1-888-See-STL-Homes     (314) 446-3680 Direct     (314) 685-2369 Fax       

Russ@MyWestCountyAgent.com
  •    Listingbook Members



  • Need an Account?                        

  • Sign Up for Our Newsletter


  •                                            Secure-Subscribe™™ email marketing privacy

  • Contact Us

  • The Lefebvre Group
     2203 S. Big Bend Blvd
    St. Louis, MO     		Ofc (314) 446-3680
    Fax (314) 685-2369
                   63117

    Coldwell Banker Premier
    		 (314) 647-0001
    2203 S. Big Bend Blvd
    St. Louis, MO
                   63117

    E-mail: Russ Lefebvre Directly

Making an Offer

Once you’ve found your dream house, it’s time to get started with the financial and contractual side of the purchase. Let me guide you through this process. Purchase contracts vary in length and terms from state to state, and within a state, from locality to locality. Because you and the seller have different goals, rely on Coldwell Banker Premier Group’s experience and expertise. We can bring order and calm to the process and will know what questions you may not know to ask to help you reach a favorable outcome.

Multiple offers on the same home are not uncommon, so you may only get one chance to make an offer that the seller will consider. That's why it's important to think carefully about your strategy. In most cases it is better to have your real estate professional negotiate the offer. If you have any personal interaction with the homeowner, don't give out any information about your move, your current housing status, financial status or your feelings about their property - positive or negative. This could hurt you in future negotiations.

Know Your Neighborhood

When you buy a home, you're investing in a community. You'll spend a significant amount of time and money supporting the schools, community organizations and commercial centers in the surrounding areas. Before you make the final decision, take a good look at the location and make sure it fits your needs.
  • Evaluate the properties proximity to other important locations in your life. How long will your commute time be? Is there a hospital or doctor's office nearby? What about schools, childcare, shopping, family and friends?
  • Consider all your transportations options. A new home could lend itself to public transportation options or car-pooling. Depending on the type of community, you may be able to find alternative methods of transportation. Take the time to drive from the new home to your commuting destinations to understand the impact it will have on your lifestyle.
  • Visit and understand the school district you'll be moving in to. Even if you don't have children in the school system now, you may some day. The district reputation could positively or negatively impact the selling price of your future home as well.
  • Make sure you feel comfortable in the area. Drive around the neighborhood at different times of the day and night on multiple days of the week to observe activity/noise levels. Discovering that barking dog next door or noisy road conditions will eliminate unneeded stress from a hasty decision.
Coldewll Banker Premier Group real estate professionals are experts in the areas they serve. Ask your agent for a list of schools, shopping centers, parks or other important amenities. Buying a new home is about more than the structure and property. It's about your new lifestyle as well.

How Much?

Find out what other homes have sold for in the area, how much money you might have to put into repairs or renovations. These considerations factor in with how much you're comfortable spending.

Also, it helps to know the features that help or hurt resale. In some areas, a swimming pool actually detracts from a home's value and makes it harder to sell. In neighborhoods with two-car, attached garages, a single-car or detached garage may affect the home sale and future value.

In addition to sale prices for other homes, there are several ways you can determine a good amount to offer:
  • The condition of the house. Is the home in move-in condition, in need of paint and other cosmetic improvements, or a fixer-upper that needs some real work?
  • The market. If you are in a buyer's market — where there are more homes for sale than there are people to buy them — prices are probably stable or falling. If you are in a seller's market — where there are more buyers looking for homes than there are homes for sale — prices are probably moving upward.
  • Your ceiling. If you've gotten a credit pre-approval, you know how much you can borrow for your home purchase. Of course, you may not be comfortable paying as much as you've been approved to borrow, so think carefully about your financial situation before making an offer.
Next, decide how much you are willing to pay for a home. Remember, the advertised price of a house is just a starting point – it may take quite a bit of negotiating to arrive at a final cost.

Lease Option

A lease option is an arrangement between you and a seller to exercise the option to buy a house after you have rented it for a specific period. A portion of your rent would be applied toward the purchase if the option is applied. This is referred to as rent credit, which most institutional lenders will accept as part of the down payment if rental payments exceed the market rent and if a valid lease-purchase agreement is in effect, a copy of which must be attached to the loan application. Read any lease option arrangement carefully for details on transferring the option and other important concerns.

For information on lease options, contact your real estate agent (some even specialize in such transactions) or read up on lease options at the public library or on the internet. If you have a real estate attorney, ask if he or she has any prepared information you can review.

The All Cash Offer

Though most buyers don't buy a home with all cash, anyone considering such a move may be wondering how. Because all cash buyers sidestep the time-consuming loan qualification process, the deal can close very quickly. The all-cash buyer's primary advantage is completely avoiding mortgage interest. Buyers also save money that would be spent on loan origination fees, required appraisal, some closing costs and various other charges imposed by the lender.

At the same time, all-cash buyers should consider potential pitfalls of the transaction. Buyers who want to use the home as their primary residence lose out on many of the tax advantages available to homeowners with conventional loans.

If you can afford to pay cash but are concerned about price appreciation, you may be better off obtaining some financing. Also, look at other investments that are paying off and determine if spending cash on a home is worthwhile.

Fill out the form below to get started.

   
  Your Name:  
  Your Phone Number:  
  Your E-Mail:  
  Address:  
  City:  
  State:  
  Zip Code:  
  Do you own or rent your current home?  
  Do you have to sell your home before buying another?  
  How many family members will be living in this home?  
  How soon would you like to get into your new home?  
  What type of home would you like?  
  How many bedrooms do you need?  
  How many baths do you need?  
  What type of parking do you need?  
  What other special features are must-haves?  
  What price range are you considering?  
  Have you been pre-approved for a home loan yet?  
  Do you have a specific bank or mortgage company that you'd like to work with?  
  Would you like to be pre-approved by our favorite lenders?  
  When is the best time for you to view homes?  
   
 

 

 
        Quick Links for Real Estate
        Find a Property

Sign up today for your own Listingbook® Account. Search the MLS like an agent.
Keep track of your favorites houses that you will see at Open House. See how many people are viewing your listing online.
Use the "Need an Account?" link in the members area on the left and get started searching.
        Go with the Best and Get...

The Most Money for Your House
and
The Most House for Your Money
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





 

Other Associate Websites of The Lefebvre Group:
Buy in St. Louis

 Come to St. Louis

 Need a St. Louis Home
St. Louis Homes R Us

 Your St. Louis Home Value

 Move to St. Louis
St. Louis Real Estate with Russ

 Russ Lefebvre

 My West County Agent
The Lefebvre Group

 Ballwin's Best Agent

 Chesterfield's Best Agent
Wildwood's Best Agent

 Just Listed St. Louis

 Top Real Estate Agent in St. Louis

Info About Russ

 Info About Chelsea

 Info About Zoe
Chelsea Lefebvre

 Zoe Lefebvre

 2459 Peaceful Ct, Wildwood MO 63021