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Buying

First or fifth home we have all resources here when buying a home.

Found 14 blog entries about Buying.

Market Value Vs. Appraised Value

Sunday, May 28th, 2023 at 9:00am.
Oakridge Real Estate

Market Value vs. Appraised Value | Oakridge Real Estate

Market Value Vs. Appraised Value

Market value and appraised value are both important factors to consider when buying or selling a home. The market value is the estimated price that a buyer would be willing to pay for the property, based on current market conditions. The appraised value is the estimated value of the property as determined by a licensed appraiser. Lenders use the appraised value to determine how much they are willing to lend for the purchase of the home. Both values can impact the price negotiations during a home sale, and it's important to take both into consideration when making a decision.

Market Value: The price a buyer is will to pay for a property.

Appraised Value: The professional opinion of an appraiser on

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Why Buyers Need an Expert Agent by Their Side

Wednesday, May 24th, 2023 at 8:00am.
Oakridge Real Estate

Why Buyers Need an Expert Agent by Their Side | Oakridge Real Estate

Why Buyers Need an Expert Agent by Their Side

Article from Keeping Current Matters

The process of buying a home can feel a bit intimidating, even under normal circumstances. But today’s market is still anything but normal. There continues to be a very limited number of homes for sale, and that’s creating bidding wars and driving home prices back up as buyers compete over the available homes.

Navigating all of this can be daunting if you’re trying to do it alone. That’s why having a skilled expert to guide you through the homebuying process is essential, especially today. Bankrate shares this perspective: 

“Advice and guidance from a professional real estate agent can be invaluable, particularly amid a hot or unpredictable housing

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Why You Should be Timing Your Life & Not the Housing Marketing

Sunday, May 21st, 2023 at 11:32am.
Oakridge Real Estate

Why You Should be Timing Your Life & Not the Housing Market | Oakridge Real Estate

Why You Should be Timing Your Life & Not the Housing Marketing 

When it comes to buying or selling a home, it's easy to get caught up in the fluctuations of the housing market. But it's important to remember that the most valuable commodity in life is time. Time spent with loved ones, pursuing passions, and making memories is priceless.

When making decisions about buying or selling a home, it's important to consider how the transaction will impact your time and overall quality of life. For example, if you're selling a home, consider whether the process will be stressful and time-consuming, taking away from other important aspects of your life. On the other hand, if you're buying a home, think about whether the location and size of

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Why Downsizing is Not Just for Those Looking to Retire

Friday, May 19th, 2023 at 2:00pm.
Oakridge Real Estate

Why Downsizing is Not Just for Those Looking to Retire

Why Downsizing is Not Just for Those Looking to Retire

Article from Keep Current Matters

Downsizing has long been a popular option when homeowners reach retirement age. But there are plenty of other life changes that could make downsizing worthwhile. Homeowners who have experienced a change in their lives or no longer feel like their house fits their needs may benefit from downsizing too. U.S. News explains:

“Downsizing is somewhat common among older people and retirees who no longer have children living at home. But these days, younger people are also looking to downsize to save money on housing . . .”

And when inflation has made most things significantly more expensive, saving money where you can has a lot of appeal. So, if you’re

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The Power of Being Pre-Approved as a Buyer in Today's Market

Friday, May 12th, 2023 at 8:00am.
Oakridge Real Estate

The Power of Being Pre-Approved as a Buyer in Today's Market | Oakridge Real EstateThe Power of Being Pre-Approved as a Buyer in Today's Market

Article from Keeping Current Matters

If you’re buying a home this spring, today’s housing market can feel like a challenge. With so few homes on the market right now it is essential to have a firm grasp on your homebuying budget. You’ll also need a sense of determination to find the right house and act quickly when you go to put in an offer. One thing you can do to help you prepare is to get pre-approved.

To understand why it’s such an important step, you need to know what pre-approval is. As part of the process, a lender looks at your finances to determine what they’d be willing to loan you. From there, your lender will give you a pre-approval letter to help you understand how

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Preparing for Homeownership - 6 Things You Should Consider

Friday, May 5th, 2023 at 8:00am.
Oakridge Real Estate

Preparing for Homeownership-10 Things You Should Consider | Oakridge Real Estate

Preparing for Homeownership - 6 Things You Should Consider

If your goal is to become a homeowner this year the process to finding "the" home can be overwhelming. In today's blog post we are sharing six helpful tips when it comes to buying a home. Before you begin your home search, we recommend crossing these tasks off your to-do list: 

  1. Contact an Oakridge REALTOR®. A Realtor will do more than show you a home. As a buyer in today's market a Realtor is essential to writing a strong offer, and getting connected with local lender. You Realtor will also assist in walking you through negotiations, inspection, getting connected with local vendors and walking you through the home buying process!
  2. Connect with a Local Lender for Pre Approval &
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The Biggest Homebuyer Myth When Buying a Home

Monday, May 1st, 2023 at 3:00pm.
Oakridge Real Estate

The Biggest Homebuyer Myth When Buying a Home | Oakridge Real Estate

The Biggest Homebuyer Myth When Buying a Home

The biggest myth we see with homebuyers: You need 20% down payment to purchase a home. A recent survey by the NAR (National Association of Realtors) showed that 44% of people who purchased a home in 2022 put less than 20% down.

For years, the idea of having to save up 20% of a home's purchase price for a down payment has been ingrained in many people's minds. However, this is no longer the case. While a 20% down payment may have been the norm in the past, there are now many options available for homebuyers to purchase a home with a much smaller down payment.

In fact, some programs allow for as little as 3% down payment for a conventional loan, and there are also

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5 Things Your Realtors Wants You to Know if You are Searching for a Home.

Friday, April 14th, 2023 at 11:24am.
Oakridge Real Estate

5 Things Your Realtor  Wants You to Know if You are Searching for a Home.

5 Things Your Realtor Wants You to Know if You are Searching for a Home.

For the past three years the inventory levels in the Cedar Valley have not been able to support the demands of buyers. Our team meetings have been focused on how to support our buyers in this time where there is a feeling of losing. From these conversations, we decided to make a post to help all the buyers in the Cedar Valley. Here is what your Realtor wants you to know if you are searching for a home.

  1. We See That You are Tired - Some buyers have been looking for a week, a month or even a year. We see that you are tired of looking at house after house with disappointment, but as your Realtor® we will not stop working until we find the perfect house for you.

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Balancing Your Wants & Needs as a Homebuyer

Thursday, March 16th, 2023 at 8:00am.
Oakridge Real Estate

Balancing Your Wants & Needs as a Homebuyer | Oakridge Real Estate

Balancing Your Wants & Needs as a Homebuyer

Article from Keep Current Matters

Though there are more homes for sale now than there were at this time last year, there’s still an undersupply with fewer houses available than in more normal, pre-pandemic years. The Monthly Housing Market Trends Report from realtor.com puts it this way: 

“While the number of homes for sale is increasing, it is still 43.2% lower than it was before the pandemic in 2017 to 2019. This means that there are still fewer homes available to buy on a typical day than there were a few years ago.”

The current housing shortage has an impact on how you search for a home this spring. With limited options on the market, buyers who consider what’s a necessity versus what’s a

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How to Win as a Buyer in Today's Housing Market

Tuesday, February 14th, 2023 at 11:18am.
Oakridge Real Estate

How to Win as a Buyer in Today's Housing Market | Oakridge Real Estate

How to Win as a Buyer in Today's Housing Market

As our team gears up for the spring and summer market, educating our clients is our number one priority, especially buyers. With low housing inventory in the Cedar Valley, buyers need to have a strategy and plan if you are serious about buying a home this year. Below are 5 tips to prepare and set yourself up for success as a buyer!

  1. Build Your Team: Make sure you have trusted, local, professionals on your side specifically your realtor & lender. Having a local professionals will provide opportunities you need to move quickly and efficiently.

2. Strategic Planning: Do you have a plan when it comes to buying? Have a meeting with your realtor to learn what the Cedar Valley market is like and

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Cedar Falls, IA 50613

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