Anchorage
Click here to view homes in The Anchorage Bowl.
Eagle River
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Chugiak
Click here to view home in Chugiak.
Map
BUYERS
Being a prepared buyer can save you a lot of time and hassle when you decide to purchase a home. Putting an offer on a home before you have prepared for it may very well end in disaster.
The first step in purchasing a home is to find a good mortgage lender that you feel comfortable with. I work with several top-notch lenders, and can help you find one that suits your needs. The lender will be able to pre-qualify you and will tell you what price home you can purchase. The lender can also tell you what debts you should pay off before buying a home.
It’s a good idea to speak to a lender well before you begin the home buying process so you can have time to prepare. Check out our Mortgage Calculator, or contact me for more information on how much home you can afford.
Early into the home buying process, you will want to check your credit rating to make sure it is clean, and doesn’t have any glitches of which you may be unaware. I once had a case where reports showed the buyer owing child support, but it ended up being another person by the same name. Another problem can be judgments that have been paid off, but have not yet been cleared from your credit report. If you clear any disputed items ahead of time through your local credit bureau, it will make the loan approval process go much quicker.
Be careful of applying for any credit cards or consumer loans. Every time you apply for a Sears card, a gas card, a computer loan etc., they run a check on your credit. Too many credit checks in a short period of time can raise a red flag to the mortgage lender. Also, don’t make any major purchases before the closing of your new home. Purchasing a new dining room set on your credit card to fit in your new home or taking out a car loan can throw off your debt ratio, and you may not be able to qualify for the loan.
Having a clear credit rating and being pre-qualified will make you a stronger buyer, and sellers will take your offer more seriously.
Mortgage Calculator
home wish list
Many people decide to buy a home without knowing what they want. This will frustrate you, since you have not given your real estate agent enough parameters and they are showing you every home in town.
What you should do before you meet with your agent is to determine exactly what are your needs and what are your wants. If you have 3 children, you will probably not be able to live in a 2-bedroom house. Do you have pets that need yard space? Do you want to purchase a condominium or a house? Do you need a garage? How much space do you need?
Write down a list of all your needs. Then make a list of things that you want, but are not necessary (maybe you want a fireplace or a walk-in closet). Finally, make a list of what you absolutely DO NOT want (if you have knee problems, you may not want a home with stairs). Once you have your list of wants and needs, we can tailor your home search to fit those parameters.
My Home Wish List Worksheet can help you through this process.
Contact me with questions
Once you have determined your price range and your needs, I will help you find the right home. I am very familiar with Anchorage neighborhoods and housing… I have lived here all my life. I also have an extensive real estate background and can assist you with any challenges that may arise during the contract negotiations, home inspections, title reports, loan origination, and closing. Call or message me for more information about the home buying process.
If you are moving to the Anchorage area or within Alaska, I would love to provide you with information and resources.
SELLERS
Your satisfaction is GUARANTEED! I offer an “Easy exit” real estate marketing agreement, so you can cancel your listing at any time.
What’s one of your worst fears when you market your home with a real estate agent? It’s simple. You worry about being locked into a lengthy listing agreement with a less than competent real estate agent, costing your home valuable time and exposure on the market.
Well, worry no more. My goal is to take the risk and fear out of marketing your home through my “Easy Exit” listing agreement and aggressive marketing campaign, which is designed to sell your house in a timely manner.
When you market your home with me, you can cancel your agreement at any time. No hassles. It’s easy.
You can:
- cancel your marketing agreement anytime
- relax, knowing you won’t be locked into a lengthy contract
- enjoy the caliber of service confident enough to offer this “easy exit” marketing agreement
I believe that if you are unhappy with the service you receive, you should have the ability to dismiss your agent. I am confident you will be happy with my service and results.
Communication is key….
Another complaint I have heard from sellers about real estate agents is a lack of communication. Many agents will meet with the sellers to have the listing agreement signed, then won’t talk to them again until there is a contract. I will contact you EVERY week, either by phone, mail, text, or e-mail to update you on our progress. Once we have a signed contract, I will continue to contact you with updates to make sure the transaction goes as smoothly as possible.
My goal is to sell your home in the shortest period of time with the least amount of hassle. To request a FREE analysis of your home’s value, click here.
I will also offer you tips to make your home more saleable, as well as offering you advice on what repairs or upgrades should be completed prior to marketing your home.
What’s my home worth?
It’s important to know the value of your home. Whether you are appealing your tax assessment, wanting to update your homeowners insurance, needing to know how much equity you have in your home, or if you are considering selling, I’m happy to provide you with a free market assessment.
If you plan to sell your home within the next year, call me for an appointment to view your home. I will give you specific tips on how to make your home sell faster and for more money.
The information on this page will give you some general ideas of what should be done before your home goes on the market. I also have tips in my blog about making your home more appealing to buyers.
Curb Appeal
50% of purchase decisions are made during the first 60 seconds a buyer sees your home. To help improve your curb appeal, make sure to look at your home’s exterior with an objective eye. You can ask friends and neighbors for their opinions. Your real estate professional should be able to help give you some tips to spruce up the exterior of your home.
Make sure that you clean up the front of the home, and get rid of rubbish, junked cars, extra toys, etc. This is the first thing the buyer sees, and you want to make sure you give them a good impression. Keep your yard tidy: mow the lawn, keep the gardens weeded, and remove dead plants and trees to make sure your home looks its best while on the market. If your front yard is in disrepair, many buyers will never stop to see the inside.
Adding some colorful plants and flowers, either in planters or in the garden can help brighten up the exterior of a home. If the paint looks faded or is peeling, invest in a new paint job before marketing your home. If this is impractical, at least hose off the exterior and paint the trim, shutters, gutters and railings to give your home a face lift. Make sure you repair any damaged asphalt or concrete, and clean up any grease or oil spots.
Clean the front porch or entryway. Replace your front door if the current one is outdated or warped. Fix any broken windows or shutters, and repair any torn screens. Clean doors and windows, polish door handles, knockers, and lighting fixtures. Make sure all exterior lights are working, and keep them turned on. Fix any broken or wobbly steps. Replace old worn out items, like the mailbox or doorbell. If it’s winter, make sure the snow is removed from the porch, steps and walkway, and that any icy areas are sanded to prevent people from falling.
Check the roof and replace any missing or damaged shingles. Remove any moss and debris from the roof, and prune back any trees that may be touching the house or the roof.
If you are planning to market your home during the winter, make sure to take some photos of the home during the summer, and have them available for potential buyers to view. This will show the buyers the condition of the roof and the landscaping, which are always concerns when purchasing a home buried under several feet of snow. I’m always happy to take exterior digital photos during the summer and save them for winter marketing.
Recommended service providers
Over the years, I have made some great contacts with service providers around the state. Whether you need recommendations for a roofer, home inspector, mechanic, lender, fishing guide, or other business,
I can help!
I am also a part of a nationwide referral network. If you or a friend or a family member need an agent who provides the same level of service as I do across North America, contact me and I will connect you with a great agent.
REFER A FRIEND
Have a friend who needs a home? Or is planning to sell their home? Refer them to me so I can help ease the stress of real estate problems.