Real Estate Articles

Learn About buying and selling real estate on maui

Why You Need a Buyers Agent

The right agent will guide you smoothly through the home buying process

“We are first and foremost in the business of helping people achieve a real estate goal.” -Anonymous

When I began my Real Estate career more than seven years ago, my first (and very smart) managing Broker taught me that ultimately, we are in the service business - we have the responsibility to ensure that Buyers and Sellers have the tools and information to succeed in their Real Estate transactions. If you held your clients in the same esteem as your family and close friends, you couldn't go wrong.
So, with that in mind, why do you need a Buyers Agent?

Your Lender and the Pre-Approval

Should you happen to be a first time Buyer, I will initially determine if you are seeking your first home or possibly an investment property. Once I have this information, now the fun begins! A Buyer’ Agent’s job, in my opinion, is to position the Buyer in the best possible light to a perspective Seller and when making an offer, be able to present a complete package to the Seller.
This leads to our topic at hand – the lending stage. If you’re not a cash buyer, obtaining a Pre-Approval from a lender of your choice is power. This will ensure that we know what price range you are able to purchase in, what the loan payments will be, including taxes and insurance and the all-important item, what amount will be required as a down payment.

When you look for property before you know what you are qualified for, this can lead to disappointment and it does not make for a pleasant Real Estate experience. This actually just happened - a couple, planning to retire to Maui in five years, wanted to purchase a condo now and rent it out until they retired. Initially, they were thinking they would pay cash but decided to look into a loan. Once they spoke with the lender and learned what their obligations would be, they determined that they had some legwork to do and weren't quite ready to purchase.

A Buyers Agents job is to ask the sometimes, difficult questions, to ensure everyone is communicating and that expectations are realistic. Also, helping explain the loan process and understanding the documents that the Lender will require in order to process your loan is just the beginning. Your Buyers Agent is educated on the Maui real estate market and will educate you on the current trends, past market history, the current active and sold data so you are able to make an informed buying decision.

Your Buyers Agent is a dedicated Real Estate professional that will be there during all facets of your transaction - from start to finish and beyond!

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