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WELCOME TO OUR WEBSITE EXTENSION Stateside Real Estate
	Buying & Selling Tips  Search for Homes  Featured Listings  Log In  Sign Up to receive listings  Your Home's Value  Questions & Comments  Mortgage Calculator  The Voice of Real Estate  Do It Yourself Homeowners' Tips  Company's Site:   Local News (Boston)   Stateside Real Estate 27 Glen Street Suite 10 Stoughton MA 02072 Phone: 781-886-6636 Cell Phone: 781-437-2331 Fax: 781-886-6636 Email: fequiere@stateside.realestate Privacy Policy			Here you'll be able to obtain information on properties that have been matched to you by our automated system. Click on " Sign up to receive Listings " button on your left below and enjoy your SEARCH..... FINANCING YOUR HOME Knowledge and experience are the keys to successful real estate transactions. Working as your agent, I can provide you with an enormous amount of valuable information. Such data, combined with my expertise, experience and training, can be an essential key to your success. One of the keys to making the home buying process easier and more understandable is planning. In doing so, you’ll be able to anticipate requests from lenders, lawyers and a host of other professionals. Furthermore, planning will help you discover valuable shortcuts in the home buying process. 12 STEPS TO FINANCING YOUR HOME 1. Find a lender. Ask friends, family or co-workers for referrals; speak with local real estate agents; search the Internet. 2. Fill out a loan application. 3. Get an estimate of closing costs from the lender you choose. By law, the lender is required to provide this statement to you within three days of receiving the loan application. Make sure to ask what type of loan program your lender has selected for you, including the rates, terms and any special information, such as prepayment penalties. 4. Compare costs, fees and terms of loans if you are working with more than one lender. 5. Negotiate fees. Sometimes you can negotiate the amount of fees or loan points (a point is 1 percent of the loan amount) the lender charges you. 6. Consider lowering your interest rate by paying more points. The relationship of interest rate to points paid is an inverse one; the more points you pay, the lower the interest rate. 7. Provide required documentation. 8. Pay any up-front fees. Sometimes the lender requires that the appraisal, or processing fee be paid at the beginning. 9. Review loan papers. Approximately one week prior to closing, loan papers will be ready for your review. Make sure the loan matches the original quote you were given. 10. Sign your loan papers and your down payment funds into your account four to six days prior to closing. 11. Bring a cashier’s check for the down payment to the title company, escrow company or attorney handling the closing. The lender will send the title company a check for the loan amount. 12. Get ready to congratulate yourself! Once the transaction closes and you have signed off on all contingencies, you will receive a copy of the deed and a set of keys, and you then own the home! BUYING YOUR HOME CONTACT A REAL ESTATE AGENT Congratulations on the first step of buying a home! As an experienced real estate agent, I can assist you through the entire process of buying a home, starting with the mortgage and continuing right through closing and beyond. I will help you shop for the best interest rate and terms, and if you wish, I can also suggest mortgage lenders. 1) GETTING PRE-APPROVED FOR A LOAN Obtain a copy of your credit report and your FICO score, and if necessary, do what you need to do to improve it. The higher your FICO score, the better your interest rate. You can get this information online, or I can help you. Contact several lenders, and determine which one will give you the best deal. Determine Your Price Range and Area(s) in Which You’re Interested. By now, you should have a good idea of how much home you can afford. This helps you narrow down your home search. You should also begin researching the neighborhoods in which you might want to live. I can assist you with this. Decide Which Amenities and Features You Must Have – and Which Ones Would Be Nice but not Necessary How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you want? Would you prefer a newer home or an older one with established landscaping? Which features would you be willing to give up if you were to find the otherwise perfect home? 2) BEGIN TESTING THE MARKET Right here on my site, you can find listings that meet your criteria as well as neighborhood data. See what’s available in your price range and explore neighborhoods. With Your Agent, Begin Seriously Looking at Homes I can compile a list of homes based on your criteria, or show you any homes you might have already found, including any that might have just been placed on the market. Look at homes with a critical eye – Does the floor plan work for you? Is the property in good condition? Would it be right for your lifestyle? In short, can you imagine yourself and your family living there? Take notes at each home you visit. What are your likes and dislikes? Narrow down your choices; revisit homes in which you’re interested. See them at different times of the day. 3) MAKE AN OFFER When you’ve identified the home you want to buy, be ready to help your agent prepare a written offer quickly. Your agent will be familiar with market values and will help you arrive at a price that gives your offer the best chance of being accepted. At this stage, try not to become emotionally attached to a home. Your offer may not be accepted for any number of reasons. Have backup homes in mind. Be prepared to negotiate through your agent with the sellers. Once your offer is accepted, you’ll be asked to submit an earnest money deposit that usually isn’t refundable. Begin making moving arrangements. Select a mover, obtain change-of-address cards, and inform friends and relatives. Have the property professionally inspected, and if necessary, request repairs. Obtain homeowner’s insurance. Contact the local utility companies (phone, water, electricity, etc.). A few days before closing, stage a walkthrough. Also, you will want to obtain a cashier’s check for the down payment, as well as for any closing costs. 4) THE CLOSING -Make sure the terms and conditions of the loan statement are correct -Carefully read everything before you sign SELLING YOUR HOME HIRE A REAL ESTATE AGENT Studies show that home sellers who use a real estate agent to represent them generally get a better price than those who sell the home themselves. Real estate agents are up-to-date on critical processes and can help keep you out of trouble. They can also help you get your home sold at the best price in the right time frame. Equally as important, real estate agents add objectivity to an inherently emotional transaction: the sale of your home. BEFOR YOU LIST YOUR HOME FOR SALE It’s important to have your home in good showing condition before buyers start going through it. Here are some steps to take:. Touch up interior and exterior paint as needed. Install new carpeting and flooring if it appears worn or dated. Make sure the front is clean and spruced up curb appeal will create a favorable first impression. “Pay attention to your agents advice. Consider dropping the price if several months go by with few or no offers.”Trim bushes and plants as needed, and make sure the lawn is kept mowed and trimmed. In autumn, rake the leaves; in winter, shovel the snow. Keep the interior clean, decluttered and odor-free. Eliminate evidence of pets. Minimize personal items such as family photos. You want buyers to see themselves living in the home. Consider putting excess furniture and belongings in storage. Now’s the time to clean out the garage and basement and sell, give away or throw away items you don’t need anymore. Consider having a pre-listing inspection performed. Buyers will be hiring professional inspectors; here’s your chance to address problems in advance. Consider engaging a professional stager to give your home the right emotional appeal. DURING THE LISTING PERIOD When potential buyers visit your home, either be absent or make yourself as inconspicuous as possible. Have fresh flowers in the entryway. It makes for a friendly introduction into your home. If offers are made that don’t match your hoped-for price, don’t reject them offhand. Pay attention to your agents advice. Consider dropping the price if several months go by with few or no offers, but if you and your agent have priced your home properly from the start, this shouldn’t be necessary. Don’t get discouraged. In buyers markets, homes take longer to sell than during boom times.