Thinking About Buying A Home?

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Buying a home is a major transaction and is likely the largest financial investment of your life. The process is filled with financial details and legal technicalities, not to mention the emotional implications. Take out the hassle and guesswork: Do it right with Linda Trevor as your certified ABR (Accredited Buyer Representative): a professional REALTOR® acting in your best interests.

Thinking about going it alone?
Think twice. Linda Trevor can help you buy a new home in the shortest time, for the best price, with the least hassle.

Think about this:

• Do you have endless time and energy?
• Do you know all sorts of people in the industry?
• Are you a "detail person"?
• NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® research shows that those working with a Buyer's Representative found homes one week faster and toured three more homes than those who did not use a buyer's agent.
• Put the power of experience in your purchase, at no charge!
• As your Buyer's Agent, Linda Trevor doesn't charge you anything. Her services are FREE to you! The Seller's Agent pays her fee.

Working with Linda Trevor means working with a professional REALTOR® who has the knowledge and experience to expedite the process, producing the best results for you in the least amount of time.

She has attended seminars, training, and trade shows, educating herself to help you meet your real estate dreams. Let Linda Trevor put her expertise to work for you. You can't buy better peace of mind.

As your Buyer's Representative, Linda Trevor will:

• Understand your needs and find homes that fit your requirements
• Help pre-qualify you for a mortgage and find properties in your price range
• View properties for you and/or take you to tour appropriate homes
• Troubleshoot properties before you make a purchase offer
• Help you create an appropriate offer
• Present the offer on your behalf
• Negotiate for you…and your interests!
• Help you secure your mortgage
• Refer you to experts, such as attorneys, inspectors, insurance agents, land surveyors, and movers
• Advocate for you throughout the process 

Property Taxes 
Here you will find some general information about property taxes in North Carolina. If you would like to know more, contact the local property tax office or the Property Tax Division at (919) 733-7711.

The property tax in N.C. is a locally assessed tax collected by individual counties. The N.C. Department of Revenue doesn't send property tax bills or collect property taxes. January 1 is the tax lien date.

Under North Carolina General Statute 105-289, The Department of Revenue is charged with the duty to exercise general and specific supervision over the valuation and taxation of property by taxing units throughout the State.

The Property Tax Division of the North Carolina Department of Revenue is the division responsible for this administration.

Home Inspection 
Ok, so you've found your dream home and you are ready to make an offer. Wait! Linda Trevor recommends making your offer contingent upon the home having an acceptable inspection.

Don't know who to call? Linda Trevor can refer you to qualified home inspectors. These independent, state-licensed professionals will evaluate the overall condition of the house for you. The inspector will tell you if the home is structurally sound and whether primary systems are in good shape. The inspector will also provide you with a comprehensive, detailed report along with repair recommendations.

Be sure to:

• Walk around with the inspector as he or she tours the house. Have him or her explain what he sees.
• Read the written report. This will highlight any concerns.
• Refer to your purchase offer contract to make sure the seller takes care of any concerns in the appropriate time frame.

Homeowner's Insurance 
Homeowner's insurance protects you and your house against losses from fire, theft, liability, vandalism, water damage, wind damage, tornadoes, and loss of use. You can buy earthquake, hurricane, and flood insurance separately.

• A standard policy requires coverage for at least 80% of the value of your home, excluding land and the foundation. It will usually insure your personal property at actual cash value.

  A broad-form policy covers additional things like broken glass and smoke damage.
  An all-risk policy covers even more, for example: ice-damaged roofs.
  You can also purchase optional guaranteed replacement cost coverage. This will pay to rebuild your home and replace its contents with no depreciation.
  Reducing Premiums

  If cost is an issue, you can lower your premiums:

  • With discounts for smoke alarms, fire extinguishers, deadbolt locks, and whole-house alarm systems
  • With a higher deductible
  • By combining your auto and homeowner's policies.

Home Warranties 
A home warranty policy protects you from paying for repairs or replacements caused by an unexpected failure of a major system or appliance. You'll have to pay a small price for this warranty at closing.,but get a policy that protects you for a full year.
Your home warranty provides:

• Assurance and financial protection that you won't have to pay for any unexpected major repairs.
• The convenience of being able to call the home warranty service 24 hours a day/7 days a week to schedule a repair if something does break down.

• In addition to a home inspection, a good way to avoid unexpected repairs is to:
  Visit the home at different times of day (listen for traffic and noise) , Flush all toilets
  Turn on lights , Run the water
  Contact the city to check for permits to be sure all parts of the house meet safety code standards.

Property Disclosure 
As a buyer, you're entitled to a property disclosure statement. The disclosure statement is a two-page document prepared by the seller and discloses any problems (malfunctions or defects) with the major systems of the home. It also discloses any issues with a lot of other improvements, fixtures nuisances, etc.. In fact, a disclosure statement must be furnished to all potential purchasers, except for newly constructed, never-occupied homes.

Some examples of items that are disclosed on these forms are:

• Foundation, slab, fireplaces/chimneys, floors, windows (including storm windows and screens), doors ceilings, interior and exterior walls, attached garage, patio, deck or other structural components including any modifications
• Type of siding
• Approximately age of structure
• Built-in appliances (range/oven, attached microwave, hood/fan, dishwasher, disposal, etc.)
• Flood Hazard or that the property is in a Federally-designated flood plain.
• For a complete copy of North Carolina's Property Disclosure, contact Linda Trevor. She will forward a sample or meet with you to discuss it fully. 

Multiple Offers 
Linda Trevor will present your offer to the seller's agent as quickly as possible. However, sometimes sellers receive more than one offer. There is no "first-come, first-served" rule in real estate. Sellers may accept any offer and negotiate with any buyer (as long as the choice doesn't violate Fair Housing laws).

The law requires that real estate agents treat prospective buyers honestly and fairly. In most cases, the seller's agent will let Linda know that other offers were made; however, the law states that they may not disclose the details of competing offers.
 
Negotiating 
Linda Trevor will have one purpose: negotiating the best possible deal for you. This includes the best:

• Price
• Terms
• Date of possession
• Repair responsibility and schedule
• Included furnishings and appliances
• Inspection approvals 
   

FAQs  (Frequently Asked Questions) for Buyers
Q: How can I get prequalified?
A: Just click here: pre-qualify me!

Q: Should I get pre-qualified now even if it will take a while to find a house?
A: If you plan to move within six months, you should get pre-qualified before you start house-hunting. Being approved for a mortgage gives you an edge as a buyer.

Q: I don't know if I'm ready to handle a mortgage. Why not just rent?
A: Buying a home may actually be more affordable than renting. Plus you get a tax advantage: you can write off the interest on your mortgage.

Q: My credit record isn't perfect. Will this get in the way of my getting a mortgage?
A: Not always. Especially if your 'imperfections' were awhile ago and you've been on time with your recent payments. Mortgage bankers consider many things, such as your recent (timely) payments, current income, and down payment. Fill out a pre-qualification application today and a financial specialist with call you to discuss your situation.

Q: Can I buy a home if I don't have a down payment?
A: Definitely. Many lenders offer financing options without a down payment.

Q: I've gone through bankruptcy. Can I own a home?
A: Most likely. If you've been current with your bills for awhile after the discharge of bankruptcy, there's a good chance. Call Linda Trevor to discuss your options.

Q: Do I need an agent to buy a house? Can't I just call the listing agent myself?
A: The listing agent represents the seller. He or she gets a commission for selling the house. Having your own agent means you have someone looking out for your best interests…not the seller's.

Q: Can you explain the typical real estate transaction process?

Negotiations overview: