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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!!

This Month in Real Estate: December 2015

The national statistics for December show that home sales are down from the previous month as well as the median sales price, but higher than this time last year. The average interest rate moved from 3.79% to 3.97%, an increase that has been projected for quite some time. If you are looking to buy a home in the near future, act now while the median sales price is down and before the interest rates increase more! For more information on our local market or how these numbers affect you, please contact me at pfjohnson@kw.com.

How Much House Can You Afford?

Your lender decides what you can borrow, but you decide what you can afford.

Lenders are careful, but they make qualification decisions based on averages and formulas. They won't understand the nuances of your lifestyle and spending patterns quite as well as you do. So, leave a little room for the unexpected - for all the new opportunities your home will give you to spend money, from furnishings, to landscaping, to repairs.

For conventional loans, banks use a ratio called 28/36 to decide how much borrowers could borrow. An approved housing payment couldn't be more than 28 percent of the buyer's gross monthly income, and his or her total debt load, including car payments, student loans, and credit card payments, couldn't be more than 36 percent.

Housing Payment < 28% gross monthly income | Total Debt < 36% gross monthly income

For example, an individual with a monthly income of $5,000 who adheres to the 28/36 Rule would be able to spend a maximum of $1,400 on monthly housing expenses, which would include mortgage payments, home insurance, property taxes and other housing-related expenses, such as condo fees. An additional $400 would be available for other debt such as credit card expenses and car loans.

As home prices have risen, some lenders have responded by stretching these ratios to as high as 50 percent. No matter how expensive your market though, we urge you to think carefully before stretching your budget quite so much.

Deciding how much you can afford should involve some careful attention to how your financial profile will change in the upcoming years. In the long run, your own peace of mind and security will matter most.

There are multiple loan scenarios from type of loan (conventional, FHA, VA), length of loan, down payment, cosigner, etc. that changes the qualification standards and the monthly payments. To find out how much house you can afford contact me so I can put you in touch with a great, trusted lender!