Steps & Information to make BUYING easier for YOU!!! Ask Mary!

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7 Steps to Buying & Valuable Buyer's Tips !

Check out the 7 Steps below......Then Click Here for 100's More Valuable Money & Time Saving Tips & Lists !

I have listed 7 (seven) of the major Steps to finding & purchasing your next home together with some of the most
important information about each step. It is amazing how much easier the process is if each step is done in sequence.

Step 1 or 2.....Selecting Your Agent Carefully !

Step 1 or 2.....Select a Mortgage Representative

Step 3.....Tell me What You want in a Home & let me help you find it!

Step 4.....Your Actual Home Search can be an Exciting Experience!

Step 5.....Writing a Contract

Step 6.....Home Inspections

The Final Step..........Closing & Moving In to Your New Home !!!

Ask these questions before selecting your Agent !

What are your company's resources, support staff and network affiliation ?

What is your company's history & track record in helping Buyers ? (example: How many customers did your company serve last year ?)

What systems does the agent have to help you ? (example: checklists, informational website, etc.)

Does your agent appear trustworthy, caring & committed to helping you?

What are your agents credentials ? (examples: have they furthered their real estate education, which designations such as Graduate Realty Institute or GRI, are do they have the certified Approved Buyers Representative or ABR designation )?

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More about selecting your agent..........It's really an Important Decision !
	Some things to look for & think about! Selecting a Real Estate Agent to work with is more a personal choice. What I mean is that there are many Agents with the licenses to sell you a home.....but once you know they meet those minimum qualifications....what's very important is that you can work well with the Agent you select and feel comfortable that they have your best interest at heart ! (because any licensed Agent can show you any Real Estate Companies listings - not just their own !) You may want to talk to a few Agents before deciding. Once you have chosen an Agent (and I hope it's Me!) the next step is to understand how Missouri Agents are required to work under Missouri Law. The Agent may ask that you agree to and sign	a "Buyer's Agency Agreement", it is not required, but without it, by law, the Agent is required to work on the 'Sellers' behalf. Next, your Agent of Choice will need to know as much as you can tell them about what you are looking for in your 'IDEAL' Home (see the 'Tell me what you want in a Home' section for help in doing this), and the price range you want to look at (see the 'Selecting a Mortgage Rep.' section for help here) So, why should I select Mary as my agent? If you want the answer to why, Please go to All About Mary to find out about my experience, background & history, along with the earned credentials & designations I have received by devoting many hours to additional training. Oh Yes, I do have the GRI designation TOO!!!
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Why should you choose a REALTOR® With a GRI designation?
	Here are just a few of the reasons! Buying property is a complex and stressful task. In fact, it's often the biggest single investment you will make in your lifetime. At the same time, real estate transactions have become increasingly complicated. New technology, laws, procedures and the increasing sophistication of buyers and sellers require real estate practitioners to perform at an ever-increasing level of professionalism. So it's more important than ever that you work with an agent who has a keen understanding of the real estate business. The GRI program has helped the best and the brightest in the industry achieve that level of understanding. GRIs are: * Nationally recognized as top performers in the real estate industry * Professionally trained * Knowledgeable * Dedicated to bringing you quality service	A GRI can make a difference ! When you see the letters "GRI" after an agent's name, you can count on receiving the knowledge and guidance you need to make your transaction go smoothly. In short, you can count on getting the best service available from a real estate professional. Don't you deserve the best? How do Agents get the GRI designation? They must attend the GRI Designation Program! It was developed for members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and offered through State REALTOR® Associations, the GRI program includes 90 hours of coursework on various topics such as marketing and servicing listed properties to real estate law. Mary has her GRI you will see the following GRI logo prominently displayed for Agents that have it! This is what a GRI logo looks like! You will see this logo or the GRI designation letters on all of Mary's materials !
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Selecting a Mortgage Representative

First let's take a look at some of the different terms that are used in the mortgage process......

Pre-Qualification :
This consists of a calculation that the Mortgage Representative will do that is based on your income to debt ratio. This will tell you how much you can afford to finance for a property based on your current income to debt ratio. Normally there is no charge for this step.
Credit Report / Pre-Approval :
It is important to have this step done EARLY in the process.
This step requires that you give the Mortgage Representative more detailed information but not as much as will be needed for a loan application. Once done it will verify your credit rating.... which can impact the amount they will lend you and the interest rate they will give you. The process to get your credit rating will find most potential credit problems whether real or just hidden computerized errors. There is quite often a small charge to do this step.
Loan Commitment :
This is the step where the Lender / Underwriter will review all the information provided and give a commitment to you, stating that they will provide financing for your home purchase. This commitment could come with some stipulations attached and these must be fulfilled prior to Closing. Some general examples of stipulations: * Required inspections completed, * Acceptable Appraisal, * Clear Title Work, * An accepted sales contract, * They will also Re-verify your credit rating and possible other information JUST PRIOR to Closing.

Back to Menu Now for Selecting Your Mortgage Representative
	In your search for a home, one of the first things that needs to be done is to select a Mortgage Representative ! By contacting a Mortgage Representative before you even start looking at homes could save you a lot of time, heartaches and headaches later ! I have seen people find that PERFECT HOME and then go for the mortgage, only to find that some past problem, computer error or a host of other situations has negatively affected their credit .......... fortunately MOST have been able to clear up the problems and go on to purchase that Home, BUT why take the chance - make sure all is well EARLY ! The Mortgage Representative will also be able to tell us what price range we	need to be looking at for your home. I can't stress strongly enough the importance to us both to have what is called a Mortgage Pre-Qualification done prior to starting your home search & a Pre-Approval as soon as possible after that ! To assist you in this effort, If you haven't selected a Mortgage Representative yet, I can give you several local Representatives to choose from that have been used by other clients of mine with good results. ........ this is for your convenience only ....... I can not specifically endorse any given one ....... all I can do is inform you of my past experiences with them .... it is your choice, you can contact one of them or someone else of your choice !
For more information on the Financial aspects of purchasing property.....go to the Financial Section of this website. Back to Menu or Back to Selecting Your Agent or Back to All About Mary & Selecting Your Agent Section

Step 4.....The Actual Home Search
	First we will talk and we can discuss the details of what you want/need/desire in the home you want to purchase. You can use the Tell me what you want in a home form to help you & me get a better understanding of the features you want. I will then use those features to use the MLS (Multiple Listing System) to find out what is Available in the location/s of your choice. I can then either Email all the information on each one to you or I will print them for you. After you review the available homes, you'll let me know which ones you want to take a tour of and when you want to go looking. I will then make the appointment/s and we will tour each one. Then using the 'Proven 3 Step Approach to Selecting the Right Property for You !' we can review each home toured & you	can decide which ones to rule out & which ones if any to keep in mind or make an offer on. You can also keep your eyes open as you drive around on your daily business and if you see a 'For Sale' sign either by a different Agent / Company OR a 'For Sale by Owner', just let me know if it is of interest to you and I can work with you to take a tour of those TOO !!! Once you have found the home that's right for you........I will work with you to make an offer and negotiate for you with your directions to obtain the best deal we can get !!! See the 'Writing a Contract' section. From there I will assist you with scheduling & having the inspections done & all the way through to CLOSING on your new home !!!
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Step 5.....Writing a Contract
	First we will discuss the $$$ amount you want to offer for the property. This is where it becomes essential that you have been Pre-approved for the amount you are now wanting to pay for the property, IT HELPS make our negotiating position stronger when we can show the Seller's that you are a willing, ready & ABLE Buyer. We will then look at any conditions & contingencies that you may want or need to include in the contract........this can cover many areas..........such as 'Does this purchase require that you sell your property first', were there any obvious problems with the property that need to be replaced/repaired as part of the contract (we will also make the contract contingent on the results of professionally done inspections), what time frame do you want to put for the Closing date, and other items we can discuss !!!	Now that the contract is written, I will present it to the Sellers Agent (typically we will give them 24 to 48 hours to respond) and they will then present it to the Sellers. They can do one of several things.... 1. Ignore the offer (if it's too low or has too many conditions or contingencies). 2. Accept the offer as is ! 3. Or quite often they will respond with a counter offer.........which I will present to you and you can either accept, reject or counter back........ This sequence will continue until there is an accepted offer or you decide to walk away from that particular property and continue the search !!!
Back to Menu or Back to Actual Home Search !

Step 6.....Home Inspections Inspections are Important !!! I strongly encourage all of my Buyers to get inspections done by professionals ! If they don't have their own, I furnish my Buyers with a list of qualified/licensed inspectors from which they can choose the ones they want. Below I have listed Some of the most common Hidden Defects inspections can help you to locate before you buy !
	Bad foundation. Worn roof. Water drainage/damage. Termite infestation/damage. Working systems of the house - such as - Inadequate wiring, Inadequate plumbing, Heating/Cooling..... Special attention: If a property is on private water, sewage or roads, the Buyer will most likely have individual inspections on each of the items. A compliance certificate or other written documentation will most likely be requested by the Buyer and/or the Lender to indicate all systems meet the required standards for the area.

A few KEY Questions to ask an Inspector before hiring one !

   What type of licenses, certificates or
         designations do you hold ?
   How long does the actual on-site
         inspection normally take ?
   Will you allow us to accompany you
         on the inspection ?
   How much does an inspection cost
         for a property like ours ?

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What is the scope of your inspection ?
How detailed will the inspection be ?
How many inspections do you do per
year on residential homes like ours ?
What type of report will we receive ?
How quickly can we get it scheduled
& done ?

THE FINAL STEP.....Closing & Moving IN !

In our area the Closing takes place at a Title Company.
Typically you will be required to have:

Your Drivers License or in some rare cases a passport.
A Paid Receipt & Insurance Declaration Page for one
      year of pre-paid home owners insurance.
A cashiers check for the Closing cost, the amount will be
      in the Settlement Statement from the Title company,
      which you should receive at least one to two days prior to
      the Closing.
With FHA / VA loan you must have original termite
      inspection report.
When You & the Seller have completed the Closing
      (signing all the papers !!!) and the lending company has
      funded the money (that means the Seller has gotten their
      money!!!)...... You can now be given the Keys
      (normally I have them for You !) &
      NOW You can MOVE IN !

See the Helpful Tips for Moving, which are in the More Tips for Buyers Section !

Congratulations and now go Celebrate !

(Safely Please!)

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A Proven "3 Step Approach" to selecting the Right Property !

Step 1. Approach the home buying process Objectively...

There is No Perfect House....... 85% perfect is Good!

The Good Houses Priced Right.......Go Quickly!

Avoid the second guessing Syndrome......Commonly
referred to as "Buyer's Remorse"

Step 2. After viewing each property ask yourself 3 Important Questions.....

What did I like about the property ?

What, if anything, would I want or need to change?

If the price were right, could I see myself owning this property?
If Yes, at what price ?

Step 3. Remember you have 3 Safety Nets available to you......

Your judgment as an educated/informed Buyer !

The customized Market Analysis prepared by your agent !

The option of an Appraisal Rider !

Back to Menu or Back to Actual Home Search !

Thank you for visiting & I hope your visit is Helpful & Enjoyable, If so, Please feel free to bookmark my site for your future use!

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Jefferson County's
REALTOR® of the Year 2003

*** This website is intended to assist readers by providing information on real estate matters. We have made strong efforts to supply accurate information; however, we cannot guarantee the timeliness, accuracy or completeness of this information, or information found on other websites we link to. If you find that the external links we have provided have changed and now go to the wrong or any inappropriate websites, Please let us know immediately ! Please verify all information enclosed as it pertains to your specific real estate situation with a Licensed Realtor, since conclusions you could make based on the information presented may vary depending on your location, situation and/or needs. The information presented in this website represents Mary's professional opinion. Buyers and sellers are encouraged to seek independent council relating to all issues of purchasing and selling of real property. This website is in no way meant to substitute for independent council.

If your property is currently listed with a real estate broker, please disregard. It is not our intention to solicit the offerings of other real estate brokers. We are happy to work with them and cooperate fully. Keller Williams Realty is a registered trademark. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each Keller Williams Office is independently Owned and Operated.

Copyright © 2005 - 2008 Mary Carter, USA, All Rights Reserved.
Mary reserves the right to deny any request for any form of additional information at her sole discretion
and the right to implement a monetary charge with notification at the time requests are initiated to cover
costs incurred. This information is only available in the continental United States & is solely intended
to be available to clients or prospective clients in the geographical areas that Mary covers.

Mary's site was designed by & is maintained by Gary Carter - glcarter@sbcglobal.net

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COVERING ST.LOUIS, JEFFERSON, ST. GENEVIEVE AND ST. FRANCOIS COUNTIES SPECIALIZING IN RESIDENTIAL SALES, NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION, RELOCATION, FARMS & ACREAGE JEFFERSON County communities of FESTUS, BARNHART, HILLSBORO, ST. LOUIS, DESOTO, ARNOLD, HIGHRIDGE, and HERCULANEUM Please bookmark my site for your future use & I hope your visit today will be Helpful and Enjoyable! Mary Carter, GRI, ABR Certified
My History & Experiences
	I was born in Festus, Missouri on a cold January 1st morning at 12:03 am - so, yes I am a New Years Baby, which ended up costing me many presents over the years, since my parents almost always combined my Christmas & Birthday gifts into one ! I graduated from Festus High School in 1966 & was married to a 1965 Herculaneum graduate, Gary Carter the same year & amazingly (against all odds!) we are still married 39 years later ! At the time we were married, Gary was in the Air Force, so our first few years were spent between Air Force bases in Texas & Arkansas. After that we came back to the local area for awhile. Gary was in the Computer / Electronics industry which at that time seemed to like to relocate people a lot!!! So, over the 39 years of our marriage we have lived in 7 different states and have personally bought & sold many homes. That alone gave me a lot of real estate experience. My actual real estate experience began in 1983 while living in New Hampshire. There I worked as an Administrative Assistant to the owner of a local real estate company. Then while living in Atlanta, Georgia I again worked in the administrative end of a local real estate company. In 1992 we moved back to the local area and now live in Herculaneum. From 1997 to 1999 I worked as an office manager	for a local real estate company - So as you can now imagine I knew A LOT about the industry !!! I went to school and received my real estate license in 1999 & joined the new & first office that Gundaker Realty opened in Festus....since then they were bought out by Coldwell Banker and became Coldwell Banker Gundaker & I am happy to say that I still work out of their Festus office ! I have listed below the positions I have held along with the awards I have been given and the designations I have earned through advanced education in all areas of real estate: ................ REALTOR® of the Year 2003 for Jefferson County, Multi-Million Dollar Sales Producer, Sterling Club Member, Graduate of the advanced Realty Institute - GRI Certified, Accredited Buyer Representative - ABR, 2005 President elect Jefferson County Chapter of Women’s Council of Realtors® (WCR), Cendant Mobility Relocation Specialist, Residential Real Estate Specialist (RRES) 2002 Winner of the prestigious Henry Aydt ETHICS Scholarship Award, Years of experience in real estate Administration & Office Management before obtaining License, Served as Parliamentarian, Vice President, and currently State Director for the Jefferson County Board of REALTORS®

Back to top of page Why should you choose a REALTOR® With a GRI designation? ( Graduate REALTOR® Institute )
	Here are just a few of the reasons! Buying property is a complex and stressful task. In fact, it's often the biggest single investment you will make in your lifetime. At the same time, real estate transactions have become increasingly complicated. New technology, laws, procedures and the increasing sophistication of buyers and sellers require real estate practitioners to perform at an ever-increasing level of professionalism. So it's more important than ever that you work with an agent who has a keen understanding of the real estate business. The GRI program has helped the best and the brightest in the industry achieve that level of understanding. GRIs are: * Nationally recognized as top performers in the real estate industry * Professionally trained * Knowledgeable * Dedicated to bringing you quality service	A GRI can make a difference ! When you see the letters "GRI" after an agent's name, you can count on receiving the knowledge and guidance you need to make your transaction go smoothly. In short, you can count on getting the best service available from a real estate professional. Don't you deserve the best? How do Agents get the GRI designation? They must attend the GRI Designation Program! It was developed for members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and offered through State REALTOR® Associations, the GRI program includes 90 hours of coursework on various topics such as marketing and servicing listed properties to real estate law. I have my GRI and you will see the following GRI logo prominently displayed for Agents that have it! This is what a GRI logo looks like! You will see this logo or the GRI designation letters on all of Mary's materials !
COVERING ST.LOUIS, JEFFERSON, ST. GENEVIEVE AND ST. FRANCOIS COUNTIES SPECIALIZING IN RESIDENTIAL SALES, NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION, RELOCATION, FARMS & ACREAGE JEFFERSON County communities of FESTUS, BARNHART, HILLSBORO, ST. LOUIS, DESOTO, ARNOLD, HIGHRIDGE, and HERCULANEUM Back to top of page

Back to top of page Ask these Questions before Selecting Your Agent !
	What are your company's resources, support staff and network affiliation ? What is your company's history & track record in helping Buyers ? (example: How many customers did your company serve last year?) (See Why Coldwell Banker Gundaker?) What systems does the agent have to help you ? (example: checklists, informational website, etc.) Does your agent appear trustworthy, caring & committed to helping you ? What are your agents credentials ? (examples: have they furthered their real estate education, which designations such as Graduate Realty Institute or GRI, are do they have the certified Approved Buyers Representative or ABR designation )?

Selecting your agent..........It's really an Important Decision !
Some things to look for & think about!
	Selecting a Real Estate Agent to work with is more a personal choice. What I mean is that there are many Agents with the licenses to sell you a home ..... but once you know they meet those minimum qualifications .... what's very important is that you can work well with the Agent you select and feel comfortable that they have your best interest at heart ! (because any licensed Agent can show you any Real Estate Companies listings - not just their own !)You may want to talk to a few Agents before deciding. Once you have chosen an Agent (and I hope it's Me!) the next step is to understand how Missouri Agents are required to work under Missouri Law. The Agent may ask that you agree to and sign a "Buyer's Agency Agreement", it is not required, but without it, by law, the Agent is required to work on the 'Sellers' behalf. Next, your Agent of Choice will need to know as much as you can tell them about what you are looking for in your 'IDEAL' Home (see the 'Tell me what you want in a Home' section for help in doing this), and the price range you want to look at (see the 'Selecting a Mortgage Rep.' section for help)
	So, why should I select Mary as my agent? If you want the answer to why, Please go to All About Mary to find out about my experience, background & history, along with the earned credentials & designations I have received by devoting many hours to additional training. Oh Yes, I do have the GRI designation TOO!!!