When you hear someone saying they would like to pay cash for your home,  does it peak your interest? With many cash offer companies out there, it can be hard sometimes to navigate the ins and the outs of how this process actually works. Well, I am super excited to tell you that Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Homesale Realty has partnered with Quickbuy to bring you a simple and trusted immediate cash offer program. In fact, Quickbuy™ offers 3 programs to choose from if you are considering taking an immediate cash offer on your home. Let me break them down to you here...

Immediate Offer Quickbuy™ Offer

Whether you need to sell your home quickly or you need a little time to move into your new home, this option could be for you! This option is pretty simple. Essentially, if your home qualifies, Quickbuy™ will give you a cash offer for your home that can close as early as 14 days and up to 60 days if you need extra time. This flexibility in closing is extremely valuable if you are concerned about trying to list your home and find a home sat the same time. 

Sell & Stay Quickbuy™ Leaseback

Would you like to sell, but need the option to move when you are ready? This option allows you to sell your home to Quickbuy™ and lease it back. Short term and long term leases are available. This is a great option for those who would like the proceeds of their home and the security of having a place to stay until you are ready. 

List with Assurance Quickbuy™ Lock

Last but definitely not least is the Quickbuy™ Lock option, it's a hybrid of a Quickbuy™ Offer with a traditional sale . With this option, you are able to list your home traditionally for up to 150 days with an experienced agent, like myself and with the certainty of an offer in-hand! You can decide to take the offer anytime when it is listed as well. This option is great for those who want the security of knowing they have an offer in hand but still want the opportunity to market their property and see what the market provides. 

Whether you need to move fast or need time to move Quickbuy™ is available to make the process as stress-free as possible. If you are curious what  Quickbuy™ would offer on your home, I'd be happy to help you get started.Keep in mind, these options may not be for everyone and if you would like information on selling your home the traditional way with qualified real estate specialist, I'd love to share my listing and marketing plan with you so you can get "Moving with Mandi"!

As a real estate agent I get lots of questions, as you can imagine. The home buying and selling processes can seem daunting and that's why its SO important to make sure you're working with someone who is experienced and knowledgeable. As your go-to real estate expert, I strive to make sure I keep my sellers and buyers informed EVERY step of the way. Here are some of the top questions I get in the beginning of the process with my buyers.

1. Should I get pre-approved before I start looking?

This is almost always the first question I get when meeting with a buyer. My answer is yes, if you will need to get a loan to buy a home than you should absolutely get pre-approved first, and here are some reasons why. First reason is you don't want to start off looking at homes that may be out of your price range. There is nothing worse than going to look at a beautiful home, falling in love with the features and then finding out you're not approved for the loan amount. After something like this happens, it can be hard reeling it back and looking at your actual price range with fresh eyes. The gorgeous home is usually still in the back of your mind making all the homes in your range look less appealing. Don't tease yourself and make sure to know your range before heading out on the hunt. Another important reason to get pre-approved first is this fast paced market we are in! With homes selling so quickly it's vital to have all your "ducks in a row" when it comes to putting in an offer. When you put an offer in on a home generally proof of fund or a pre-approval letter is needed with the offer. To save everyone's time and avoid home heartbreak, obtaining a pre-approval before seeing homes in crucial!                                                                                                                                     

2. What kind of credit score do I need to get a loan?

Another common first question I tend to get is what credit score is needed to get pre-approved? This question isn't as simple to answer as the last. There isn't one concrete answer to this because mortgage lenders have different requirements for the score. Typically I have found in my local market area, the minimum score ranges from 620-640, but again that varies from lender to lender. Some lenders may have lower requirements but I always recommend 640 or more is a good place to be. Your preferred lender would be able to give you a more accurate answer to that question.

3. Do I need to have 20% of the loan for a down payment?

No you don't necessarily need 20% down for your mortgage. There are many low down payment loan options you could possibly qualify for. For example there are 5% and even 3% down conventional loans. FHA loans only required 3.5% down, USDA loans are 0% down, and Veterans could be approved for a VA loan which is also 0% down! Although there are options for low down payment loans, there are definitely benefits to putting 20% down. One benefit is your you wont have to pay private mortgage insurance (PMI), which saves you money on your monthly payment. 

4. What are closing costs?

Closing costs are expenses and fees you pay when you close on your home, beyond that of just your down payment. Closing costs encompass and cover many different things involved with buying a home. These costs include but are not limited to: real estate taxes, transfer tax, title fees, certifications, admin fees, loan processing fees and more.  Most loan types also allow you to ask for some seller's assistance wit these cost, typically anywhere from 1-6% but in this fast sellers market, sellers assist is becoming more rare.With the addition of these items and your down payment makes saving for your home very important.

It's common knowledge that the majority of younger generations are renting longer than the older generations did in the past. With large amounts student loan debt and the prices of homes rising, it makes sense why most people are renting. It leaves you wondering, as rent prices steadily increase each year, is it better to bite the bullet and buy a home? It's a decades-long debate about renting versus buying, but here are a few things to consider to help you make the best decision for you.

Your Life

Owning a home is not only a big financial commitment, but it also requires a level of maturity to recognize problems, plan for a variety of situations and maintain the household. Home-ownership is a huge commitment and if you travel often, work late most nights or don't have the extra money saved for repairs around the house, owning a home may not be for you. It might be best for you to continue renting a property where you are not responsible for outdoor maintenance, repairs or a mortgage.

The Cost

While people tend to equate a mortgage payment to the price of rent, there are lots of extra costs associated with owning a home rather than renting one. You'll need to take homeowners' insurance when you buy a property. Also you will pay property taxes, school taxes, utilities and possibly an HOA fee for certain developments and condos. On the upside, along with these extra costs you will be building the wealth over time by developing equity. Keeping your home well maintained and updated can help build steady value.

The Commitment 

One of the reasons renting seems less scary is the lack of long-term commitment. Most leases are one year in length and some are even month to month. This gives you the option to easily adjust your living location for a new job, preferred area or just to get a nice change in scenery. When you buy a home, you are committed to choosing a location that you will be comfortable living in for several years while your building equity to recoup the cost of buying the house. It's impossible to predict what your future will hold, but having a general idea of a five-year plan can help you decide whether it's best for you to buy a home or to continue renting.