Buying a Home in Salt Lake City, UT

When you use an Exclusive Buyers Agent, they are not biased in their opinion of which properties they want you to view or buy. Our Exclusive Buyer's Agent was very willing to show us any property that we wanted to see.

He went the extra mile and beyond to meet our needs and wants in a home. He worked in every way to save us money. He helped us see down payment and closing cost options we would not have known about without his help. He took care of all the paperwork and even ran documents to our places of employment during negotiations.

He was always pleasant and enjoyable to work with, even during what could have been stressful negotiations. He definitely told us of things that we were able to negotiate on... things we wouldn't have been aware of. When the Seller became difficult (this was a short sale), I was very glad we had an agent who had our best interests in mind.

We heard about Exclusive Buyer's Agents through friends who had worked with an Exclusive Buyer's Agent and had a great experience!

Petruzzi Family - New Homeowners - Salt Lake County

 

Exclusive Buyer's Agents do not list homes for sale and never represent Sellers. They have no "inventory" to try and sell you. They can represent you in purchasing any home. They are specialists at representing Buyers ONLY on the Buyer's side of the transaction. Exclusive Buyer's Agents work to get BUYERS the Best Price and Terms when they Buy a home...

If you have excellent credit and will be buying a $300,000-$800,000 home within 90 days and would like an agent who will work exclusively for you, make sure you get an Agent on YOUR side of the transaction! Make sure you hire an E B A!

Call us at (801) 969-8989 or contact us via the link on this page.

©2010 Homebuyer Representation, Inc. - "The Real Estate Agents on the Buyer's Side" ^TM - Salt Lake City, UT

Exclusive Buyers Agents (EBA) - All Rights Reserved

Finally...

Newly revised for 2010, HUD's latest publication related to buying a home is titled, "Shopping for Your Home Loan: HUD's Settlement Cost Booklet." It is a must-read for anyone who will be buying a home in 2010 (or beyond).

In spite of the title, the booklet doesn't just contain information on how to shop for a home loan using new forms and an explanation of the settlement costs involved in a real estate transaction. The guide also contains valuable information on a variety of other topics related to purchasing a home. (It's a whopping 4 Megabyte download!)

Massive reforms in the real estate and mortgage industries took place in 2009. Many of these major changes take effect on January 1, 2010. There are a lot of changes that affect home buyers, and this guide will make it apparent that the way to buy a home has changed. 

On page 6, it explains the role of a real estate agent or broker, making clear that "although... agents and brokers provide helpful advice, they may legally be representing the interests of the seller and not yours." (Emphasis Added)

It goes on to say, "It is your responsibility to search for an agent who will represent your interests in the real estate transaction. If you want someone to represent only your interests, consider hiring an 'exclusive buyer’s agent', who will be working for you." (Emphasis is included in the guide itself, not added)

The National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (NAEBA) has issued a press release related to this news. To read it, click here.

To download the new guide, simply click on the image of the booklet above, or click here.

Exclusive Buyer's Agents do not list homes for sale and never represent Sellers. They have no "inventory" to try and sell you. They can represent you in purchasing any home. They are specialists at representing Buyers ONLY on the Buyer's side of the transaction. Exclusive Buyer's Agents work to get BUYERS the Best Price and Terms when they Buy a home...

If you have excellent credit and will be buying a $300,000-$800,000 home within 90 days and would like an agent who will work exclusively for you, make sure you get an Agent on YOUR side of the transaction! Make sure you hire an E B A!

Call us at (801) 969-8989 or contact us via the link on this page.

©2009 Homebuyer Representation, Inc. - "The Real Estate Agents on the Buyer's Side" ^TM - Salt Lake City, UT

Exclusive Buyers Agents (EBA) - All Rights Reserved

Finally...

Here is a nice clip from CNN that covers the many conflicts of interest that can exist if you don't make sure the agent you hire will work only for you.

Section B of Page 2 of the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) has 9 parts. Let's go through them.

Item 3 will be a list of required services that the lender will select. These are services necessary in order to complete your transaction. These charges are subject to a 10% tolerance at settlement, meaning that they may be up to 10% higher (but ONLY 10% higher) at settlement.

It is my understanding that the TOTAL of all items listed in these categories is subject to a 10% difference at closing. In other words, an individual item may in fact cost more than 10% more at settlement, but if another item or items from that section cost less than they were quoted, and the total costs for all items in that section still fit within the 10% tolerance, it can be allowed.

The good news is that lenders who want to be the most competitive may begin to shop around themselves for lower cost providers for these services, in order to keep the total costs they quote down as low as possible, making them look like a better option in a comparison.

Item 4, Title Service and Lender's Title Insurance is a total of ALL title charges except Government Recording charges (which are listed in Item 7). This item is also subject to a 10% cap at settlement, but only if the lender selects the title company or if you select a title company identified by the lender. If you choose your own title company, (not a company identified by the lender) there is no cap on the amount you may be charged at settlement. (Of course, you are most likely to select a company that will cost you less at settlment, but should you choose a more expensive company, the lender cannot be held to the estimate they quote you for using a lender identified company.)

Item 5 is the cost of Owner's Title Insurance. In some states (including Utah) this is most often paid for by the Seller. Even in such an instance, this fee will be listed on the Good Faith Estimate (GFE). Just remember that if this is true in your transaction, you may be able to deduct this amount from your total loan costs for the purposes of determining the cash you need to close the loan.

This item can also increase up to 10%, but once again, only if you (or the Seller) use a lender identified company. Otherwise there is no cap.

Item 6 are the required services that you can shop for. These are services that may be necessary for your transaction. These may include such things as:

• Pest Inspection
• Home Warranty
• Survey
• etc.

These are just examples and are only subject to a 10% tolerance if you use lender identified companies.

Item 7 are the total of Government Recording Charges. These may also increase up to 10% at Settlement.

Item 8 are Transfer Taxes. Fortunately, in Utah, we don't have these. There are some states that do. If your transaction requires payment of a Transfer Tax, there is ZERO Tolerance on this item. It must be the figure you will be charged at settlement.

Item 9 explains the initial costs of setting up your escrow account. (These are your deposits into the account to cover property tax and insurance disbursements.) These are not subject to a cap, as the account will simply need to have enough money in it to pay such disbursements when the time comes. Still, most lenders should be able to get this figure pretty close to what it will be by estimating which month of the year you are likely to close in and the lender's own requirements for escrow account reserves.

Item 10 is the daily interest charge for your loan. Although the TOTAL amount listed here is not subject to any tolerance cap (because it will depend on which day of the month you close whether there are 0 or 30 days of interest charged) the daily amount of interest you will be charged cannot change (as it is a factor of your interest rate).

Item 11 is the cost of Homeowner's Insurance. A borrower usually pays a full year of premium up-front. This item is not subject to a 10% cap, as the borrower is able to select their own insurance and coverage level. (Coverage level must be adequate to protect the collateral for the loan, and usually is subject to approval by the lender.)

 

Page 3 of the new Good Faith Estimate (GFE) form contains Instructions, an optional Trade-Off table, and a Shopping Chart, as well as a disclosure that your loan may be sold after settlement. We'll cover page 3 next week.

 

 

Page 2 of the new Good Faith Estimate (GFE) will look significantly different from Good Faith Estimates of the past.

Section A has 2 parts.

Item 1 is the origination charge, or what the lender is charging you for the loan. This number includes ALL lender fees, combined into one figure. These fees include all the items one used to see listed on Good Fath Estimates as separate line items under such names as:

• Application Fee
• Origination Fee
• Processing Fee
• Underwriting Fee
• Document Preparation Fee
• Administration Fee
• Wire Transfer Fee
• etc.

It may also will include any Yield Spread Premium (YSP), or money that a broker may collect as profit on the back end of your loan transaction. (If there is a Yield Spread Premium and it is not disclosed in Item 1, it will be disclosed in Item 2.)

These will ALL now be shown as one single fee, "Our Origination Charge", or basically, all monies paid to the lender and/or broker in order to obtain the loan.

Item 2 discloses your credit or charge for the specific interest rate quoted. What this table shows is that you, as a borrower, may have had an option to select either a higher or a lower interest rate from the lender's rate sheet.

If you were eligible for a lower rate than you have been quoted, or if there was a credit for the rate selected, that credit will be disclosed here in the second box.

If it will cost money in order to obtain the rate quoted (formerly known as "points") that charge will be shown here in the third box. 

If the lender may also choose to select the first box disclosing only that the credit or charge for the interest rate they are quoting you has already been included in (either added to or subtracted from) the origination charge quoted above in item 1. If this box is checked, you may not know the exact amount of the credit or charge, but it shouldn't matter too much as it will all be included in the Total Adjusted Origination Charges in Section A, the total up-front costs to obtain that loan. If this box is checked, however, you may want to ask the lender if you would have qualified for a better rate.

 

Section A is pretty straightforward. Now on to Section B.

 

 

The bottom half of page 1 of the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) form begins with a Summary of your Loan Section. This is where a lot of disclosures regarding the loan will be made.

• What is the initial loan amount?
• What is the initial interest rate?
• What will your initial monthly payment be? (Principal and Interest, and any mortgage insurance if applicable. Taxes and homeowner's insurance are not included here, but may be required to be paid as part of your monthly payment.)
• Can your interest rate rise? If so, how much?
• Can your loan balance rise? If so, how much?
• Can your monthly payment rise? (Principal and Interest, and any mortgage insurance. Taxes and homeowner's insurance excluded.) If so, how high could it go?
• Does your loan have a pre-payment penalty? If so, how high could that be?
• Does the loan have a balloon payment? If so, how much and when is it due?

 

Some lenders require an escrow account. This section will disclose if an escrow account is required or not and reiterate your base monthly payment amount. Remember that if an escrow account is not required, you will be responsible to keep current all taxes, insurance and other property related charges. Even when one is not required, some borrowers choose to have one set up anyway.

In the event that an escrow account is not required, some lenders may offer an incentive to establish an escrow account anyway. Others may actually assess a penalty or fee in the event you choose not to establish an escrow account, even if not required by the terms of the loan. This penalty will appear as part of the total origination charge and/or will be reflected in the interest rate you are quoted and is said to help cover the costs of monitoring that the taxes and insurance on the property are being kept current by the borrower.

 

 

Finally, at the bottom you will see a summary of all Estimated Settlement Charges. These are broken down into 2 sections: Adjusted Origination Charges (All LOAN Costs) and Charges for All Other Settlement Services (All other Costs to close). Both are broken down on the next page of the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) which we'll examine next.

 

Page 2 of the new Good Faith Estimate (GFE) is where you will see obvious changes from Good Faith Estimates of the past.

 

 

 

 

Let's examine the top half of Page 1 of the new Good Faith Estimate (GFE) form.

One of the first changes you will notice about the Good Faith Estimate form is that it now asks for the Loan Originator's email address.

It also asks for a Property Address. Remember, without a property address (the one the borrower intends to get the loan for), the Good Faith Estimate is non-binding, meaning the lender (or loan originator) is not able to be held to fees and rates quoted. However, prior to closing, a Good Faith Estimate will all the required information on it must be completed. This must occur at least 3 banking days prior to settlement.

The next section of Page 1 of the Good Faith Estimate form explains the purpose of the GFE and explains that a borrower can shop for the best loan. It also mentions that the GFE contains a "shopping chart" on page 3 of the form, which we will cover when we get there.

Next is a section explaining 4 important dates relating to the Good Faith Estimate and the loan.

1. The interest rate quoted on the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) has an expiration date. Pay attention to this date. If you have not locked your interest rate it will likely usually only be for the day the Good Faith Estimate is issued. It's possible that some lenders may even put an hour of day when the rate quoted expires.
   
   In this event, note that in addition to the interest rate being able to change, some of the other fees may change until you lock your interest rate. Once you lock your interest rate, if anything has changed, the lender will provide you with yet another Good Faith Estimate (GFE) outlining the rate, fees, payment and other specific loan terms. Make sure that item 1 on the new Good Faith Estimate (GFE) now shows the date on which your rate lock will expire.
   
2. There is also an expiration date for the estimate of all other settlement charges quoted by the lender. Once again, make sure once you have locked your interest rate that this date will not arrive before your settlement date does.
   
3. Item 3 explains the length of your interest rate lock. The reason this is important, even if you have not yet locked your interest rate is because the shorter the rate lock period, the lower interest rate is available to the lender (and to you). Keep this in mind as you compare offerings from lenders and as you evaluate your needs. It may not be the best idea to choose a lender based on their slightly lower interest rate quoted, if you will need a rate lock for 60 days and they have only quoted a 30 day lock period.
   
4. You will need to lock your interest rate before the closing date. This is so the lender can finalize your loan package and prepare the documents necessary for your closing. Each lender will specify the minimum number of days they will need to carry out the rest of the process once you have locked your loan.

Continue on for an explanation of the rest of the new Good Faith Estimate (GFE) form.

 

 

 

Due to RESPA Reform, as of January 1, 2010, lenders are required to use a new, uniform, Good Faith Estimate (GFE) form. This new form creates additional disclosure and transparency about the loan product being offered as well as the costs to the borrower. The Good Faith Estimate (GFE) form is 3 pages in length. All lenders will use the same form. This was not true prior to January 1, 2010.

Once a borrower has provided all the information necessary for a lender or broker to complete a Good Faith Estimate (GFE), the loan originator has 3 business days to deliver a Good Faith Estimate to the borrower. It can be delivered via email if the borrower consents.

Consumers will be able to use the new Good Faith Estimate (GFE) form to more easily compare loan proposals from various lenders.

The new Good Faith Estimate (GFE) form is now more binding on the lender. When I say "more binding," I mean that it IS binding with a few exceptions:

• Some fees quoted are 100% binding on the lender if certain conditions are met.
• Some fees quoted are subject to "tolerance levels" (can change up to 10% if certain conditions are met)
• Some fees are not subject to any cap in the amount they can differ from what is quoted on the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) form.
  

We will go over, in detail, which fees fall into which category as we go through the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) form. The fees which are not subject to any tolerance cap are usually those where the borrower chooses to use a service not required to close the transaction, or uses a company, for a required service,  other than a company identified by the lender (from which they derived their estimated cost). If the borrower selects one of the companies identified by the lender, or if the lender selects the company for a required service, the lender is bound to the figures quoted with up to a 10% tolerance.

There are 6 pieces of information that have to be on the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) in order for it to be binding on the lender or mortgage broker. They are:

1. Borrower's Name
2. Social Security Number
3. Gross Monthly Income
4. Property Address
5. Estimated Property Value
6. Loan Amount

If any of these pieces of information change during the transaction, the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) is no longer binding and the Lender or Broker will then issue a new Good Faith Estimate within 3 Business days. Anytime a new Good Faith Estimate is prepared, the borrower cannot close on that transaction for another 3 business days after receipt of the new Good Faith Estimate (GFE) form.

The sections, and therefore the numbers quoted, on the new Good Faith Estimate (GFE) form now correspond to identically numbered sections on the Settlement Statement (HUD1 or HUD1A) that the borrower sees at closing.

 

Let's examine these forms, beginning with the Good Faith Estimate (GFE) form, page 1:

 

 

Mortgage shopping will soon be a lot less complicated.

RESPA Reform takes effect on January 1, 2010. While still not perfect, the changes do simplify the ability to compare loan offerings between lenders. The goal was to simplify and improve disclosure requirements for mortgage settlement costs under RESPA. My analysis: Mission Accomplished

Here are some key highlights for borrowers:

1. The new Good Faith Estimate (GFE) and the New Settlement Statement (HUD1 or HUD1A) now correspond to one another. In the past, there was no direct correllation between line items, making it difficult for a consumer to know whether or not undisclosed junk fees were being charged at closing.
2. Instead of breaking loan costs down into multiple line items, now, all costs being charged by the lender will be compiled into one total fee.
3. Additional information about the loan (Is there a pre-payment penalty? Can this loan Adjust? etc.) is required to be disclosed on the Good Faith Estimate, creating more transparency about the loan.
4. Lenders will be required to deliver on the Good Faith Estimate as quoted (NOTE: some items have allowable tolerances for change).

 

Here are some more changes and an overview of the new forms.

 

You will be better able to understand an compare loan proposals from different lenders if you have an agent who understands the process. Your best bet is to hire an Exclusive Buyers Agent who will work only on your side of the transaction. Overall the reforms will make it easier for the average borrower to comparison shop for a mortgage loan.

As advocates for the Home BUYER, one of the services we offer our clients is to help them evaluate lenders and loan options using our TOTAL Cost of the Loan^SM system.

If you have excellent credit and will be buying a $300,000-$800,000 home within 90 days and would like an agent who will work exclusively for you, make sure you get an Agent on YOUR side of the transaction! Make sure you hire an E B A!

Call us at (801) 969-8989 or contact us via the link on this page.

Exclusive Buyers Agents do not list homes and never represent Sellers. They represent Buyers ONLY on the Buyer's side of the transaction. They work to get BUYERS the Best Price and Terms when they Buy...

©2009 Homebuyer Representation, Inc. - "The Real Estate Agents on the Buyer's Side" ^TM - Salt Lake City, UT

Exclusive Buyers Agents (EBA) - All Rights Reserved

Finally...

Just a note to all the visitors to my blog and websites. I don't spam. I don't send out email drip campaigns. If you contact me via my website, any response you get will be personally generated by me.

 

If you have excellent credit and will be buying a $300,000-$800,000 home within 90 days and would like an agent who will work exclusively for you, make sure you get an Agent on YOUR side of the transaction! Make sure you hire an E B A! Call us at (801) 969-8989 or contact us via the link on this page.

Exclusive Buyers Agents do not list homes and never represent Sellers. They represent Buyers ONLY on the Buyer's side of the transaction. They work to get BUYERS the Best Price and Terms when they Buy...

©2009 Homebuyer Representation, Inc. - "The Real Estate Agents on the Buyer's Side" ^TM - Salt Lake City, UT

Exclusive Buyers Agents (EBA) - All Rights Reserved

Finally...

People who don't really need to sell their home should not put them on the market at ridiculously high prices.

Prices don't go up 20% just because Sellers LIST their homes at 120% or more of market value. In order for prices to stabilize and/or improve, inventory levels need to shrink or the number of Buyers needs to increase significantly, and quickly.

It doesn't help anyone if more than 63% of the inventory on the market is significantly overpriced.

I work with Buyers Only. We see LOTS of homes. Many of my clients write offers on multiple homes before we get a contract. After lots of negotiations, many Sellers are still 10% above market value and will not budge. My Buyers move on. These Sellers aren't serious. They don't need to sell and won't sell unless they can find a Buyer who is dumb enough to overpay for their home. That's just not likely to happen in today's market.

Because of the amount of inventory, Buyers have the luxury of continuing to make reasonable offers to unreasonable sellers until they find one who is willing to be reasonable and willing to sell their home at (or below!) market value.

Fortunately, there are some Sellers who are listing their homes at or near market value. (Note: THESE are the homes that actually SELL.) Even then, many are still negotiable because of all the competition. (Never mind that most of this "competition" isn't really competition at all.)

My clients aren't the only Buyers who have seen a lot of overpriced inventory and aren't willing to overpay for a home in today's market. Buyers are out there and they will jump on well-priced listings. Multiple offer situations are still common in this economy for well-priced homes. It almost seems that they are more common for a well-priced home... It seems most homes that are priced well are Sellers who are "motivated" to sell.

Bottom line for owners: Do everyone a favor and don't list your home just to see if you can get some uninformed buyer to pay you 20% more than it's worth. Buyers aren't falling for it. Those days are gone. The "boom" is over. Everybody will be better off with less overpriced inventory on the market.

 

If you have excellent credit and will be buying a $300,000-$800,000 home within 90 days and would like an agent who will work exclusively for you, make sure you get an Agent on YOUR side of the transaction! Make sure you hire an E B A! Call us at (801) 969-8989 or contact us via the link on this page.

Exclusive Buyers Agents do not list homes and never represent Sellers. They represent Buyers ONLY on the Buyer's side of the transaction. They work to get BUYERS the Best Price and Terms when they Buy...

©2009 Homebuyer Representation, Inc. - "The Real Estate Agents on the Buyer's Side" ^TM - Salt Lake City, UT

Exclusive Buyers Agents (EBA) - All Rights Reserved

Finally...

I recently transferred to Salt Lake City from California.  Having owned a few homes, and also having dealt with various agents in the past, I did not relish the stress and hassles involved in the home buying process.  I investigated my options, and wanted an agent that would be a good fit for me. I wanted an agent who was willing to work only for me.  Little did I know that I was about to embark on one of the most rewarding and remarkable adventures of my life.

Benjamin Clark is the best!  He made the buying process an absolute pleasure.  He was with me every step of the way and made sure that it was as smooth and hassle-free as possible.  He was always available and prepared to take me to as many locations as possible, giving me a great overview for location and price.  When I found my future house, he handled the negotiations with all the professionalism I could ever hope for.  He was knowledgeable, courteous, patient, and tireless in his efforts to find, obtain and help me purchase the right house.

Ben helped make my purchase a truly enjoyable experience.  I would highly recommend Ben (an EBA - Exclusive Buyer's Agent) for your real estate needs.

Ben, thank you for everything.

Merlin and Rose Hubbard
Salt Lake City, Utah

 

Is your job transferring you to Utah? Want to settle down? If you have excellent credit and will be buying a $300,000-$800,000 home in the next 1-3 months and would like an agent who will work exclusively for you, make sure you get an Agent on YOUR side of the transaction! Make sure you hire an E B A! Call us at (801) 969-8989 or contact us via the link on this page.

Exclusive Buyers Agents do not list homes and never represent Sellers. They represent Buyers ONLY on the Buyer's side of the transaction. They work to get BUYERS the Best Price and Terms when they Buy...

©2009 Homebuyer Representation, Inc. - "The Real Estate Agents on the Buyer's Side" ^TM - Salt Lake City, UT

Exclusive Buyers Agents (EBA) - All Rights Reserved

Finally...

I saw this and realized just how different the experience is for clients of Exclusive Buyer's Agents than it must seem to most of the public who work with pushy real estate agents.

British humor and real estate all in one short video clip.

If you want to have a different experience when buying a home, get an agent on YOUR side of the transaction who will work for you and not try and SELL you any home.

 

 

 

If you have excellent credit and will be buying a $300,000-$800,000 home in the next 1-3 months and would like an agent who will work exclusively for you, make sure you get an Agent on YOUR side of the transaction! Make sure you hire an E B A! Call us at (801) 969-8989 or contact us via the link on this page.

Exclusive Buyers Agents do not list homes and never represent Sellers. They represent Buyers ONLY on the Buyer's side of the transaction. They work to get BUYERS the Best Price and Terms when they Buy...

©2009 Homebuyer Representation, Inc. - "The Real Estate Agents on the Buyer's Side" ^TM - Salt Lake City, UT

Exclusive Buyers Agents (EBA) - All Rights Reserved

Finally...

 

Many "FREE" credit reports turn out to not be so free at all.

Some people get charged a processing or handling fee, others get signed up for credit monitoring or other unwanted recurring services.

The Federal Trade Commission sets things straight on their website.

See: http://www.ftc.gov/freereports

The Fair Credit Reporting Act gives you the right to receive a copy of your credit report annually as reported by the 3 main credit bureaus: Equifax, TransUnion and Experian.

Before you fall for a "Free" credit report offer, make sure you visit the FTC's website first.

 As they say on their website: Anyone can write a catchy jingle or dance a jig. Here are some ads from the FTC's website. Not too bad if I must say so:

 

If you have excellent credit and will be buying a $300,000-$800,000 home in the next 1-3 months and would like an agent who will work exclusively for you, make sure you get an Agent on YOUR side of the transaction! Make sure you hire an E B A! Call us at (801) 969-8989 or contact us via the link on this page.

Exclusive Buyers Agents do not list homes and never represent Sellers.  They represent Buyers ONLY on the Buyer's side of the transaction. They work to get BUYERS the Best Price and Terms when they Buy...

 ©2009 Homebuyer Representation, Inc. - "The Real Estate Agents on the Buyer's Side" ^TM - Salt Lake City, UT

Exclusive Buyers Agents (EBA) - All Rights Reserved

Finally...

A recent ABC4 news report points out some reasons why Utah is weathering the economic storm better than other states. Diversification seemed to be the main theme. All of Utah's eggs aren't in one basket.

Here are 5 of the examples given:

• International Exports
• Tourism
• Alternative Energy Research & Development
• Technology Research & Development
• Population Influx - People AND Businesses are relocating to Utah

While Utah isn't an economic Utopia, the diverse interests of it's residents and it's industrial pursuits certainly make it a great place to live.

Utah generally receives favorable scores in surveys and analyses regarding great places to live. Health, access to recreation, educational opportunities and even access to museums and the "arts" all help make Utah a well-rounded place to live with something for almost everyone.

If you plan on relocating to Salt Lake City or the Surrounding Area, make sure you get an Agent on YOUR side of the transaction! Make sure you hire an E B A!

If you have excellent credit and will be buying a $300,000-$800,000 home in the next 1-3 months and would like an agent who will work exclusively for you, call us at (801) 969-8989 or contact us via the link on this page.

Exclusive Buyers Agents do not list homes and never represent Sellers.  They represent Buyers ONLY on the Buyer's side of the transaction. They work to get BUYERS the Best Price and Terms when they Buy...

 ©2009 Homebuyer Representation, Inc. - "The Real Estate Agents on the Buyer's Side" ^TM - Salt Lake City, UT

Exclusive Buyers Agents (EBA) - All Rights Reserved

Finally...

Demand for rental homes and units in many parts of the country is on the rise as many homeowners who are unable to refinance their mortgages to today's lower rates because their property values have declined have sold their homes "short" or left them altogether after foreclosure. Increased restrictions for obtaining mortgage financing (high credit scores and larger down payments) have also reduced the pool of renters who "qualify" for homeownership.

As demand rises for rental units, the cost of renting should rise. As inventory of homes available for purchase grows, and demand shrinks (or is reduced due to a smaller pool of buyers who "qualify"), the downward pull on home values takes its toll.

For those with excellent credit, stable employment and a reasonable down payment (about 5% or more will do), this may be the best time ever to purchase a home. Not only have prices been "slashed" by as much as 10-50% in many areas, but interest rates are about as low as they have ever been (just above or just below 5% in recent days).

First time buyers (defined as those who have not owned any real estate in the past 3 years) who make up to $150,000 combined or $75,000 alone, may qualify for up to $8,000 in the form of a refundable Federal tax credit. $6,000 is available for any Utah Buyer who purchases New Construction (1600+ grants available first-com first-served. You do NOT have to be a first-time buyer, but similar income restrictions apply).

You used to be able to say it was smart to buy if you were planning on staying in a home for at least 3 years. This was because it took that long for appreciation to cover the costs associated with selling the home. During the boom, you may have been able to buy a home and sell it in 3 months without taking a loss.

In today's economy, it probably still makes sense to buy a home if you plan to stay in it for an extended period of time (5 years +).

If you do buy a home in Salt Lake City or the Surrounding Area in today's economy, make sure you get an Agent on YOUR side of the transaction! Make sure you hire an E B A!

If you have excellent credit and will be buying a $300,000-$800,000 home in the next 1-3 months and would like an agent who will work exclusively for you, call us at (801) 969-8989 or contact us via the link on this page.

Exclusive Buyers Agents do not list homes and never represent Sellers.  They represent Buyers ONLY on the Buyer's side of the transaction. They work to get BUYERS the Best Price and Terms when they Buy...

 ©2009 Homebuyer Representation, Inc. - "The Real Estate Agents on the Buyer's Side" ^TM - Salt Lake City, UT

Exclusive Buyers Agents (EBA) - All Rights Reserved

Finally...

 

Earnest Money is applied as a credit to you at Settlement.

The settlement sheet is basically a balance sheet. The money you owe is on the top of your side (purchase price, closing costs, your portion of property taxes, etc.)

All the money paid on your behalf (loan proceeds, earnest money, the seller's portion of property taxes, etc.) is on the bottom of your side and is a credit to you.

The difference between what you owe and what you have paid (including the Earnest Money) is what you have to bring in to closing (or what is refunded to you if you have brought in too much).

In other words, the earnest money is credited on your behalf, but not directly for any specific cost.

Whatever your total cost to close would have been with no Earnest Money, it will be reduced by the amount of the Earnest Money Deposit you have paid, and you will bring in that much less at closing.

A good lender and title company should have these figures for you and your broker a day or two before settlement. You and your broker should review the Settlement Statements for accuracy and have any corrections made prior to Settlement.

A good Exclusive Buyer's Agent (EBA) can help you select lenders and title companies who perform in a timely manner. Having a reliable lender and a responsive title company will add to the smoothness of your transaction and can eliminate a lot of stress and frustration.

If you are buying a home in Salt Lake City or the Surrounding Area, make sure you get an Agent on YOUR side of the transaction! Make sure you hire an EBA!

If you have excellent credit and will be buying a $300,000-$800,000 home in the next 1-3 months and would like an agent who will work exclusively for you, call us at (801) 969-8989 or contact us via the link on this page.

Exclusive Buyers Agents do not list homes and never represent Sellers.  They represent Buyers ONLY on the Buyer's side of the transaction. They work to get BUYERS the Best Price and Terms when they Buy...

 ©2009 Homebuyer Representation, Inc. - "The Real Estate Agents on the Buyer's Side" ^TM - Salt Lake City, UT

Exclusive Buyers Agents (EBA) - All Rights Reserved

Finally...

 

Utah once again ranked as the Best State to live in overall based on a Forbes.com report of a recent Gallup-Healthways poll.

Utah ranked first for both Well-Being and Work Quality, and ranked second for Life Evaluation. It also ranked in the top 10 for Physical Health, Emotional Health and Basic Access.

If you are moving to Salt Lake City or the Surrounding Area, make sure you get an Agent on YOUR side of the transaction!

If you have excellent credit and will be buying a $300,000-$800,000 home in the next 90 days and would like an agent who will work exclusively for you, call us at (801) 969-8989 or contact us via the link on this page.

 

Exclusive Buyers Agents do not list homes and never represent Sellers.  They represent Buyers ONLY on the Buyer's side of the transaction. They work to get BUYERS the Best Price and Terms when they Buy...

 ©2009 Homebuyer Representation, Inc. - "The Real Estate Agents on the Buyer's Side" ^TM - Salt Lake City, UT

Exclusive Buyers Agents (EBA) - All Rights Reserved

Finally...

 

 

The State of Utah is offering purchasers of new construction a $6,000 grant that does not have to be repaid. You do not have to be a first time home buyer to qualify, but there are a few limitations.

Here are the basics of the "Home-Run" grant:

Does the amount of the grant vary? Is it up to $6,000? No. The amount of the grant for qualified applicants will always be the full $6,000.

Does it have to be re-paid? No. The $6,000 grant does not have to be re-paid.

Do I have to live in the home? Yes. The grant is for owner-occupied transactions. You must move into the home as your primary residence within 30 days of closing.

Do I have to be a first-time homebuyer? No. You need only to purchase a newly constructed home that has not yet been lived in.

Where did the money come from? From the Federal stimulus money given to Utah.

Are there income limitations to qualifying? Yes. A single Buyer cannot earn more than $75,000 per year and a couple that files jointly cannot earn more than $150,000 combined.

Does taking this grant disqualify me from the $8,000 Federal Tax Credit being offered by the Federal Government? No. There is an up to $8,000 federal tax credit for first time homebuyers who purchase a home between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009. (Details here) If you qualify for the $8,000 tax credit, you probably qualify for the $6,000 grant and can receive a total of $14,000 in credits/grants if you purchase new construction in Utah.

How long does this program last? While supplies last. There are only about 1600 grants available and once they are gone, they are gone for good.

Why the $6,000 grant? Lawmakers believe that this will help move some of the over 2,000 completed new construction homes on the market that are currently unsold.

How do I receive the money? When you have identified a property, your lender can submit the paperwork to reserve one of the grants available. At closing, $6,000 will be wired to the title company to be used on your behalf. It can be applied toward closing costs, fees, even down payment.

Are there any other restrictions? You must purchase the home with a 30 year (or less) fixed-rate mortgage. (FHA, VA, Utah Housing, Conventional are all options)

Bill text: http://le.utah.gov/˜2009/bills/sbillamd/sb0260s02.htm

Signed into law by Governor Jon Huntsman March 19, 2009

Lender info

If you are considering buying new construction in Salt Lake City or the Surrounding Area, make sure you get an Agent on YOUR side of the transaction!

If you have excellent credit and will be buying a $300,000-$800,000 home in the next 90 days and would like an agent who will work exclusively for you, call us at (801) 969-8989 or contact us via the link on this page.

 

Exclusive Buyer Brokerages do not list homes and never represent Sellers.  Their agents represent Buyers ONLY on the Buyer's side of the transaction. They work to get BUYERS the Best Price and Terms when they Buy...

 ©2009 Homebuyer Representation, Inc. - "The Real Estate Agents on the Buyer's Side" ^TM - Salt Lake City, UT

Exclusive Buyers Agents (EBA) - All Rights Reserved

Finally...

 

 

Great Article in the New York Times Friday, featuring a good friend and colleague of mine, Ira Freireich of Long Island, NY.

The article points out how many homebuyers are becoming more savvy and aware of how they can get the best level of representation in the real estate transaction: Exclusive Buyer Agency.

Some key points:

• Exclusive Buyer Agents (EBAs) negotiate for the Buyer
• EBAs work for the Buyer only - Not the Seller like traditional real estate agents
  
• EBAs keep confidential information confidential - The seller won't know that you can or will pay more
• EBAs give you more control - They have no specific properties to push on you

 

If you are Buying a home in Salt Lake City or the Surrounding Area, make sure you get an Agent on YOUR side of the transaction!

 

If you have excellent credit and will be buying a $300,000-$800,000 home in the next 90 days and would like an agent who will work exclusively for you, call us at (801) 969-8989 or contact us via the link on this page.

©2009 Homebuyer Representation, Inc.  "The Real Estate Agents on the Buyer's Side" ^TM Exclusive Buyers Agents (EBA) - All Rights Reserved

Exclusive Buyer Brokerages do not list homes and never represent Sellers.  Their agents represent Buyers ONLY on the Buyer's side of the transaction. They work to get BUYERS the Best Price and Terms when they Buy...

©2009 Homebuyer Representation, Inc. - Salt Lake City, UT

Exclusive Buyers Agents (EBA) - All Rights Reserved

Finally...