Buy

Setting Your Budget

If you’re like most people, you’ll start your home search online – but before you do that, it’s best to figure out how much house you can afford. Each community in Cochise County is a bit different, so it’s important that you consider things like:

• How much you’ll spend on your down payment
• Recurring monthly expenses for your new home
• Property taxes
• Home insurance

Your income and debt-to-income ratio are key indicators of whether you’ll qualify for a mortgage. When you do qualify, your credit score will affect your interest rate. Usually, the higher your credit score is, the more likely you are to qualify for competitive rates.

If you’re currently spending money on rent and you feel that there’s room in your budget, now might be the perfect time for you to buy a home. Ready to find out what your mortgage payment might look like? Click “Calculate My Payment” below and use my simple calculator to see how much you’re likely to spend each month.

Getting Pre-Approved

Different lenders offer different loan products, so it’s always best to shop around to find the product that’s right for you. If you’re a military homebuyer stationed at Fort Huachuca or a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces, for example, you may qualify for a VA loan – and it’s in your best interest to look for a lender that specializes in this type of financing.

There are several types of mortgage loans, including those with fixed rates (where your interest rate doesn’t change over the life of your loan) and those with adjustable rates (where your interest rate remains the same for a set period, such as 5, 7 or 10 years, and then changes annually with market fluctuations). People usually take out 30-year mortgages, but 15-year and even shorter-term mortgages are becoming more popular. I’m always happy to refer my clients to local lenders that may offer products that can help them, so if you need help finding a mortgage, call me at 520-508-3450.

Making an Offer and Negotiating

When you find your dream home, it’s time to make an offer. Usually, sellers price a home a little higher than what they expect to get – and it’s up to you whether to pay what the seller is asking or to see if he or she will accept less. If you make an offer that the seller doesn’t accept, I’m here to negotiate on your behalf and walk you through every step of your transaction. My entire job is to protect your interests and help you get the home you want, and I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure you get the best possible outcome.

Better Home Search

Ready to start your home search? The listings you find here are updated hourly, directly from the MLS – and that means you get instant access to every listing that’s currently on the market in Sierra Vista, Hereford, Palominas, Huachuca City, Whetstone, Tombstone and Bisbee. You can even sign up for Deal Alerts that match your search criteria so you get an email with new listings and price changes before any other site has them.

Set Up Your First Search Here

Home Insurance

When you use a mortgage to buy a home in Sierra Vista or any of the surrounding communities, your lender will require you to buy homeowners insurance. Homeowners insurance protects you – and your lender – if your home is damaged or destroyed by most types of disasters (but not all disasters are covered, so it’s best to talk to your insurance agent about the coverage you need). I am always happy to refer my clients to local insurance agents who can help.

Escrow and Closing Costs

All the money that changes hands before the deal is done goes into an escrow account. That includes your earnest money deposit, which you’ll put into escrow when you make an offer. Before you can complete your transaction, we’ll go through the closing process – you’ll sign all your mortgage documents, pay your closing costs and sign other legal documents. The money you have in escrow goes to the appropriate parties, and you’ll get your keys.

Home Inspections

After you make an offer on a home, it’s incredibly important to have the house inspected by a professional. If the home has structural issues or any other problems that could affect your decision to buy it, you typically have the right to back out of the deal and get your earnest money deposit back. While home inspections do cost money ($350+), they’re usually worth it – even if only for your peace of mind as a buyer. I know several excellent home inspectors across Cochise County, including those who are members of the American Society of Home Inspectors, and I’ll be glad to connect you with someone who can help.