Buyers

Why it pays to have a REALTOR

So, why is it so important to have a REALTOR® when you buy a home?

As a licensed real estate professional I provide much more than the service of helping you find your ideal home. As a REALTOR®, I'm an expert negotiator with other agents, seasoned financial advisor with clients, and a superb navigator around Greater Columbus. I'm a member of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and the Columbus Board of Realtors and must abide the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice that they enforce. As a hard working, tech savvy, personalized professional Realtor® I will be your best resource when buying your home.

Time, Money & Frustration

By using me as your Realtor through my experience, knowledge and skills you will experience a smooth, advised and efficient home search process. Especially when the market is this hot, you have no time to waste trying to get the right info on a property and find a way to see it (first).

Targeted Search

As a Realtor I have access to the MLS which hosts the most accurate, up to date information on available houses unlike popular websites such as Zillow, Realtor.com, Trulia etc that have outdated listings and misleading information. When I set you up on a search, the homes that match your criteria will come to you!

Full Access

I can help you with any home, even for sale by owners. I can also use my network to facilitate off the market offers and learn about houses that may suite you before they are even on the market giving you a major advantage over other buyers.

Vendor Selection

Finding the right lender, title company, home inspector and repair work if needed can be a daunting process and has a huge impact on your future. I can recommend trusted vendors that will take great care of you.

Community & Lifestyle

I’m an avid believer that where you live and what type of home you live in should enhance your lifestyle. Once I get to you know, I will help you find the right community and home to suite you, your needs and your dreams!

Negotiation

I’m experienced at presenting offers to homeowners and can help you through the process of negotiating the best price and other important factors. Price alone is not always the most important issue in a contract. From financing type to contract term, closing costs, inspection, remedy, possession and more I approach each contract differently based on what's important to the seller and how much flexibility my buyer has. 

The best thing about me as your Realtor is that all this help will not cost you a cent!! the Seller of the home you buy pays my commission to my Brokerage, so there is no reason not to have your best interests represented! 

My Philosophy for Buyers

When I work with buyers my goal is to provide a well rounded high quality experience. Whether you are renting, purchasing a home for the first time or are a savvy real estate client with experience, I will provide a personalized approach to make the process as easy and fun for you as possible. Moving is said to be the 3rd most stressful life event and normally it coincides with many other stressful life events - a wedding, divorce, death of a loved one, relocation, etc. Whatever the reason for your move, you should be focused on choosing the place that suits you, your budget and your needs. My job is to do all of the research, the appointment setting, have the difficult conversations, fight for your best interests, maintain all of the paperwork, deadlines and keep you up to date in a concise manner every step of the way so you don't have to be stressed.

I firmly believe that what type of home you live in and where that home is located directly affects your lifestyle. There are a lot of factors when it comes to choosing a home and there are practical, functional, and aspirational aspects that need to be prioritized. A great real estate agent can tell you whether or not you can find what you're looking for in your price range. Sometimes a small bump in price range can make a huge difference. However, a lot of buyers are pre-approved for a lot more than they need to spend to be happy and that extra money a month has an impact on their lifestyle. If you love to travel and eat out frequently or require a babysitter often the home you choose shouldn't limit those aspects of your life, where you live should enhance your lifestyle. 

Why do you need a REALTOR?

As a licensed real estate professional I provide much more than the service of helping you find your ideal home.  Realtors are expert negotiators with other agents, seasoned financial advisors with clients, and superb navigators around the local neighborhood.  They are members of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and must abide by a Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice enforced by the NAR.  A professional Realtor is your best resource when buying your home.

Let me be your guide!

As a knowledgeable Realtor I...

•Can save you endless amounts of time, money, and frustration.

•Know the housing market inside and out and can help you avoid the “wild goose chase.”

•Can help you with any home, even if it is listed elsewhere or if it is being sold directly by the owner.

•Know the best lenders in the area and can help you understand the importance of being pre-approved for a mortgage. I can also discuss  and negotiate down payments, closing costs, and monthly payment options that suit you.

•Am an excellent source for both general and specific information about the community such as schools, churches, shopping, and transportation --plus tips on home inspections and pricing.

•Am experienced at presenting your offer to the homeowner and can help you through the process of negotiating the best price. We bring objectivity to the buying transaction, and we can point out the advantages and the disadvantages of a particular property.

•AM FREE! The best thing about me as your Realtor is that all this help will not cost you a cent.  The Seller pays my commission to my Brokerage so there is no reason not to be represented by someone with your best interest in mind. 

  1. Contact me so that I can connect you with a mortgage agent to get pre-approved and find out what you can afford to spend before we start the search process.
  2. We'll meet and discuss your budget, housing needs and dreams (Pinterest is a BIG help here) to create a profile of what you're looking for. I will set you up on a listing search through the MLS that only agents have access to so you will receive an email every time a home that matches your criteria comes on the market. Getting these listings through an agent before they pop up on the third party sites (zillow, realtor.com, trulia, etc.) is KEY to gain a competitive advantage for negotiations. 
  3. Once the right property is found, an offer to purchase is written up, presented and negotiated. If accepted, I will prepare a timeline with responsibilities for all parties involved and you are officially in contract!
  4. While you are in contract you will need to fulfill any contingencies like financing and inspection, but don't worry I'll guide you through the entire process to get you to the closing table.
  5. On closing day you will sign lots of paperwork, transfer funds, get your keys and start the next chapter of your life (with a special closing gift from yours truly)!

To learn more about the home buying process or for help finding the perfect rental for you in the least stressful way, get in touch with me! You can email me at pfjohnson@kw.com or call/text me at 614.638.5817 so we can meet for coffee or a drink and get to know each other. I specialize in urban neighborhoods but can help anywhere in greater Columbus! Keep in mind that my commission is paid for by the seller of the home so there is no reason not to have me doing all the dirty work for you and fighting to get you the best deal on your dream home!

Home Buying Happy Hour

Join me at The Pint House in the Short North to find out everything you need to know about purchasing a home while enjoying a complimentary drink and appetizers!

You will receive expert insight from Lisa Billings, a VP of Mortgage Lending and myself, a local real estate agent who would be happy to answer all of your specific questions. Regardless of what stage you are at in the home buying process we feel confident we can provide helpful information from improving your credit score and deciding on your budget to how to find the best home for you in the right area!

THE PINT HOUSE I  THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH  I  5:30PM - 7:30PM

Please RSVP for this free event by clicking here as space is limited. We hope to see you there!!

Opportunity Knocks

With mortgage rates hitting rock bottom, NOW is the perfect time to make the most of your money. Low interest rates mean lower payments and quicker equity build–up, building YOUR wealth, rather than your bank's. 

Check out this quick video from Keller Williams to discover how today's rates stack up. 

The average interest rate for November 2015 is 3.79% which is historically low! The low interest rates do make it an amazing time to buy, but it can be hard with the low inventory and competitive offers. All of these factors combined make it so important to have a real estate agent like me who is informed and willing to work 24/7 on your behalf!

A Great Time to Buy

Today’s market is great for homebuyers. If you’ve been thinking about purchasing a home, now is an excellent time to buy.

If you've been debating purchasing a home, here are three reasons to consider regarding timing:

Current lending rates are historically low and down payment requirements are as low 3.5% for FHA loans. Interest rates aren't just important for the monthly payment amount, but also because when the interest is lower the bulk of your payment is going towards your principal which is your equity and helps pay off the house faster.

The national median home price for November is $221,900 with the average interest rate at 3.79%. If you purchase a home for $221,900 with 3.5% down at the 3.79% interest rate your monthly payment of principal and interest would be $996!

If you aren't ready to purchase yet but are thinking you will in the next year or more, it is a great idea to talk to a lender and see if they have any suggestions of things you can do while you're waiting to help you get the best loan possible. Obviously increasing your income and reducing your debt is good, but credit is so important. You should have a credit card and use it, but never let a balance of more than 30% of your limit sit. If you are self employed or receive commission, typically lenders will need two years history of that to incorporate that income when considering you for a loan. For tips like this and more give me a call and I will set you up with a lender that I trust!

Once you speak with a lender and find out what purchase price you qualify for let me know and we can start looking at what kind of house that number gives you in different areas of Columbus! You can always browse listings on my site sorted by community to give you an idea as well:

 
 

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