You've been pre-approved, you've researched your neighborhoods, you've determined your wants and needs and you have found the house you want to buy. So what happens next? It's time to talk with your Realtor to start the offer process. Make sure you have a buyer's agent representing you. It is not recommended to use the listing agent as they represent the seller and are looking out for the seller's best interests, not yours.
The first thing to do is have your real estate agent research the comparable sales from the past 3-6 months. Based on the recent sales in the area, your real estate agent will help you come up with a good starting offer. While researching the comps, your agent will let you know how many competing homes are for sale, how many homes have closed in the past 3-6 months, what is the absorption rate for the area, what is the average percentage of the list price sellers are getting for homes in the area and any other information pertaining to that particular property.
Other things to consider when putting in an offer:
All of these questions will help you formulate a realistic starting offer. If you are asking the seller to pay for some or all of your closing costs make sure you factor that amount into your offer as this amount comes off of the seller's bottom line.
Decide how much earnest money you want to put down with your offer. Earnest money demonstrates to the seller your seriousness about buying a home. It needs to be substantial enough to show the seller good faith. This amount is usually around 1% of the purchase price. If the offer is negotiated successfully and you go under contract your earnest money will get deposited into the real estate company's escrow account and held in that account until closing. If your offer is rejected and you don't end up under contract, your earnest money check will be returned to you. If you successfully make it to closing your earnest money will be credited towards the purchase price of the home or towards your closing costs. There are also several contingencies that may be built into the contract to ensure you get your earnest money back in the event that the contingencies cannot be satisfied. Examples of these contingencies may be an acceptable home inspection, your ability to secure your financing and the appraised value must equal or exceed the sales price. If you back out of the deal for any reason not covered by a contingency you may forfeit the entire amount.
Now that you and your Realtor have done your research and come up with an offer price and terms you submit the offer and the negotiations begin!
Knoxville Home Buying Series:
How to Buy a Home in Knoxville TN- Step 1- Secure Your Financing
How to Buy a Home in Knoxville TN-Step 2- Determining the Best Knoxville Neighborhood For You
How To Buy a Home in Knoxville, TN - Step 3 - Determining Your Wants and Needs
If you are looking to buy a home in the Greater Knoxville TN area instantly search all homes for sale at www.MyKnoxvilleHomeSearch.com. If you are looking for a luxury home in Knoxville TN visit http://knoxvilleluxuryhomesellers.com.
Instantly search all properties for sale in the Knoxville TN and surrounding areas now!
www.MyKnoxvilleHomeSearch.com
Visit Christine McInerney and Jennifer Halinkowski with Keller Williams Realty on-line at:
www.HomesForSaleKnoxville.com and www.KnoxvilleReal-Estate.com
Office: (865) 694-5904
Christine (865) 237-5289 and Jennifer (865) 621-3658
Mail to: McIn-Kowski@HomesForSaleKnoxville.com
Instantly Search For All Knoxville, TN Homes , Condos , and land For Sale!!
Take a quick look around you. I am almost certain that you will be able to find at least a few battery operated devices in sight- perhaps a TV remote (or three), i-pod, kids toys, radios, camera, etc...
What do you do when these batteries die, do you properly recycle them or just toss them in the trash. Every year Americans purchase over 3 billion batteries and the majority of these end up in the landfills.
Many batteries contain toxic materials such as mercury, lead, cadmium, and nickel all that can cause serious environmental and potential humans health issues.
As a consumer there are several steps you take to be more environmentally responsible:
In Knoxville TN you can find battery recycling at select recycling centers and electronic stores. You can also send away for mail-in recycling packages to recycle your used batteries.
If you are looking to buy a home in the Greater Knoxville TN area instantly search all homes for sale at www.MyKnoxvilleHomeSearch.com. If you are looking for a luxury home in Knoxville TN visit http://knoxvilleluxuryhomesellers.com.
Instantly search all properties for sale in the Knoxville TN and surrounding areas now!
www.MyKnoxvilleHomeSearch.com
Visit Christine McInerney and Jennifer Halinkowski with Keller Williams Realty on-line at:
www.HomesForSaleKnoxville.com and www.KnoxvilleReal-Estate.com
Office: (865) 694-5904
Christine (865) 237-5289 and Jennifer (865) 621-3658
Mail to: McIn-Kowski@HomesForSaleKnoxville.com
Instantly Search For All Knoxville, TN Homes , Condos , and land For Sale!!
Homeowners Guide to Going Green on a Budget
All across the world, homeowners are going green. As with any initiative, going green can range from small simple steps to full house retrofit. There are many benefits of greening up your living space, including improving the indoor air quality, saving energy, reducing waste, and saving money on energy bills.
When the whole green concept was first introduced many thought it was just a trend, but the research is out and going green does not only reduce energy use, but can also lead to a healthier environment and can economically beneficial. With energy bills on the rise going green can put some green back into your pocket- a trend that everyone should strive to achieve.
So how can going green save you money? Going Green in Knoxville TN does not have to cost you a fortune. Many green products are designed to be sustainable. While in some case these products could be initially more expensive they will save money in the long run and reduce waste as they generally last longer. In addition to saving time and money, these green additions could make your home much more valuable in the eyes of potential buyers- possibly giving you as a seller a serious market advantage.
According to the Green REsource Council of the National Association of REALTORS® website, "two thirds of consumers are paying attention to green homes and buildings and recognize the links between green living, cost savings, and healthy living."
Most people are aware that replacing all their current HVAC units and appliances with EnergyStar® rated equipment would reduce energy usage, however, not everyone has the budget to do so at this time. If you are looking for greening up your home without dishing out the green try these simple and cost effective tune-ups.
These simple steps are not only quick and easy to do, but are also low cost and should provide instant savings in your energy bills. So what are you waiting for, take these easy steps to green up your home on a budget- your wallet, health, and potential buyers will thank you for it.
If you are looking to buy a home in the Greater Knoxville TN area instantly search all homes for sale at www.MyKnoxvilleHomeSearch.com. If you are looking for a luxury home in Knoxville TN visit http://knoxvilleluxuryhomesellers.com.
Instantly search all properties for sale in the Knoxville TN and surrounding areas now!
www.MyKnoxvilleHomeSearch.com
Visit Christine McInerney and Jennifer Halinkowski with Keller Williams Realty on-line at:
www.HomesForSaleKnoxville.com and www.KnoxvilleReal-Estate.com
Office: (865) 694-5904
Christine (865) 237-5289 and Jennifer (865) 621-3658
Mail to: McIn-Kowski@HomesForSaleKnoxville.com
Instantly Search For All Knoxville, TN Homes , Condos , and land For Sale!!
The Young Williams Animal Shelter has begun work on opening up a new facility in Knoxville TN. The new shelter will be located in the middle of Knoxville right at the intersection of Dean Hill Drive and Kingston Pike - the main road that runs through town.
The new facility will allow the Young Williams Animal Shelter to house more animals and help prevent euthanization. The animal shelter says that the new building will allow them to save about 15,000 lives!
I personally have 2 dogs and 2 cats that came from the Young Williams Animal Shelter - we refer to them as our Young Williams Collection. They are the best animals and are incredibly well rounded and loving. As I write this, 3 are laying on me and the 4th is at the foot of my daughters bed.
The main shelter on division street will remain open. If you are interested in adopting a new pet check out the Young Williams Animal Shelter before you run off and purchase one.
Below is a picture of super cute 4 legged companions that I got from the Young Williams Animal Shelter:
Congratulations on taking the first steps by getting pre-approved and researching your neighborhoods. You are now ready to seriously start looking at homes. The first thing you should do is come up with a list of wants and needs. It's important to differentiate the two. Your "needs" are the aspects of a home that you won't compromise on - your "must haves". For example, you may have to have a minimum of 3 bedrooms, at least a 2 car garage or it must be zoned for a particular school. Your "wants" are the things that you would be willing to compromise on. You may "want" a fenced yard or a home with a pool, but if the house was perfect in every other way it would still be an option.
Now that you have your wish list of wants and needs it time to previewing homes on the internet. Our public Knoxville MLS site can be accessed here. After you've registered with your email address you will be taken to an easy to use map-based search site. Another great site is www.MyKnoxvilleHomeSearch.com which allows you to save homes you like and sign yourself up for a new listing notifier so that you don't miss out on new homes that come up on the market. Both of these sites are tied directly into the Knoxville MLS database which has every single listed home in Knoxville and surrounding counties available for you to view.
When you start searching for a home try not to tell yourself "I must see at least 30 homes before I can make a decision" or "I must look for at least 3 months before I will find what I want". Focus instead on "is the right house for me". It may very well be the first or second home you see or the 30th, but most buyers usually know right away even as they turn into the neighborhood and pull into the driveway - don't let the perfect home slip away just because you fee
l you haven't looked long enough.
If you are a first time homebuyer, don't delay too long in your search. The deadline for the $8000 tax credit is November 30, 2009. This means you must have CLOSED on the home by this date and not a day later. Also keep in mind that lender regulations have changed recently and the time it takes to close has increased in most cases. Plan on a 30-45 day close time and if you do qualify for the tax credit, make sure to have your offer in on the house you choose by October 15th to give you enough time to close by November 30th. There are a lot of first time home buyers out looking these days and the good homes are going fast.
One last note, interest rates have been slightly rising and are predicted to rise more by the end of the year. A small rise in interest rates can add hundreds of dollars to your monthly payment and you may not be able to afford as much house if you delay too long. We look forward to helping you find your dream home!
Knoxville Home Buying Series:
How to Buy a Home in Knoxville TN- Step 1- Secure Your Financing
How to Buy a Home in Knoxville TN-Step 2- Determining the Best Knoxville Neighborhood For You
How To Buy a Home in Knoxville, TN - Step 3 - Determining Your Wants and Needs
If you are looking to buy a home in the Greater Knoxville TN area instantly search all homes for sale at www.MyKnoxvilleHomeSearch.com. If you are looking for a luxury home in Knoxville TN visit http://knoxvilleluxuryhomesellers.com.
Instantly search all properties for sale in the Knoxville TN and surrounding areas now!
www.MyKnoxvilleHomeSearch.com
Visit Christine McInerney and Jennifer Halinkowski with Keller Williams Realty on-line at:
www.HomesForSaleKnoxville.com and www.KnoxvilleReal-Estate.com
Office: (865) 694-5904
Christine (865) 237-5289 and Jennifer (865) 621-3658
Mail to: McIn-Kowski@HomesForSaleKnoxville.com
Instantly Search For All Knoxville, TN Homes , Condos , and land For Sale!!
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Whether you are looking to Buy, Sell, or just interested in learning more about Real Estate or the Knoxville, TN area visit www.HomesForSaleKnoxville.com and www.KnoxvilleReal-Estate.com.
About Keller Williams Realty Team McIn-Kowksi- Knoxville's Green Team
Our names are Christine McInerney and Jennifer Halinkowski. We are the Keller Williams Realty Knoxville real estate team of McIn-Kowski. Many people have a negative connotation when they think of Real Estate agents. We offer a fresh and energic perspective and work hard for our clients. We do not drive fancy cars and we do not use slick talking tactics to belittle and confuse our clients. We DO NOT have 30 years of experience behind us, meaning that we have not picked up bad habits and use old, worn out sales techniques. We are modern, focused, highly educated, intelligent and down to earth. Best of all when you enlist Team McIn-Kowski you get TWO full time REALTORS(R) catering to ALL of your Real Estate needs!!
We offer free Buyer agent services and are Knoxville Relocation Specialists. If you have a question about the Knoxville area contact us and if we do not personally know the answer we can get you in contact with sources that do. Call us to get started with your home search: 865-237-5289.
If you need to sell your house, definately interview us. We commit ourselves to diligent research to get our clients homes in front of the most buyers possible. By the way, these buyers are not in newspapers and home magazines. If you are considering hiring a family member or friend without interviewing them for the job because you want to "do them a favor" you may be making a huge financial mistake. To us, a seller should go with the most qualified agent they see fit to get their house sold, even if it means hurting a loved one's feelings. This is probably your largest financial investment and you can't afford to put it in the hands of someone who will simply throw a sign in the yard and put your house on the MLS.
We will offer you a menu of services so that you can build your own plan! We offer an unconditional listing agreement that you can cancel at anytime with no fees to you. We only get paid when you get paid. At closing.
We promise to talk to you personally during the listing period at least once a week with updates. We also promise to prepare a new market analysis and meet with you to talk about recent sales and closings every 4-5 weeks. We promise to answer our phone when you call or return your call within 30 minutes Mon-Sun 8am-8pm. Try it! Christine 865-237-5289 or Jennifer 865-621-3658
Christine McInerney- The "McIn" in Team McIn-Kowski
Christine McInerney, originally from Philadelphia, PA moved to Knoxville, TN with her family in 1985. Christine has truly embraced TN life and enjoys spending her time enjoying the natural beauty of the TN mountains, lakes, and streams. Christine is one half of the cutting edge real estate team of McIn-Kowski. Christine and her partner Jennifer Halinkowski are both avid learners and reserchers who spend their free time analyzing home buyer trends to allow them provide up-to-date and highly effective marketing for their listing clients. Team McIn-Koswki, using "Truly Innovative Marketing Through Advanced Technology," is able to provide their clients houses with maximum exposure.
Christine has dedicated her life to helping others, in her former career Christine spent seven years teaching Biology at West High School in Knox County Schools.
Education
High School Diploma- Farragut High School- 1995
Bachelors in Science- Major Biology, Minor Chemistry, Minor Secondary Science Education, Minor Psychology- University of TN- Knoxville- 1999
Master of Science- Secondary Science Education- 2000
Professional
Professional REALTORS®
e-Pro®
GREEN Designee®
EcoBroker®
Historic Home Specialist
***Check out our websites:
Christine McInerney and Jennnifer Halinkowski specialize in Residential Real Estate in both Selling and Buying. We proudly represent all price ranges and currently are marketing homes ranging from $69,000-$739,900. We have experience and love representing clients in transactions including:
We believe that all home are different and therefore cookie cutter advertising techniques are often ineffective. All of our marketing and advertising is hand tailored and reserach based to provide optimal results- give us a call today and let us prove that we deserve your business.
Jennifer Halinkowski is a Buyer's Agent that went above and beyond in helping us to find the right house in the Knoxville, Tennessee area. She was extremely professional and provided us with all the additional information needed to make our move from North Carolina to Knoxville the best. My wife (Jo Ellen) only traveled to Knoxville once to see the house; then Jennifer was able to handle everything by overnight express mail, telephone, and electronic wire transfer. All this was accomplished while I was overseas. Jo Ellen and I agree that Jennifer is the best Real Estate Agent we have ever dealt with, and we strongly recommend anyone looking for a home in the Knoxville area to call on her. Our hats are off to Jennifer Halinowski for making our home buying a joyful reality.
Kenneth & Jo Ellen Fipps
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