FREE Buyer Services

Why would your services be free? (you may ask)

Because, my commission is typicallly paid by the seller at closing. So it is virtually "free" to you as the buyer because it is typicallly built in to the cost of the home at the time the seller lists the property.

Buying a home is an exciting time in one's life. Making the smart move of choosing the right REALTOR® is your first step to ensuring that your new home and community meets your needs. What most home buyers do not understand is that they normally pay NOTHING for all the help, guidance, and security at their disposal when working with their own, dedicated REALTOR®. My FREE Buyer Services and dependable experience range from helping you find the home that best suits you and your family, to negotiating the best price and terms, to arranging for the inspection, and helping you obtain financing in order to achieve your dreams. For your convenience, we also provide listings by email. I pride myself on repeat business and am confident you'll come to understand why.

Fulfilling dreams one home at a time!

Are you suffering from 'Waitandseesyndrome'??

\wait-and-see-syndrome\ n: Uncertainty about the current real estate market that causes one to hesitate until one misses the amazing home purchasing opportunities available today:

Symptoms May Include:

Getting hourly updates from lenders about market conditions, interest rates and loan programs
Creating a 25 page Excel Spreadsheet to organize your home search
Asking complete strangers and new neighbors about the deal they got on their new home purchase

Prescribed Treatment:

Call Deb Casper with RE/MAX Associates Plus TODAY at 651-983-0121 don't delay! She is a Certified Residential Specialist and can help you understand the market and locate your dream home. She can also refer you to the best lender(s) in the area to help you determine the best loan program for your needs.

REAL ESTATE INTERNET WARNING:
Despite advertising claims to the contrary, the internet is not an experienced Realtor. It cannot consult, counsel, advise, have knowledge of local laws and market conditions, make judgments, apply real estate training, experience and expertise to represent your interests, view and analyze a home's condition or its upgrades, or most importantly, understand your individual goals and needs and care about you as a client. To obtain an accurate interpretation of any information you're receiving online, please contact Deb Casper (Source: Molly Wasserman)

How I Can Help
Before you start looking
Closing Costs
Deb's FREE Home Buyer Services

As Your REALTOR®, I Will:

Assure that you see all the properties in the area that meet your criteria.

Guide you through the entire home buying process, from finding homes to look at, to getting the best financing.

Make sure you don't pay too much for your new home and help you avoid costly mistakes.

Answer all of your questions about the local market area, including schools, neighborhoods, the local economy, and more.

Before You Start Looking For Your New Home:

Check your credit rating. Straighten out any errors before it's too late.

Determine a comfortable monthly budget for your new purchase, including down payment and monthly payment.

Find a loan program that meets your needs and get pre-qualified (preferably pre-approved).

Choose a REALTOR® that you trust and who understands your needs.

Determine what neighborhood best matches your needs.

Identify important features you need your new home to have.

Closing Costs to Expect:

Lender fees include charges for loan processing, appraisals, underwriting, preparation and establishing an escrow account.

Third-party fees include charges for insurance, title search, and other inspections such as well water and septic systems (some of which can be negotiated to be paid by the seller).

Government fees include deed recording and state & local mortgage taxes.

Escrow and interest fees include homeowner's insurance, loan interest, real estate taxes, and occasionally private mortgage insurance.

Find out how much your closing costs could be.

Deb's Free Home Buyer Services:

PERSONALIZED service to analyze your needs, wants, and must haves! Deb will be working for YOU, representing YOUR interests during the entire transaction at NO COST TO YOU! (Ask me about who pays my fee - I'll explain in detail.)

Deb will prepare a comprehensive market search based on your personal search criteria!

She will e-mail or call you daily with new listings!

She will arrange showings of homes you've selected to preview!

She will prepare and present offers and help you arrange for a mortgage or other financing!

She expertly negotiates the price and terms for your new home purchase, allowing for a smooth, carefree closing!

She will arrange for inspections and everthing needed up to and including the closing, as well as do post closing follow up!

Deb is available, accessible and working for you!

Her commitment and goal as a Professional Realtor is to meeting and exceeding ALL of her clients' needs and expectations.

Deb is committed to providing honesty, dependability, knowledge & integrity to every transaction.

If you wish to do your own online searching, Click on the "Find Your Dream Home" tab on my site (www.debcasper.com) to search for all homes for sale in the area. Then call me at 651-407-7864 or send me an e-mail at deb@debcasper.com with listing number's or street addresses of those homes you'd like to take a closer look at. I'll get back to you within 24 hours! It's as simple as that!

Call (651-983-0121) or e-mail (deb@debcasper.com) Deb TODAY to find out why she has been selected as a SUPER REAL ESTATE AGENT 2 years in a row!

Worried about home loan interest rates? Here's an interesting look at historical interest rates - click here to take a look!

7 Ways to Save on Homeowners Insurance

Reprinted (in part) from Realtor® Magazine

Homeowners insurance premiums are expected to rise another 8-10 percent in 2005, according to the Insurance Information Institute - on top of 2004's 8 percent and 2003's 7 percent increases. More prevalent storms, hurricanes, floods, and wildfires are the biggest culprits behind the increases. Blame mold claims and stock market losses by insurance companies, as well.

To obtain insurance at a good rate:

Review the Comprehensive Loss Underwriting Exchange (CLUE) report on the property you're interested in. CLUE details the property's claims history for the most recent five years, which insurers may use to deny coverage. Make the sale contingent on a home inspection to ensure that problems identified in the CLUE have been repaired.

Seek insurance coverage as soon as your offer is approved. You must obtain insurance to buy. And you don't want to be told at closing that the insurer has denied your coverage.

Maintain good credit. Increasingly, insurers are using credit-based insurance scores to determine premiums.

Buy your homeowners and auto policies from the same company and you'll usually qualify for savings. But make sure the discount really yields the lowest price.

Ask about other discounts. For example, retirees who are home more than working people may qualify for a discount on theft insurance.

Seek group discounts. If you belong to any groups, such as associations or alumni organizations, they may have deals on insurance coverage.

Investigate a government-backed insurance plan. In some high-risk areas, federal or state government may back plans to lower rates. Ask your agent.

10 Questions to ask Lenders

Reprinted (in part) from Realtor® Magazine with permission from source: Real Estate Checklists & Systems

Your relationship with a lender can potentially last 30 years. That's a long time to be unhappy.

To find a lender and loan that fit your needs, ask lending companies:

What are the most popular mortgage loans you make? Why?

Which type of mortgage plan do you think would suit us? Why?

Are your rates, terms, fees, and closing costs negotiable?

Will I have to buy private mortgage insurance? If so, how much will it cost? How long will it be required? PMI is usually required if your down payment is less than 20 percent. Most lenders will let you discontinue the policy when you reach 20 percent equity by paying down the loan. You'll likely have to binitiate the process to make that change yourself. Lenders are only required to cancel your PMI when you reach 22 percent equity - ask your lender!

Who will service the loan, your bank or another company?

What escrow requirements do you have? (Ex. number of days in advance of closing that money has to be deposited, or form money must be in such as cashier's check)

How long is your lock-in period(the time that the quoted interest rate will be honored)? Will I be able to obtain a lower rate if rates drop during this time?

How long will the loan approval process take?

How long will it take to close the loan?

Are there any charges or penalties for prepaying the loan?

Deb Casper, Your #1 Realtor® for Life, Can help you...

Locate a Suitable Property. Although many homes today can be found on the internet, Deb will probably have already seen many of them in person and will quickly be able to help you determine which might be right for you. She can also find additional information on the home and schedule private showings for you!

Determine what you can afford. How much house you can afford depends on several factors, including your monthly income, debts and cash savings. At today's low interest rates, most buyers can actually afford a house worth two to three times their annual income. Deb can help you determine whether you have enough income and downpayment to qualify for a mortgage on the house you want to buy. She can also link you with one of several excellent local lenders who have access to resources for special programs such as first time homebuyers.

Envision changes. Deb can recommend changes that would help a home fit your needs and provide names of vendors qualified to do the work in the area in which you wish to buy!

Help find financing. In today's real estate market, it is imperative to prequalify for a loan prior to submitting an offer on a property. It also simplifies and shortens the buying process. Deb can direct you to several reputable local lenders before you actually make that offer.

Negotiate a favorable contract. Salespeople often prove their worth during negotiations. Armed with information on comparable sales, Deb can help you navigate the world of offers, counteroffers, bidding wars, and contract deadlines. Deb and you, the buyer, together will write the actual offer, including structuring any contingencies that must be met before the final sale. Deb will also continue working to get your purchase to the closing table and see that everything is in order for a smooth closing. She will continue to be available to you after the sale as well.

Call (651-983-0121) or e-mail (deb@debcasper.com) Deb TODAY to find out why she has been selected as a "SUPER REAL ESTATE AGENT" two years in a row.