First-Time Buyers Should Check Credit Scores Early

    It can take years for Middle Ga first-time buyers to save up for their first home’s down payment, but even after that hurdle has been cleared, it can take even more time to secure a mortgage -- if they have neglected the other part of the equation. Their credit rating.



    Before first-time buyers in Warner Robins will be able to move forward with that initial home purchase, they need to ensure that their credit score does not raise the kind of questions that sometimes derails an otherwise well-qualified home loan applicant. This has always been true, but may become even more likely as lending limitations grow increasingly strict.



    But it’s the occasional recording error or misstatement that is most easily preventable. Ironically, those often affect perfectly well-qualified buyers—precisely because they have no reason to suspect that a problem could crop up.



    The upshot: Middle Ga first time buyers should start reviewing their credit history one year to six months before they intend to buy a home. Since the credit agencies provide upon request free copies of every individual’s report once each year, the only hassle is having to check the details line-by-line (a single reporting error can have a big impact on an overall score). And since it’s not unusual to take 90 days or more to cure a disputed entry, the earlier a first-time buyer begins the process, the better. Individuals can file a dispute online with the credit bureaus, or can hire a credit repair company to assist with disputes. In all cases, claims should be documented and correct information provided immediately.  

    Once a Warner Robins first-time buyer is certain that his or her reports are accurate, is it time to relax? Hardly. It’s important to continue to monitor those scores to ensure against accidental surprises. Especially recently, after wholesale credit card thefts sowed confusion and disruption throughout the system, it’s probably wise to assume nothing. Several online services offer credit monitoring (and it’s possible that your bank might provide free monitoring).



    From first-time buyers to seasoned investors, I’m here to help my clients every step of the way. Contact me today!

www.WarnerRobinsHouseHunter.com

Joe Barbee

Associate Broker/Property Manager

Elite Realtors of Georgia

478-978-3428

204 Apple Ct - Awesome Starter Home - Move In Ready

This Home Has Tons To Offer!!

* Upgraded lighting

* Laminate floor

* NEW carpet

* A Nice Workshop

* Popular Floorplan

* Culdesac Lot

* Covered Back Patio.

* Very nice kitchen Cabinets

* You will not believe how nice this home is for the price..Check it out today.

* Popular School District

Click here for more pictures and  info: 204 Apple Ct - Warner Robins, GA

Joe Barbee

Associate Broker

Elite Realtors of Georgia

478-978-3428

102 Estates Way - A Piece of Paradise in Warner Robins, Ga

The WOW factor!! This home has it all. 

 

All Brick Contruction...

4 bedrooms...

3.5 Baths...

Spacious Kitchen...

Master Bedroom with Sitting Area/Office...

Large Bonus room(4th Br) with Full Bath...

2 Back Patios...

18X36 Inground Pool...

Oversized 2 car Garage...

Additional 1 car 544 Square Feet wired Garage/Workshop. 

You have to see this house to appreciate everything it has. 

This one deserves to go on your short list.

Click on either link for more info:

102 Estates Way - Warner Robins, Ga - INFO LINK

102 Estates Way - ONLINE VISUAL TOUR

Joe Barbee

Associate Broker

Elite Realtors of Georgia

478-978-3428

Make Relocating to Warner Robins an Invigorating Fresh Start

Relocating to Warner Robins can be an invigorating fresh start: an opening to unexplored opportunities and a brand new community filled with tomorrow’s life-long friends. Then again, faced with a sudden onslaught of details and decisions, it can be an experience that falls just short of overwhelming. Every year, 43,000,000 Americans move to a new home, yet the Employee Relocation Council says that moving is the third most stressful event in a person’s life.

If you are relocating to Middle Georgia anytime soon, there is much that you can do to ensure the more positive outcome. Whether you will move for professional reasons or just to take advantage of the lifestyle Middle Ga offers, you will cut down on anxiety when you take positive steps to orient yourself ahead of time.

If at all possible, make a few excursions to Warner Robins well in advance of your move. Make them mini-vacations: when you check into a local hotel or motel for a few days with no pressing agenda, you’ll be free to learn a lot about your new town, discover some of what will become your new favorite place, and just plain get familiar with what is where (and how to get there). Later, when you’re in the midst of relocating to Middle Ga, there won’t be any free time for that kind of leisurely investigation.

Be sure to visit our Warner Robins Chamber of Commerce early during your first stay. You’ll find loads of resources to help you familiarize yourself with the whole region. From welcome packets that include coupons and a list of things to do, to specific question-answering advice and help, the C of C is a great free resource for future residents.

Even further in advance, once relocating to Warner Robins looks likely, whether you plan to buy or lease, get in touch with a local Realtor^®.  There is no better source for insider guidance on schools, which neighborhoods are the best for your needs, and invaluable help in finding and landing your new residence.

Advance planning will make relocating to Warner Robins a positive and efficient experience— and it’s my business to help that happen for my clients. Contemplating relocating to town in 2014? A call to me now is a great way to get started!

www.WarnerRobinsHouseHunter.com

Joe Barbee

Associate Broker/Property Manager

Elite Realtors of Georgia

478-978-3428

TheBarbeeTeam@gmail.com

Mistakes to Avoid As a Warner Robins First-Time Home Buyer

 When a Warner Robins first-time home buyer begins hunting for the prize that has to serve both as a satisfactory home base and a solid investment, most feel a mixture of excitement (a home is a landmark achievement!) and maybe just a touch of apprehension. Like any expense you’ve never encountered before, it’s appropriate to take extra care the first time out — and to pay attention to what experience teaches. Along those lines, here are some mistakes that are easy for a first-time home buyer to make. Fortunately, they’re also easy to sidestep:


1. Waiting for a better rate

Adjustable rates may well be about as low as they’re going to get right now – and some signs point to an increase in the coming months. For a local first-time home owner who will be taking out a loan, if the property is right, hesitating to make a commitment based on a loan rate gamble is seldom a good idea.


2. Thinking short term

Consider thinking of a home as a lifetime investment. Even for those who are single or newly-wedded, it’s possible that being open to a house with extra rooms could end up saving considerably on moving, transaction and agent fees, taxes, etc. It’s equally important to look at neighborhoods and how they are changing and developing. If you do resell your home, location can make a big difference in how.


3. Underestimating hidden costs

The monthly mortgage payment isn’t the ultimate bottom line. When a first-time home buyer comes across a property that fills (or exceeds) everything he or she has been looking for, if the mortgage payment looks to be right, it’s easy to overlook other homeowner expenses. Experienced buyers make hardheaded estimates of maintenance fees and property taxes — they will be every bit as consequential as the mortgage bill.



For a first-time home buyer in Warner Robins when thoughtful perspective goes into your final decision, it’s that much more likely to be a decision that pays off in the long run. If you are preparing to buy in 2014, I’ll be standing by to help get you started!

www.WarnerRobinsHouseHunter.com

Joe Barbee

Associate Broker/Property Manager

Elite Realtors of Georgia

478-978-3428

Unconventional Wisdom for Beating Out Cash Offers

   Conventional wisdom dictates that home sellers prefer cash offers. So what is a typical would-be buyer in Warner Robins to do when the competition comes forward with an all-cash offer? Cash offers may come from any of a variety of deep-pocketed parties: institutional investors, foreign investors, wealthy families or individual investors.

   Beyond doing basic due diligence — gathering as much intel as you can about the property and the seller’s needs — if you’ve found the perfect home and are convinced it is the best property for your family, consider one or more of these tactics:


Bidding over asking — even by as little as 2% or 3% — can sometimes win the day, according to Noah
Rosenblatt, founder of Urban Digs, a real estate analytics company. Cash buyers typically factor in opportunity costs, making it less likely that they will go beyond a certain price threshold. No one wants to pay more for a property than necessary, but going “over asking” may be the only way to secure an ideal property when cash offers are competing.


Removing any contingencies from your offer will help strengthen your position and may well convince a Middle Ga seller that you are the party most likely to close successfully. The downside is that you will be assuming whatever risk had been the subject of the contingency in the first place. For example, if you were to submit an offer less any inspection contingencies, you might have to pay more than budgeted down the road if undiscovered repairs crop up.



The seller’s goal is maximize net return, so any term you add that puts more money in the seller’s pocket can sway the decision in your favor. Creative thinking pays. You might offer to pay the seller’s closing costs, cover your own Home Warranty policy, or any other add-on that has the desired effect.



While cash may be king in most cases, there are ways to compete with cash offers in Warner Robins. If you are looking for an agent with constructive solutions to help you find and secure the right property, why not call me today to take advantage of this winter’s inventory?

www.WarnerRobinsHouseHunter.com

Joe Barbee

Associate Broker/Property Manager

Elite Realtors of Georgia

478-978-3428

TheBarbeeTeam@gmail.com

Basics of Buying Foreclosed Homes in Warner Robins

   You may have seen the reports — and they are correct — that the number of new foreclosures has dropped almost everywhere throughout the country. Although the Mortgage Bankers Association’s report about the drop in non-seasonally adjusted foreclosure starts might indicate otherwise, this year, sharp-eyed buyers can still find any number of foreclosed homes in Warner Robins. For those whose goal is to find an appreciably nicer home at a lower-than-average price, a few basics shed light on the process.



   Short sales differ from foreclosures. Although the sale price may be a good deal less than what is still owed on a loan, it may be more or less than the actual value of the home. A foreclosed home in Houston County is one that is actually owned by the bank holding the underlying loan — with the previous homeowners already having moved on.



   Success in the foreclosure realm means saving money by buying Warner Robins foreclosed homes — and it means being aware of the motives of the lender. First, any bank will typically offer foreclosed homes on an as-is basis. To keep losses in check, no repairs will have been made on the property. Some homes may be in fine condition, but others will not. That’s why it’s so essential to be willing to pay for an inspection on the property: it’s the only way to know exactly what you are getting into before you sign on the dotted line.

   Unless you have prior success in buying Warner Robins foreclosed homes, it is universally recommended that you enlist a buyers agent to help throughout this process. An agent can advise you whether or not the property value is in line with the market for comparable properties in comparable condition. While you can work with the bank on your own, it is advantageous to have an experience professional to assist at the bargaining table.



   If you are interested in buying foreclosed homes in Warner Robins this year, why not contact me today to discuss your search parameters? The values really are out there to reward the patient — and anyone willing to put in a dollop of elbow grease!

www.WarnerRobinsHouseHunter.com

Joe Barbee
Associate Broker
Elite Realtors of Georgia
478-978-3428 - Direct Cell Phone
478-333-6008 - Office
www.WarnerRobinsRealtor.blogspot.com 

NAR Pushes Homeowner Facts versus Fiction

   The sun rises in the east and, almost as dependably, someone in Congress comes up with the bright idea of chipping away at the mortgage interest rate deduction. Think of all that money Washington could spend!



   The National Association of Realtors® is one of the main reasons that idea doesn’t get much traction – nor many of the other threats to the traditional benefits Warner Robins homeowners enjoy. The reason homeowners (even those without mortgages) shudder at attacks on the interest rate deduction is that the result would be to abruptly X-out a great chunk of the home-buying public. That includes most young couples and many other groups, including many retirees who are currently just squeaking by. Home values would necessarily drop; jobs in the new home-building industry, dry up. The disruption of the real estate market (the largest part of the national economy) would spread mayhem through many other sectors. If the damage were widespread enough, total tax revenues might even drop!



   Every year, the National Association of Realtors funnels local members’ dues into providing a strong bulwark against the forces that threaten homeowners. The NAR spends over $40 million annually on campaigning and marketing public service messages about the benefits of homeownership.

   During the recent world financial debacle, they countered the doom-and-gloom headlines. The underlying good news never changed: owning a home is still one of the most attainable ways average Americans can build long-term wealth.


Facts:


*  Over the past half century, median home values have increased by an average of more than 57% every 10 years


*  Home prices typically beat inflation by one or two percentage points


*  Housing sales in 2012 were the best in five years




   When you have owned your home for only a year or two, you may still be waiting to confirm all that wealth-building potential the National Association of Realtors is always championing. Nevertheless -- for Middle Ga homeowners who have 10 years or more under their belts – the equity they are likely to have accumulated is at least partly due to the efforts of the NAR.



   We all know that real estate is a supremely local thing. But sometimes it’s nice to know that REALTORS in town are doing their part to look out for us all at the national level.

www.WarnerRobinsHouseHunter.com

Joe Barbee

Associate Broker/Property Manager

Elite Realtors of Georgia

478-978-3428

TheBarbeeTeam@gmail.com

Using a Warner Robins Buyer’s Agent: Help Beyond the Online Search

Now that online listings provide potential homebuyers with instant access to the area homes for sale, there’s little reason to enlist the services of a buyer’s agent, right?

Well, the short answer to that proposition is…wrong!

 In case you tended to agree with that opening statement, it’s based on the notion that most of what a buyer’s agent does is to find your new home. Yet for veteran homeowners and first-time homebuyers alike, a buyer's agent’s services reach far beyond just the initial search. Even so, taking that task on by yourself requires a great deal of diligence (and more time than most of us can spare). A Warner Robins buyer’s agent removes that burden by keeping a daily lookout for appropriate new listings as they come online, weeding out the homes that fall short of matching up with your requirements, and setting up appointments to view the properties that show promise.

A local buyer’s agent has first-hand knowledge of the Warner Robins neighborhoods and the individual properties. That extra insight allows the agent to point out homes that you might not have picked from its listing alone — homes that may be perfect for you in the long run.

The seller's agent works for the seller, not you. When you team up with your own buyer’s agent, you have someone in your corner who can offer you sound advice and represent only you throughout the entire process.

If you're a first time homebuyer, there’s an extra incentive. Inevitably, you're going to have a lot of questions — and you'll benefit from the extra guidance you get on your first time through the home purchasing process. Help will come not only by identifying the right home, but also identifying a suitable home inspector, interpreting the resulting inspection report, and dealing with the voluminous paperwork that comes afterward. 

While there is no requirement to engage a buyer’s agent in Warner Robins, given the size of the investment you are going to be making, having someone in your corner makes good sense.

Ready to buy this fall? Good — because I’m ready to go to work for you!

www.WarnerRobinsHouseHunter.com

Joe Barbee

Associate Broker/Property Manager

Elite Realtors of Georgia

478-978-3428

TheBarbeeTeam@gmail.com

Worthwhile Tips for Local First-Time Homebuyers

The price tag that goes with buying a home is hefty enough to give anyone pause. After the fact, anyone – perhaps especially Warner Robins first-time home-buyers — can come away wondering if they have could have nailed down a better deal. Preventing any such nagging doubt is easy to do: it just takes a little forethought and preparation. Here are a few tips to bear in mind when buying a home.



After you have submitted an offer, be mentally prepared to respond in case a counteroffer follows. Along with the improvement in the Warner Robins market, we've seen a rise in sellers’ confidence levels, so it’s best to be ready for some negotiating. Try not to let your emotions intrude — but always know the maximum amount that you are willing and able to spend.



Major athletes have bargaining agents to go to bat for them. Your local real estate agent is your bargaining agent whose very presence strengthens your position. Some of the legalities in real estate can seem ambiguous though they actually aren't, so allowing a professional to do most of the talking is good practice. An inadvertent comment or slight change in the agreement between you and the seller could result in problems securing a mortgage from your lender. Real estate agents are trained to help you through the process of buying a home as smoothly as possible. Especially if you’re a local first-time home buyer, use your agent to the fullest advantage.

Being armed with knowledge can save you thousands. The best way first-time home buyers can see if an offer is competitive is by scouting the most recent prices paid for comparable properties. The second part of being prepared is to be sure that a proper appraisal is conducted. Smaller details are easy to brush off in the excitement of buying your first home — but having done all your homework beforehand is the way to make first-time home buyers know they've struck a great bargain.



Whether you’re a seasoned seller or one of those first-time home buyers in Warner Robins,  I’m here to help make sure you stay on top of your game. Call me!

www.WarnerRobinsHouseHunter.com

Joe Barbee

Associate Broker/Property Manager

Elite Realtors of Georgia

478-978-3428

TheBarbeeTeam@gmail.com

Do Outdoor Kitchens Boost Local Home Values?

   With summer weather upon us and Warner Robins home values on the rise, it’s natural to follow the urge to get going on outdoor-oriented improvement projects. One of my (and my buyers’) favorite added features is the outdoor kitchen. That temporary folding table you used to see next to the roll-away barbecue is now frequently supplanted by a fully equipped permanent installation.

But if you are planning on selling soon, it’s easy to overdo the outdoor kitchen idea. Middle Ga home values don’t always return every dollar spent, so with likely investment returns in mind, here are a few guidelines to help you jazz up your outdoor area without breaking the bank.

— Whether you have a large backyard or tiny one, amount of space isn’t what matters as much as the setup. Plan your kitchen so the cook faces toward the entertaining area. When guests can interact while the cooking is going on (and the chef isn’t stuck facing the wall), the fun of outdoor entertaining comes naturally.


— You’re building an outdoor kitchen, so be sure the surfaces are built to withstand the elements. Outdoor-rated appliances and a low-maintenance paint finish on cabinets will combat corrosion…and keep your kitchen looking fresh for when you plan to sell! Also, consider elevating the cabinet so you can more easily hose off underfoot messes.


— An outdoor fireplace can warm memories in even the steeliest of potential buyers. Who doesn’t love thought of warm summer evenings spent gathered around a firepit? But let’s be practical – a gas fireplace insert is far handier than a real wood-burning firepit. You don’t need to pay to run a gas line outside either – there are plenty of freestanding gas fireplace models to choose from.


While not likely to bring nearly the same return as a total kitchen remodel, adding simple outdoor kitchens can be a simple way to both enjoy backyard space and increase potential home values in the future. If that future is coming sooner rather than later, do contact me before you commit to any remodeling projects…I’ll be happy to discuss current Middle Ga home values with you anytime!

www.MidGaHouseHunter.com

Joe Barbee

Associate Broker/Property Manager

Elite Realtors of Georgia

478-978-3428

TheBarbeeTeam@gmail.com

Brief Multiple Choice Quiz on Warner Robins Mortgage Rates

This is one of those multiple-choice questions: which is true – A, B, C, D, or E?

A) If the headline reads Warner Robins MORTGAGE RATES ON THE RISE! it means it’s time to buy (quick) before they go up further!

B) If the headline reads Warner Robins MORTGAGE RATES FALL! it means it’s time to buy (quick) to cash in on the savings!

C) If the headline reads Warner Robins MORTGAGE RATES UNCHANGED! it means it’s time to buy (quick) while the rates are stable!

D) All of the above.

E) None of the above.

   My answer is below (and it’s not even upside-down), but before anyone even looks down there, I’d like to mention that there is an equally valid second question, which would read ‘sell’ instead of ‘buy.’

   This week is a good time to be pondering both questions. It looks as if the long-lived swoon in mortgage interest rates is about over. “Looks as if” is a carefully chosen phrase, because what seems inevitable in finance has a strong track record of proving wrong. One of the dangers that our current environment presents is that everyone has been correct (about mortgage rates staying in the cellar) for such a long time that they’ve grown accustomed to rates being predictable. They aren’t.

   So the answer to the question is (drum roll, please): E).

   It’s a trick question: when it comes to buying or selling a home, doing anything “quick!” just because of a one-week dip or rise in Warner Robins mortgage rates is a bad idea. It’s a big decision, one that should be entered into with care and forethought. But if you were to remove the “quick!” from the question, I’d personally tend a little more toward D), but only because I don’t think local mortgage rates are likely to fall right away. And rates today are still, historically, very low.


Good time to buy, good time to sell. Thoughtfully.

                                            www.WarnerRobindHouseHunter.com

Joe Barbee

Associate Broker/Property Manager

Elite Realtors of Georgia

478-978-3428

TheBarbeeTeam@gmail.com

Options for Buying a Home After a Foreclosure

   “Time flies when you’re having a good time” we hear. But time can also pass quickly for those who've had to go through difficult times. Case in point is a million and a half borrowers who have recently experienced the pain of a foreclosure. That’s the estimated number of those who, by this time next year, will have waited long enough to again become eligible for an FHA loan.

    Anyone interested in buying a Mid Ga home after a foreclosure has come through a tough period. The standard waiting period for an FHA-guaranteed loan is 3-4 years following a foreclosure or short sale (though individual circumstances vary). Now that the weeks and months have ticked by, this sizable crop of newly eligible prospective ‘boomerang buyers’ may soon find themselves contemplating the option of buying a home after a foreclosure.

   That estimate of the size of the newly eligible was provided by Moody’s Analytics. Since they are key players in determining creditworthiness, it’s a source I trust. A chart of Moody’s count from the second quarter in 2011 (when their number was a mere 285,000) to next year’s second quarter 1,500,000 provides a convincingly uphill slope.

    Still, being eligible to apply does not mean automatically qualifying for an FHA (or any other) loan. Success in buying a Warner Robins home after a foreclosure continues to depend on the same standards that always apply. After the waiting game is over, having cured credit damage will become the prime requirement.

   To increase their chances of successfully buying a home after a foreclosure, Warner Robins prospects will have paid existing credit card and loan debts with the kind of unfailing regularity that reassures loan officers and credit analysts alike. If that hasn't been the case, the time to begin is ASAP.

   Website Zillow predicts the next most influential group of buyers will be those who are looking to buy a home after a foreclosure or short sale. Houston County residents who are among them — and who are ready to make this their turnaround season — should give me a call. We can get started with the pre-approval process!

Joe Barbee

Associate Broker/Property Manager

Elite Realtors of Georgia

478-978-3428

TheBarbeeTeam@gmail.com

www.MidGaHouseHunter.com

www.WarnerRobinsHouseHunter.com

Part 1— Top 6 Mistakes For Middle Georgia Sellers to Avoid

Disclosure Signatures

   Disclosing material facts that might affect your Middle Ga property’s value is a fair obligation that’s understood by everyone. Yet properly disclosing all material facts won’t help you at all if an issue comes up later but you can’t prove the disclosure. A good agent will double- and triple-check all the signatures, but at the end of the day, your peaceful sleep at night is only protected when you also take care to keep complete copies of the paperwork with all signatures accounted for.


Earnest Money  

   Ah — the thrill of getting the first offer! After readying the property and listing your home, when an offer comes quickly, you’ll be tempted to say, “Where do I sign?” But slow up: getting a great offer is just the first step. Part of being a prudent seller is scrutinizing the offer and buyer to gauge the likelihood that the deal will close. The amount of earnest money should demonstrate the prospect’s sincere intent to buy…not just their desire to tie up the house while they make up their mind!

Exclusions

Want to watch warm feelings ice up in a hurry? Try surprising your buyer with the last-minute news that you intend to take your coveted washer/dryer (or heirloom chandelier, or custom closet system) with you because you forgot to exclude them. It’s part of my job as your agent to go over the more obvious items when listing your home in Warner Robins, but even so, it’s ultimately up to you to make sure your intent is known. Trust me - I’ve seen more than one sale go south in the eleventh hour over some unbelievably minor items.

Coming in my next blog, I’ll flesh out more of these most common pitfalls. Of course, listing your home with me means you won’t need to worry: I make it may job to keep an eye out for all of them. If you’re thinking of listing your home in our neck of the woods any time soon, call me today!

                                                           www.WarnerRobinsHouseHunter.com

Joe Barbee

Associate Broker/Property Manager

Elite Realtors of Georgia

478-978-3428

TheBarbeeTeam@gmail.com