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Are You Ready For Home Ownership?

Owning a home may be your dream, but in order for the purchase to be the happy and satisfying experience it was meant to be, you need to ensure that you are financially and mentally prepared for the responsibilities that come with it.

Some people have a notion that home ownership is like renting, but with the power to have pets and paint the walls whatever color you like. However, while these privileges are available to homeowners in most municipalities, they come with the responsibilities of a mortgage, taxes and home maintenance. Preparing for home ownership requires you to take critical stock of your finances and your expectations

Considerations for Prospective Homeowners

Are you ready to buy?
Owning your own home is about more than just being able to decorate any way you like; it's about being prepared to maintain your home over the years, realizing that part of your income and time will go towards repairs and maintenance. It's about being willing to take the risks of home ownership with a realistic expectation of the rewards.

How much can you afford?
It can be discouraging to find that your salary won't stretch as far as the home you want to own. However, sacrificing a huge part of your income just to pay the mortgage can very quickly make home ownership a burden rather than a point of pride. It's better to buy a modest home now and look at purchasing your "dream home" in a few years.

What is your debt-to-income ratio?
This is something that lenders take very seriously. Your overall debt should not be more than 40% of your income, and your housing debt should not be more than 32%. What 32% of your income will buy depends on where you want to live. In rural or downtrodden areas for example, it can buy a very comfortable residence and ample acreage. In highly sought-after urban areas however, it may not even buy a 400 square foot bachelor suite.

What do you want?
Do you like the idea of cleaning your own gutters? Do you shudder at the thought of lawn care? Would you rather just pay a fee every month and have everything done for you? Would obeying rules about when you can have your garbage cans out bother you, or do you want to live in a neighborhood where everything is 'just so'? The answers to these questions can help you narrow down the search for the right type of property for you.

We Can Help
You need a good agent who will work hard for you. Our real estate team is dedicated to helping you find the right home, at the best price. We want you to find the home that will make you happy and successful in real estate ownership.
When you hire us to help you buy your first home, we want to know what you want and how much you can afford. Then we'll find a way to merge these two priorities and find a residence that you'll enjoy owning.

Sometimes the idea of owning a home can overwhelm your practical sense, so keep your feelings in check. Keep a list handy of the features that you need and want in a home, and judge each home by the list instead of by details that could distract you from your goal. When you're alone with your agent, you can go over the pros and cons of each home. We can help you stay on track while still keeping our eyes out for a great property.

Engage the services of a good real estate lawyer. 
We can recommend several lawyers in the area who might be a good fit for you. Interview them to ensure that you get someone you can work with. The legalities of transferring land ownership can be dodgy, and a lawyer can be your best defense against future legal troubles. A good lawyer can charge several hundred to over a thousand dollars for their services, but the thousands of dollars saved in legal fees later on makes this a good expense.

Make the offer. 
This can be a maze of "buyer", "seller", "chattels", "deposit", and "completion". We'll be happy to prepare the paperwork and go through it with you before submitting it. Remember, the seller may reject or counter your offer, so even at this late date, avoid setting your heart on the home you hope to own. You'll probably have to write a deposit check to the seller's broker that proves the seriousness of your offer.


Get all necessary inspections done.
A home inspector will check for signs of harmful materials like asbestos, lead paint and mold. They'll also check for evidence of pests, faulty wiring and leaks. This is a crucial part of the home purchase. Not getting an inspection done means that you could be stuck in a home with a bad case of black mold and no recourse other than to pay for its removal. Inspections will cost a few hundred dollars, but again, this is more than worth it in the end. There are several inspectors in the area that we'd be happy to recommend.

Do a final walkthrough before closing the deal.
We'd be happy to do this with you to make sure that everything agreed upon is completed prior to the final signing.


From the first interview that determines your requirements to the moment that you receive the keys, we can help you with the complicated process of buying a home. Don't hesitate to contact us to find out more about how we can make the home buying process easier!

What our clients are saying  

“I would highly recommend Kelly to any of my family and friends. She is the person you want to help you when make a life decision such as this.”

 

~ Abigail, San Antonio, TX

“Kelly knew what had to be done to sell the house. I had another agent for 8 months prior and never had any offers. Kelly did great and worked hard to make this happen."

 

~ Dianne W

“Kelly's personality, work ethic, and ease of working with Kelly was the true reason we hired her!”

 

~ Eleanor Rodriguez, San Antonio

“We had another broker but were very dissatisfied. A friend told us to give Kelly Ann Cameron a try and we knew from the 1st meeting that she was going to be successful in selling our home. Very positive and upbeat about things. Gave very good advise on staging and making home look more welcoming therefore getting people interested in our home. Every thing Kelly did for us was on point! Great person!”

 

~ Catherine Delgado

“It was a pleasure to work with Kelly as my realtor. I greatly appreciate the time she took to ensure that I was well aware of all parts of the buying/selling process and making sure I understood the lingo. She was able to answer all of my questions and made sure I had an enjoyable experience. I highly recommend Kelly Cameron as a realtor!”

 

~ Logan, San Antonio

“Have worked with Kelly previously on multiple sales and purchases. Also recommended them to family and friends. Everyone was more than satisfied. Kelly always goes above and beyond, is patient, responsive, and really does care. She is never pushy, and will show as many houses as we could stand to make sure we got the perfect home for us. Kelly wants what's in my, buyers, best interest, bottom line. Ensures we are happy with the price and that we are happy with our purchase. Great negotiater - no home is perfect so we able to get items repaired to minimize our effort when we move in. Patient and cares about what we want as opposed to "making the sale". Kelly was extremely responsive and always took my calls/questions or got back to me quickly. I never had to call twice. If I had a question or concern she found out immediately. Took a lot of the burden off our shoulders.”

 

~ Rick I, Spring Branch, TX

“Kelly was a real pleasure to have as our agent. This was our first home buying experience. I was impressed by her recommendations and willingness to educate us on everything from soil erosion to home maintenance. Kelly was responsive, patient, professional and a lot of fun to be around. She was with us every step of the way and had our best interests in mind.”

 

~ Shina and Frank Haefeli

“Kelly sold us the home to begin with. She is pleasant to work with, knowledgeable, caring, trustworthy and accessible. I would highly recommend her.”

 

~ Karen Lindstrom

“Kelly has plenty of experience and is concerned about her customer needs and wants first. She is professional, easy going, knowledgeable, and very hard working. I would recommend her to anyone listing or buying a house.”

 

~ Cynthia Navarro

“Kelly is fantastic! She did a great job from the moment we hired her and well after closing. She went above and beyond to help us sell our home. Very friendly and professional. I would most definitely use her again and I will be referring to her friends and family.”

 

~ Selena Bocanegra, San Antonio, Texas

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