Claudia Hargrove Thoughts

Thinking about buying a new home in El Paso, Texas?

April 12, 2018 - Claudia Hargrove Thoughts

The process of buying a new house can be really scary, full of stress and frustration for some people. That’s the way it should be when you are about to make the most important financial decision of your life. But you definitely don’t have to go thru this by yourself. Let me share with you a few tips that would make this process a fun experience.

• • Check your credit: Paying your bills on time every month doesn’t mean you have excellent credit. The credit utilization ratio is the amount of credit you’re using compared with your available credit and it can hurt or help your overall credit score. Ideally, homebuyers should have a lot of credit available, with a less than a third of it used.

• Hire a Realtor: Having the right realtor for you involved since the very beginning will save you time, energy and the best part is that you as a home buyer does not pay the agents commission, the agent earns the commission from the seller side of the transaction.

• Get pre-approved for mortgage: one of the most common mistake that people often make is focusing on the total price of the home they can afford instead of the monthly payment they will be making. It is crucial that you work with your advisor to understand how your down payment amount, credit, and the current mortgage rate affect your monthly payment. Many sellers require a prequalification letter before submitting an offer on a home and you don’t want to find the perfect home and then be stuck running around trying to qualify while someone else gets your dream home.

• Decide to buy: When selecting a home, make sure it’s a home that YOU really want. There are many options on the market, so you owe it to yourself to ask yourself the question, “Do I love this home??” if you feel comfortable with the payment, love the location and will feel proud to make this house a home, then take the leap and don’t look back. When you find a house that truly interests you, don’t wait to make an offer. Buying in a tight housing market presents a unique set of challenges. Regardless of how long a house has been on the market, it is one offer away from going under contract.
Buying your first home shouldn’t be a chore. Sure, it can be a challenge and sometimes test your temper. But, at the end of the day, you’ll have a place to call all your own! So, if you are thinking about buying a new home, let me be your partner and help you find your dream house.

Why you should contact me?
My extensive knowledge of El Paso’s residential real estate market is unparalleled. Clients choose to work with me for my full-service approach, ethics, experience and expertise.
Despite this highly competitive real estate environment in El Paso, I’ve had a stellar performance year after year for over 32 years. My roster of repeat buyers and valued clients are some of El Paso’s most influential individuals, developers and institutions.