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Mountain Land and Homes FSBO LLC, Buyer Tips

At Mountain Land and Homes FSBO, we help buyers connect with sellers.  We do this by listing north Georgia and western North Carolina For Sale By Owner properties on our web site.  We also offer Buyers the ability to search for properties listed on the local multiple listing service (MLS).  Both of these search options really makes our web site a “One Stop Shop” for Buyers looking for properties for sale in north Georgia and western North Carolina.  

Our web site was developed with the buyer in mind as it allows searching for properties in a variety of formats, including an online mapping capability powered by Google.  We also make our For Sale By Owner listings available in our own For Sale By Owner color real estate publication.  This publication is provided free throughout high traffic areas within north Georgia and western North Carolina.

We have provided a few tips below in order to help you search for the For Sale By Owner Properties on our web site as well as have a smooth real estate transaction once you have found the right property.

On-line Property Search
Know Your Budget
Looking at Properties / Making an Offer
Property Inspection
Lender Processing
Property Closing and Final Walk-Through
Let the Experts Help You

 

On-line Property Search

Our web site offers a variety of ways to search for the right property. One of the easiest ways is to search by price where all of the listings are arranged by price from lowest to highest. Another great way is to search based on site characteristics, such as creek or lake front property. If you like working with maps, you may also view properties using the map feature powered by Google. This innovative tool allows you to see the location of properties, view a thumbnail picture, look at the price and number of bedrooms all from the map page.

Because listings are constantly being added and updated, check back often to see what’s new. You may also sign up to receive e-mail notices when a new listing has been added.

Using the property search feature is also a great way for you to understand the cost of various types of properties. Also, when considered with your budget (see next tip) the on-line property search can also be used to help you identify what property features are must haves and those that you can live without.

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Know Your Budget

If you are part of the majority who will need to finance their property, it is imperative to be pre-approved by a lender before scheduling an appointment to look at properties. Being pre-approved will help you understand what you can afford and provide the seller an assurance that you are a serious and qualified buyer. See our Resources section for lenders.

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Looking at Properties / Making an Offer

When you have found a property that you are interested in, contact the owner and make an appointment to see the property. You will want to bring a copy of your pre-approval letter as the seller may ask you for it.

One of the great things about buying a For Sale By Owner Property is that you are often dealing directly with the property owner. If you have found the right property, talk to the owner about the price and make sure you understand everything that is or is not included with the sale. Most times a verbal agreement works out well and then a written offer is usually completed and submitted by the buyer. Refer to our Resources section for the necessary forms and/or contact one of the real estate attorneys to help you. Regardless of who completes your contract, we recommend using a real estate attorney to review your offer prior to you signing anything. This is important as you must make sure you have provisions for access, utilities and have time to inspect the property, among others. One final note, when you submit an offer, it is typical to include an escrow deposit of $1,000 or more.

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Property Inspection

Once you and the seller have signed the contract, it is imperative that you have the necessary inspections or tests performed within the time period specified by your contract. If buying vacant land, this may mean that you will need soil work in order to obtain septic approval. If purchasing a home, inspections may include all aspects of the home from the roof to the plumbing. Depending on the results of the home inspection, typically you may accept the condition of the property “as is”, re-negotiate the price, or ask the seller to make the repairs. As a last resort, you may also walk away from the sale as provided by your contract.

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Lender Processing

After your inspection period is over, the lender will begin their processing that includes ordering an appraisal, survey, title work, and receiving financial information from you. Because you have obtained a lender pre-approval letter in advance, you’re helping this process run smoothly which is why the seller requests this approval upfront.

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Property Closing and Final Walk-Through

Depending on your situation, you may be arranging the location of the closing. If using a real estate attorney, often they will conduct the closing and issue title insurance. You may refer to our Resources section for real estate attorneys and title or settlement companies near you.

Before the closing, it is important to conduct a final walk through to make sure the property is in a condition that is consistent with your agreement or to make sure nothing is in disrepair since your property inspection.

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Let the Experts Help You

One final and important tip that we can not stress enough is that, regardless of buying For Sale By Owner and/or working with a real estate agent, it is always a good idea to use the professionals for help, such as a real estate attorney and home inspector. The real estate attorney will make sure you are protected in your real estate transaction and the home inspector will help you identify anything in disrepair. The advantage of selling For Sale By Owner is that you are not paying high commissions and instead using some of the money for expert advice. Using Mountain Land and Homes For Sale By Owner, it really makes sense!

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