great Central Mortgage lender to create a customized loan program with the best combination of rate, points, and closing costs for your needs.

Need an Agent?

Selecting an agent to help you find your dream home is an important first step. That's why being comfortable and confident with your agent plays an important role in the ability to communicate with your agent.  Great Central Realty agents can communicate with you in English, Spanish, Assyrian and several other languages.  They can represent the buyer's interest in a real estate transaction. Before making a decision, however, have a realtor explain the pros and cons of using a buyer's agent versus a sales or dual agent.

When you're ready to look at houses, ask your Great Central Realty professional to help you with:

• Arranging showings
• Tracking the properties you've seen
• Identifying if the home meets your criteria

Great Central Realty
License # 0113563
843 E. Main Street
Turlock, CA 95380
(209) 632-3200
(209) 632-3267
info@greatcentralrealty.com