Steve Swanson
Steve Swanson Redmond Kirkland Bothell Real Estate 425.736.6849 / steve.swanson@helloRealEstate.net




to
the

Home Search  :  Contact Us  :  Home      

425.736.6849     
Our goal... is to help you achieve yours!
    

    Connect With Us:
                                         

 



 hello Real Estate NETWORK

           .... the Front Door to Your Next Home!

This your home buyer’s toolkit.  Open it up, take a look around!  Start equipping yourself with the tools necessary to position yourself to make your best home purchase.  In business, knowledge equals power.  Real estate is certainly no exception.

I hope you enjoy the free reports that are provided and the compilation of other detailed information.  Please take the time to learn a little more about what it takes to make your important purchase a great one.


Your Team


Your Agent
A successful purchase starts with the right representative. In fact, once you’ve selected the best agent to represent you, it is likely that he or she can recommend other professionals to join your team, taking more of the responsibility off of your shoulders.

Lender (Appraiser)
A bank is not just a bank. Having the right backer can be extremely important – it is your money we’re talking about after all! Make sure that your lender and financial representative is someone with whom you feel comfortable, and be wary of any lender who promises you more than you think you can reasonably afford. Your lenders may or may not require an independent appraisal, and typically will make arrangements for the appraisal themselves.

Lawyer
Your home purchase is far too important a transaction to skimp on legal representation at the risk of leaving yourself open to costly future issues. Find a lawyer who is willing to take the time to answer your questions and who specializes in real estate law.

Home Inspector
No home inspection is 100% guaranteed, but a few hundred dollars to catch a major problem now is certainly better than many thousands to correct that ‘surprise’ down the road. Ask your agent for a recommendation.

Contractor
Planning some renovations? You’re not the only one! The home renovation industry is booming, and in some markets, booking a contractor must be done months in advance (that’s a long time to go without a kitchen). Don’t let finding the right contractor slip through the cracks – planning ahead will almost certainly make your renovation smoother, and you contractor will appreciate the advance notice. 


Your Plan


1.  Find the right representative

Even if you’re not quite ready to buy, your buyer’s agent can be an absolute wealth of information, and can often offer ‘scoops’ on local developments you might not have know about otherwise.  Speak to your agent first and he or she can be helping to guide you right from the start.

2.  Find out what your price range is
Online mortgage calculators are a good place to start, but as you get closer to being ready to buy, there is no substitute for a written mortgage pre-approval.  Just speaking to your lender is an extremely worthwhile venture – this is the only way to really get an in-depth picture of your overall financial picture and to discover exactly what you can reasonably afford to spend on a home (and possibly on renovating).

3.  Find out what your local market looks like
The internet can be incredibly valuable in doing preparatory research.  Start with your agent – he or she can direct you to valuable resources and immediately start e-mailing you real estate listings that may interest you (or at least give you a better idea of what your needs and wants are).

4.  Find out what your true needs and wants are
Compose a needs/wants list that takes into consideration your local market conditions, your price range, and the advice of your real estate agent.

5.  Find your dream home!
Once you’re ready to act, you may be surprised by how quickly you can make a decision.  Armed with your pre-approval, a little market knowledge, and your needs/wants list, call your real estate agent, hit the pavement, and when you see ‘the house’, put in an offer. 

With the right team behind you, it really can be that easy!


Your Calculator


Let us help you find out what you can afford! Our mortgage calculator will help you determine loan amounts, mortgage qualification, or whether you should be renting or buying.

Complete the fields below (e.g., Cost of Home, Down Payment, Monthly Income) and click Calculate Now. To view the different results of your calculation, click on the various tabs. To mail yourself a copy of your results, click the Receive this Detailed Analysis link.

 
Required
Term In Years:     
Interest Rate:      %
Cost of Home:  $
Down Payment:  $  
Annual Insurance:  $  
0.43%of Cost
Annual Property Tax:  $  
1.2%of Cost
Monthly Income:  $
Monthly Debt:  $
Optional
Gross Debt Service Ratio (GDS):     
Total Debt Service Ratio (TDS):     
Condos Fees:  $

Results
  Receive this Detailed Analysis


Your Monthly Payments
 
Loan Amount:    
Loan Insurance ( %):
Total Loan(Mortgage) Amount:
 
Principal & Interest:    
Homeowners Insurance:    
Property Taxes:    
Condo Fees:    
Monthly Loan Insurance (%):    
Total Monthly Payment:    
 
Income Needed to Qualify for the Mortgage
 
Total Monthly Loan Payment:  
Total Monthly Debt Payment:  
Monthly Loan Insurance (%):  
Qualifying Income of % GDS Ratio:  
Qualifying Income of % TDS Ratio:  
 
What You Can Afford
We are using the % ratio.
Cost of House:  
Down Payment:  
Loan Value:  
Monthly Principal & Interest:  
Monthly Insurance:  
Monthly Property Tax:  
Monthly Condo Fees:  
 
Note: Cost of House = [(Monthly income x Debt Ratio) – monthly tax – monthly insurance – condo fee] / (monthly interest rate/ function of interest rate)
Monthly Rent: $
  No. of Years you plan on keeping the home:
Annual Rental Increases:   %   Yearly Appreciation on the Home: %
Monthly Renter Insurance: $   Annual Home Maintenance: %
Savings or Investment Rate:   %  

Night02.jpg

Be sure not to pay too much for your home!
Whether you are buying your first home, or your fifth, the process of buying a home is a detailed, time-consuming venture...
Read More 

Night02.jpg

 

Ensure A Smooth Home Purchase
Buying a home can be an emotional, time-consuming, and complex process...
Read More 

Night02.jpg

 

Avoid the Most Common Buying Errors
Shopping for a new home is an emotional experience. It’s also time consuming and comes with a myriad of details...
Read More 

Night02.jpg

 

Things To Keep In Mind When Buying Your First Home
Many renters are starting to think about purchasing a home of their own. Several factors should be considered when purchasing a home...
Read More 

BACK to BUYER's Page

 



What is your primary source for real estate information?


Steve Swanson Realtor

Home Buyer's Agent

Steve Swanson
 
Steve Swanson
Email Steve
 
Cell: 425.736.6849
Fax: 206.495.9060
Address: PO Box 2426
City: Redmond
State: Washington 98073
WELCOME HOME  |  Do HOME SEARCH Here  |  RENTALS  |  Visit YOUR TOWN  |  Get PRE-APPROVED  |  For HOME BUYERS  |  FIRST TIME Home Buyers  |  Home Buyer SEMINAR  |  AEN - NEW LISTING Alert  |  For: HOME SELLERS  |  RELOcation PARTNERS  |  My BLOG  |  CONTACT STEVE  |  .  |  SCHOOLS  |  RESOURCE CENTER  |  HOUSE 'n HOME  |  VIDEO LIBRARY  |  MISSION STATEMENT  |  FAQs  |  SEND a REFERRAL  |  .                                                .  |  BELLEVUE Real Estate  |  BOTHELL Real Estate  |  CARNATION Real Estate  |  CHELAN Real Estate  |  DUVALL Real Estate  |  EVERETT Real Estate  |  FEDERAL WAY Real Estate  |  ISSAQUAH Real Estate  |  KENMORE Real Estate  |  KIRKLAND Real Estate  |  LAKE STEVENS Real Estate  |  MAPLE VALLEY Real Estate  |  MILL CREEK Real Estate  |  MONROE Real Estate  |  PUYALLUP Real Estate  |  REDMOND Real Estate  |  RENTON Real Estate  |  SAMMAMISH Real Estate  |  SEATTLE Real Estate  |  SNOHOMISH Real Estate  |  WEST SEATTLE Real Estate  |  WINTHROP Real Estate  |  WOODINVILLE Real Estate  |  KING COUNTY Real Estate  |  .                      .                      .  |  Guest Book  |  About Washington  |  About Coldwell Banker  |  Steve's CB Profile  |  About Steve Swanson
 

Privacy Policy  |  Site Map  |  Links  |  Profile  |  Sign In

©2004-2012 Steve Swanson Realtor - Coldwell Banker Danforth