Kevin Michael Brownfield

The process of buying a home is not an easy one, and it can be quite overwhelming. It’s essential to do your research and to have a plan before you start the process. Below are some tips to help make the process smoother and less stressful.

Determine Your Budget

Before you start looking for a home, it’s crucial to determine how much you can afford to spend. Take a close look at your income, expenses, and debt to come up with a realistic budget. Consider getting pre-approved for a mortgage, so you know how much you can borrow.

My wife and I did this, we spoke to a husband/wife lender/real-estate duo. They’d sold my mother her house, my sister hers, and my in-laws theirs. We’ve become friends with these people and they did fantastic work making sure we got a loan that fit our budget.

If anyone needs to buy a home in the Phoenix area, contact me and I’ll give you the best lender/agent that you’ll ever find. Truly fantastic people.

Decide What You Want

Make a list of the features that are most important to you. Do you need a certain number of bedrooms or bathrooms? Do you want a large yard or a smaller one? Having a list of must-haves will help you narrow down your search.

Our list contained things like no pool, gas stove, a backyard, etc. You’ve got to be willing to compromise on some of these things, find out what is an absolute must and be lenient on the rest. One item that was on my list was room size. I grew up an old home, it used kerosene to heat, and my room was fairly large, with a walk-in closet. Homes today though, exchange room size for living area size. Smaller rooms=larger living spaces. So my item was nixed, that’s just how the cookie crumbles sometimes.

Research Neighborhoods

Take some time to research the neighborhoods that you’re interested in. Look at the schools, crime rates, and proximity to amenities like parks and shopping. You can even visit the area and talk to people who live there to get a sense of what it’s like.

As someone who used to do security, I suggest visiting your desired neighborhood at night to get an idea of what the nightlife is like. There are also websites that can tell you the crime rates in that area. Personally, we know some police officers who were able to tell us which neighborhood was safest and what kind of crime to expect in ours.

Find a Real Estate Agent

A good real estate agent can be a tremendous help when you’re buying a home. They can help you find properties that meet your criteria, negotiate on your behalf, and guide you through the entire process. Look for an agent who has experience in the areas you’re interested in and has a good reputation.

As I stated previously, our agent had become a family friend. She did EVERYTHING to get us our home, and went above and beyond what any other would do. In fact, let me tell you a bit about what happened in our process. Keep in mind this is not a common occurrence and my lender and agent had never seen anything like this before.

We had gotten to the part where we had just made an offer. As we began filing paperwork, the seller found out that a wholesaler had put a cloud on her title. He did this under false pretenses in order to, in my opinion, extort this woman for $40,000 for NOT using his service. Come to find out, anyone can do this, they don’t even need to prove it’s legitimate, they only need to have enough evidence that it MIGHT be proven in court. My agent, the seller, and her agent, reported him to whichever oversight organization oversees these things. We were forced to wait or look for a different home. We waited, and the reporting pushed him to lift the cloud.

It’s important to note that the home was in pre-foreclosure. The seller and her children had been abandoned by her husband, and she needed to make a payment or lose the home. We were willing to pay this, we wanted this home. Our agent stepped in and made some calls, worked with the seller and her agent and got the due date pushed back thirty days. Then came the loan, we had 20% down, but hoped to get an FHA loan, because of the cloud, the FHA office, who are brainless drones, counted this the deed changing ownership and required ninety days before they would approve a loan. We went conventional, put the 20% down, removing our PMI, and giving us a payment around what we pay renting an apartment.
We had gotten to the part where we had just made an offer. As we began filing paperwork, the seller found out that a wholesaler had put a cloud on her title. He did this under false pretenses in order to, in my opinion, extort this woman for $40,000 for NOT using his service. Come to find out, anyone can do this, they don’t even need to prove it’s legitimate, they only need to have enough evidence that it MIGHT be proven in court. My agent, the seller, and her agent, reported him to whichever oversight organization oversees these things. We were forced to wait or look for a different home. We waited, and the reporting pushed him to lift the cloud.

I am so grateful for the agents and the seller. Our agent was unwilling to take “no” for an answer, she and her husband fought tooth and nail for us to get the home we loved.

Get a Home Inspection

Before you make an offer on a home, be sure to get a home inspection. An inspection can uncover any potential issues with the property, and you can use the results to negotiate with the seller.

Our inspection was great, there were no significant issues. Nothing I even asked the seller to fix, what needed to be fixed would be teaching aids for me, and what I couldn’t fix, I simply asked her to get estimates for. She actually paid to have some of those things fixed. So far the positives have outweighed the negatives.

As you start the process of buying a home, it’s normal to feel nervous and excited. You’re making a significant investment, and there’s a lot at stake. But the rewards of owning a home are well worth it. Not only will you have a place to call your own, but you’ll also be part of a community and have the opportunity to grow your own food, collect rainwater, and tackle some DIY projects.

In conclusion, buying a home is an exciting yet nerve-wracking experience. With careful planning and research, you can make the process smoother and less stressful. Remember to determine your budget, decide what you want, research neighborhoods, find a real estate agent, and get a home inspection. And once you’ve found your dream home, enjoy the rewards of homeownership and all the opportunities it brings.