Buying a home for the first time can be the most exhilerating and stressful time of your life.  It's a BIG decision, and a BIG commitment. 

Make sure you have an experienced Realtor to represent you and your family's best intrests.  One of the most frequently asked questions by first time home buyers is:  How much is this going to cost me?   Can I really afford to buy a home?  Again, an experienced Realtor should be able to give you a good estimate on a case by case basis and they should also be able to point out strategies to help save you money!  Please contact us with any questions!

There will be escrow & title fees and loan fees (if you will be getting a mortgage)which will need to be paid at closing.  A general rule of thumb is to estimate 1% of the purchase price for title & escrow.  Your loan officer should be able to give you an accurate estimate of lenders closing costs, but it will generally run between 2% and 3% of the purchase price.  In the state of Hawaii the seller generally pays the commission fees of the Realtors.

It is absolutely critical that you are pre-qualified for a home loan prior to working with a Realtor.  If you are able to take it a step further and become pre-aproved for a loan, then you will have the upper hand in your negotiations with sellers.

Have more questions? Please call me for a complimantary meeting to discuss your personal plans and to discuss your home buying process in detail.