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7 Tips for Buying Your First Home in the U.S.

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Dmitry Vikhter, Managing Broker

Article From HouseLogic.com

By: Dona DeZube

Help finding your way through the complex U.S. real estate market.

Nothing says you're truly an American like owning a home. And just over half of all foreign-born households living in the U.S. own their own home.

If you're ready to join them, try these seven tips for American-style homebuying success -- the process here may be quite different from what you're used to. 

 1. Be Ready to Prove Who You Are

You don't have to get your citizenship, a green card, or any particular type of visa before you buy a home. But you do need:       

• An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. That's a number assigned by the Internal Revenue Service to foreign nationals who need to file income tax returns.

• A valid foreign passport, or two or more current photo identifications, such as a driver's license, to show who you are.

Although property ownership isn't tied to immigration or visa status, there are rules about how long you can stay, so if you're not a citizen, check out U.S. visa requirements before you purchase.

 2. Plan to Get a Mortgage

 That way, you don't have to save your money for years to become a homeowner and start building equity. The U.S. home loan market offers many safe, affordable mortgages, including ones that allow Muslims to buy a home without violating Islamic laws against paying interest.

To get a U.S. mortgage, you must establish credit and earn a good credit score. To boost your score: 

• Open U.S. bank and credit card accounts.
• Report all your income on your tax returns. Lenders use tax returns to verify your income and decide how much you can afford to borrow to buy a home.

When it's time to apply for a mortgage, you'll find major banks with global operations have experience working with foreign buyers and tend to have a process for verifying credit established in other countries.

 3. Work with a Certified International Property Specialist

 Make sure your REALTOR? is a Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) and has experience, training, and education in helping foreign-born home buyers. An experienced real estate or title attorney can help you protect your interests, too. Tell your real estate agent how the home buying process works in your native country and ask her to explain U.S. home-buying customs to identify any differences. Even within the U.S., local differences exist in how people buy and sell homes. Knowing how homes are sold here and what to expect with closing costs, inspections, and the negotiation process reduces your stress and helps you get a good deal on your first home. 

 4. Don't Be Shocked By Casual Attitudes

 Americans' casual attitudes toward buying or selling real estate is a byproduct of the relaxed U.S. business culture. Although real estate contracts must be in writing, the process leading up to the sales contract signing may be more informal and casual than it would be in your home country.

 5. Convert Units

 Learn to convert from the U.S. standard measurement into metric, or pick up a metric converter app so you can better estimate room and home sizes while shopping.

 6. Find Someone Who Can Translate 

 If you're not fluent in English, or prefer speaking in your native language, choose inspectors, mortgage bankers, and REALTORS? fluent in your own language. Although it's possible to get translated copies of standard real estate documents, you'll likely have to sign the English versions during your home purchase.

 7. Create a Financial Plan for Your Home

 Consider all the real-estate related expenses you'll have as a homeowner, including property taxes, homeowners insurance, and maintenance costs. Set up a financial plan for your home so you know how much money to set aside for ongoing expenses.

Before You Choose a Mortgage Lender, Read These Tips

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5 Questions To Ask When Buying A House

Article From HouseLogic.com

By: HouseLogic
Published: January 08, 2020

There are no dumb questions to ask a real estate agent.

Home buying seems simple enough: Find a house you like that's close to work or school, tell someone you want to buy it, and move in.

 But there's more to it than that. You'll have to find and get approved by a lender who will let you borrow a few hundred thousand dollars, lock in a mortgage rate, figure out how much house you can afford, put in an offer that will entice the seller, get an inspection and an appraisal, pay closing costs and sign a whole bunch of paperwork.

 Phew! We need a break just thinking about all the questions to ask when buying a house.

 Your real estate agent can help you understand the process. But if you don't ask questions or get your agent to clarify something you don't understand, they're not going to know you're confused. And you won't learn anything.

"There are no such things as stupid questions," says REALTOR? Ryan Fitzgerald in Raleigh, N.C. "If you have a question, ask it, no matter how foolish it sounds in your own head."

 Don't be afraid. Ask away. You're making one of the biggest financial transactions of your life, so it's a good idea to tap into your agent's expertise.

 Here are some questions to ask a real estate agent when buying a house.

 1. How Many Clients Have You Helped Purchase Homes?

 Before you pick a real estate professional, ask them how many clients they've worked with to find a home. Your real estate agent is supposed to be an expert, so one with a lot of experience will be a big help to a newbie home buyer like you.

 That's not to say a newly licensed agent can't be a good one. But agents learn on the job. The more sales they've completed, and the more people they've helped buy a home, the more wisdom they have to share with you.

 Related: The 14 Best Questions to Ask An Agent

 2. How Old Is The HVAC, Water Heater, And Roof Of This Home?

 It's easy to be dazzled by 12-foot ceilings, crown molding, and other aesthetic features, but you need to pay attention to the nuts and bolts of the house. We're talking the unsexy stuff like the HVAC system, water heater, roof, electrical system, and plumbing.

"Knowing the age and condition of the major items will help you gauge how much your home could potentially cost once you move in," Fitzgerald says. "The older the home, the more likely you are to have higher maintenance costs."

 These items could have more impact on a home's value than quartz countertops or hardwood floors, because it's expensive when they malfunction. A leaking hot water heater can do thousands of dollars of damage. And replacing an aging HVAC system can start at more than $5,000, putting it in the major expense category.

 3. What If The Home Inspection Reveals Major Issues?

 We won't lie: The home inspection is one of the most nerve-wracking days of the homebuying process. It's when you find out about every wart on the place you fell in love with at the showing.

 Most of the time the inspection goes as expected. But if you aren't expecting a major issue and the inspector discovers something awful like a rusting sewer main or walls full of termites, it can be panic attack time.

 Breathe. "What should I do when the inspector has bad news?" is one of the most common questions to ask when buying a house. Talk to your agent.

 Your agent can calm you down so you can plan your next move, whether it's "Let's kiss this money pit of a house goodbye" or "Let's negotiate with the seller and get those repairs done so you can close on time."

 4. What Happens If The Appraisal Comes Back Low?

 In competitive markets where there are more buyers than sellers, it's possible to end up in a bidding war over a house. This can drive the sales price higher than the appraised value of the home. Lenders balk when the price is higher than the value, and this can jam up the deal.

 Ask your agent what you should do if the appraisal comes in low. An experienced agent will have been in the situation before and have good advice. You'll have a couple of options, including ordering a second appraisal, covering the difference in cash, or walking away from the deal.

 No matter what happens, keep your cool. Just because the appraisal is low doesn't mean the deal will fall through.

"When things don't go as expected, it's important to remain level-headed. You never want to allow your emotions to be too up or too down when buying a home," Fitzgerald says.

 Related: How to Make the Appraisal Work, and When to Walk Away

 5. What Do We Need To Do To Prepare For Closing?

 Closing day is essentially the transfer of ownership, but it's not just a formality. It needs to go well. This is when you sign the final paperwork and get the keys to the house.

 One of the most important questions to ask a real estate agent is exactly what you need to bring for the big day. You'll probably need your ID, a check for the closing costs, and proof of homeowner's insurance.

 Asking in advance will keep you organized and help your first big real estate transaction run smoothly. You don't want to get there and realize you forgot a key piece of paperwork that keeps the deal from closing. Fewer things are as disappointing than not going home from a closing with keys to your new house.

 So ask questions. Knowledge is power, so there are no silly questions to ask when buying a house.

Home Buying and Selling During the Pandemic: What You Need to Know

Home Buying and Selling During the Pandemic: What You Need to Know

By: Leanne Potts

Published: May 1, 2020

Resources to help you navigate the new real estate normal.

Technology and good-old-fashioned creativity are helping agents, buyers, and sellers abide by COVID-19 health and safety practices while getting deals done.
Some buyers are touring houses virtually. Others visit in person while remaining at least six feet from their agent. Sellers are hosting open houses on Facebook Live. Appraisers are doing drive-by valuations. Buyers are watching inspections via video call. Masked and gloved notaries are getting signatures on doorsteps.
“We have had to make some adjustments, for sure,” says Brian K. Henson, a REALTOR® with Atlanta Fine Homes / Sotheby’s International Realty in Alpharetta, Ga. “Everyone is trying to minimize face-to-face interactions. There have been some delays, but mostly, deals are getting done, just with tweaks.”
Here’s what home buying and selling during the pandemic looks like.

Showings Go Virtual

The rules around in-person showings vary by city, county, and state. Some allow them and some ban them. Check with your state, county, and local government to get the latest on business closures and shut-down rules.
Agents have conducted home tours via FaceTime and other similar tools for years. But these platforms have proven invaluable for home buying and selling during the pandemic. Real estate sites report a surge in the creation of 3D home tours. Redfin, a real estate brokerage, saw a 494% increase in requests for video home tours in March.
“I’ve done several FaceTime showings,” says Henson. He conducted virtual showings before COVID-19, too. He recently closed a deal on a home the buyers only saw on video, he says, but hasn’t yet done so during the pandemic.
In places where in-person showings are allowed, agents wipe down door handles, spray the lockbox with disinfectant, and open up the house, closets, everything for a client. “We leave all the lights on so no one touches switches, and we don’t touch cabinets or doors during showings,” Henson says.

Safe-Showing Guidelines

The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, which produces HouseLogic, recommends only one buyer enter a home at a time, with 6 feet between each guest. NAR also recommends agents have potential buyers wash their hands, or use hand sanitizer when they come in the door. They should also remove their shoes. No children should be present at showings, either.
“We’re living in extraordinary times and unusual circumstances. If you have the ability to work, you have to be creative,” Mabél Guzmán, a Chicago real estate agent, told NBC News. Guzmán, who is also vice president of association affairs for NAR, has put together a video offering tips and strategies for virtual showings during the pandemic.

Down Payment Help

Many organizations offering down payment assistance to first-time home buyers have temporarily suspended the programs or changed the rules. You can check the status of programs in your area at the Down Payment Assistance Resource site.

Desktop, Drive-By Appraisals

Appraisers are essential workers in many areas, so home valuations are continuing. But often remotely. New, temporary rules from the Federal Housing Finance Authority allow drive-by and desktop appraisals for loans backed by the federal government.
In a desktop appraisal, the appraiser comes up with a home estimate based on tax records and multiple listing service information, without an in-person visit. For a drive-by, the appraiser only looks at the home’s exterior, in combination with a desktop appraisal. The Appraisal Foundation has put out guidelines for handling appraisals during the pandemic. Here’s the FAQ.
And here are specific new appraisal guidelines by agency:

• Fannie Mae
• Freddie Mac
• FHA
• Veterans Administration
• USDA Rural Development

On the other hand, some private lenders still require in-person appraisals, which are allowed even in areas with shutdown orders. Private lenders hold about 35% of first-lien mortgages, according to the Urban Institute
When appraisers come to your home, they should adhere to Centers for Disease Control guidelines, including wearing gloves and a face mask, keeping at least 6 feet apart from anyone in the home, and asking if the homeowners have been sick or traveled recently to a COVID-19 hotspot.

Inspections Via Live Video

Inspectors are now often working alone, no buyers in tow, and using hand sanitizer and alcohol wipes. The National Association of Certified Home Inspectors advises inspectors to videotape their inspection so clients can watch it at home later, or to use FaceTime or other live video chat apps to take their clients along on the inspection, virtually. They can also call clients with their findings after they’re done.
The American Society of Home Inspectors has also issued guidelines for inspectors so they keep themselves and the homeowners safe while providing an accurate assessment of a home’s condition.

Mortgage Rates and Locks

With mortgage rates fluctuating quickly and closing times taking longer than usual, some lenders are extending mortgage rate lock periods. You can grab a good rate and hang on to it even if your lender takes longer than usual to process your loan.
But the protocol depends on the lender and the loan. Some lenders are offering this for all loans; others for refis. Check with your lender about its policy.
Related: How to Get Home Financing

Employment Verification

An important step in getting a mortgage is proving the borrower has a job. In pre-coronavirus days, lenders called the borrower’s employer for a verbal verification.
The Federal Housing Finance Authority, which oversees Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and federal home loan banks, has relaxed the rules for loans backed by the federal government because so many businesses are closed.
Lenders for federally backed loans now accept an email from an employer, a recent year-to-date paystub, or a bank statement showing a recent payroll deposit as proof of employment.

Walk-throughs

Home buying and selling during the pandemic means real estate agents can conduct the final walk-through via video with their clients. Or they can just open the home and have buyers walk through on their own. Henson says he still accompanies his clients, but stays six feet away and has them wash their hands when entering and exiting the house. Everyone’s wearing masks, too.
And, of course, when the buyers take possession, they should disinfect.

Remote Notarization Depends On Where You Live

About one-half of states have permanent remote online notarization (RON) policies. These allow a notary and signer in different locations to sign electronic document, usually by use of video apps like Zoom or FaceTime. Notaries will watch you sign either a paper document or do an electronic signature on an e-doc, via camera.
Some states have rolled out temporary rules allowing RON. Here’s a state-by-state list of notary law updates, and the type of remote notarizations allowed. The number of states allowing remote notarization could grow as federal and state pandemic legislation expands.

Closings Get Creative

Traditional closings, where everybody gathered around a big table to sign the final papers, are no longer possible. Title companies and banks are getting super creative in dealing with the limitations.
A Minnesota company, Legacy Title, rolled out a drive-thru closing service at one of its offices in an old bank branch building. The title company rep sits in a bank teller window and handles the closing papers while the customer sits in their car. Legacy completed 14 closings in the first week it offered drive-thru service.
Then there are drive-by closings, where the entire transaction takes place in cars. Masked and gloved notaries meet buyers in parking lots and pass documents through car windows.
“I had a closing where the buyer sat in her car the whole time. The attorney came out to her car, gave her paperwork, had her sign in her car, and my buyer never got out of her car,” Birmingham, Ala., agent Isaac McDow told WBRC television.
Says Georgia-based agent Henson, “I’ve had closings the last three weeks [that] I’ve been asked not to attend. There was one where the seller signed two days before buyer. Then the seller came back two days later and signed.”
Henson, who is also licensed in New York, has had to extend closing dates on two sales there since. Co-op boards won’t let non-residents into buildings ­­­– not even an electrician who needs to make repairs as part of an issue that came up in the inspection. He left the closing with an open-ended date.
“It’s all about being really flexible right now,” he says.
TIP: Find out if your county recording office can complete the deal online.

Student Loan Relief

Finally, if you’re also trying to swing your student loan payments, know that federal student loan borrowers get an automatic six-month break in loan payments from April 10, 2020, through Sept. 3, 2020. Thanks to the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, they also won’t be charged a dime of interest in that time.

Learn more at the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau’s site.

Keep in mind that payment suspension only applies to federal loans owned by the Department of Education. Some help may be available to borrowers with private student loans and other loans (like Perkins Loans and Federal Family Education Loans) that aren’t covered. But it’s not automatic. Reach out to your student loan servicer for information.

So, Should You Buy or Sell?

The real estate industry is creatively and safely responding to the situation, and mortgage rates remain low. Your agent is a great source of information about home buying and selling during the pandemic to help you feel comfortable. But, ultimately, it’s a question only you can answer.
Related: 5 Questions to Ask Your Agent When Buying a House

Looking To Buy or Sell in Illinois? Contact Dmitry Vikhter at Buy Homes America, Inc.