Why You Need to Be Pre-Approved Before You Make an Offer On Your Dream Home

One of the biggest mistakes a new homebuyer can make is to wait until they find their new house to be pre-approved for a mortgage. It’s an easy error. It seems like something that comes at the end of the process, and you have enough to worry about while you’re still searching for a new home. They might even go so far as to get pre-qualified for a mortgage beforehand, but not pre-approved. However, as easy as this mistake is to make, it could be costly in the end. It might even cost you your dream home.

Pre-Qualified is Not Pre-Approved

Pre-qualification is just the first step in the mortgage process. This is the first consultation with the bank discussing your finances and giving you a general idea of the mortgages for which you may be qualified. It’s also not as thorough as a the pre-approval process. Most pre-qualification analysis does not look into your credit report, which will factor highly into your likelihood to be approved for a mortgage.

Pre-approval, on the other hand, is more in depth. You have to officially apply for the mortgage and provide proof of your financials and credit rating. After that’s done, your lender can tell you more specifically what they should be able to offer in terms of a mortgage: your interest rate and a conditional written agreement specifying the amount of mortgage for which you’re approved. The number you see in your pre-approval may differ from the number you expected after your pre-qualification, so it’s important not to make any decisions until you’re pre-approved.

Your Pre-Approval Letter Determines Your Budget

Once you’ve received your pre-approval, you know what price range you’re looking for. You can give your realtor that information to help you find a home within your budget. While you might be able to determine an estimated budget before you’re pre-approved, it’s not recommended. The last thing you want is to make an offer on the house you’ve fallen in love with, wait for financing to come back only to find out that you don’t have enough money. If you’re pre-approved already, you know exactly what to expect from the beginning.

Pre-Approval Gives You An Edge With Your Offer

Pre-approval makes a great impression on the seller, as it allows them to see that you’re serious and you have all your ducks in a row. It also gives you an advantage with your offer with respect to time. Waiting for financing to come through can hold up the application process, and if the seller has another potential buyer who is already financed, it’s just good sense to give the house to the latter.

As with anything else, it’s better to go in prepared. Make sure you have all the information you need about financing, and pass that information along to your Brazos Valley realtor, so she can use it to help you find the home of your dreams. 

Home For Sale in College Station

Sarah Miller, your RE/MAX realtor bryan-college station can help you discover a lot of great tips for making a profitable sale of your home. Call Sarah Miller at 979-255-1904 for your real estate needs in Bryan-College Station and the entire Brazos Valley!

5 Places Eat in Bryan-College Station

If you’re planning to move to Bryan-College Station for the first time, you probably have several questions about the area. What are the neighborhoods like? What’s the cost of living? What is there to do around town? One of the most prevalent questions on the minds of new residents is: where are the best places to eat? Even if you eat in 29 days out of the month, you’ll still want to treat yourself to a night out occasionally. Fortunately, there are several restaurants to choose from in Bryan College Station, for foodies of all varieties.

Fuego Tortilla Grill

If you’ve ever craved breakfast tacos or a late night chips and salsa, Fuego Tortilla Grill is the place to go. It’s open all hours between Tuesday at 6am and Monday at 4am serving tacos, carnitas, briskets and covering your basic Mexican and Southwestern food needs. They even have gluten-free and vegetarian options. It’s an excellent casual dining experience for the family, or a place to end the night on the town. Did I mention the breakfast tacos are served all day?

Hullabaloo Diner

Hullabaloo Diner is your old-fashioned American diner with tile floors and stools lining the metal countertops. It’s one of the few registered diners in Texas, in fact. If you’re looking for classic summer comfort food, like biscuits and gravy, patty melts, or their famous Train Wreck fries, Hullabaloo is your go-to eatery. It’s also a good place to get brunch with the family, and the kids will love the retro, historical design of the place. Hours are Wednesday - Friday 11am-9pm, Saturday 9am-9pm, Sunday 9am-2pm, and closed Monday and Tuesday.

The Republic

The Republic is a “fine-drinking steakhouse” for a meal that’s a little more upscale. Besides a number of steak entrees, they have oysters, calamari, lobster bisque, and crawfish and shrimp etouffee, just to name a few. Their wine list has won the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. The Republic is a wonderful place for upscale wining and dining, and they even have two private dining rooms for a special event, with seating for 50 guests each. Hours are Monday - Saturday from 5pm-10pm, with the bar open Monday - Saturday from 5pm - 12am. You do have to make a reservation ahead of time.

Carney’s Pub and Grill

For pub food and, well, pub drinks, Carney’s Pub and Grill is an option. Their menu offers tacos, salads, sandwiches, chicken wings, as well as shareable appetizers. Carney’s is a great place to shoot pool and  grab a beer after work, but they also offer soft drinks for non-alcoholic options. It’s located in Bryan Station about a mile away from Texas A&M. You can’t miss the big, neon sign. Hours are 3pm-2am Tuesday - Saturday and 3-10pm on Sunday and Monday. If you’re there for food, though, the kitchen closes at 10pm every night.

Napa Flats Wood-Fired Kitchen

Napa Flats Wood-Fired Kitchen is known for great pizza, made from scratch, and a patio for outdoor dining. If you choose to sit indoors, you have open views to the trademark wood-fire oven. They also serve pasta and several high cuisine appetizers, desserts, and have an excellent drink menu. Napa Flats is another option for dining in style, but it has a more open, airy atmosphere.

These are just a few of the delicious dining options available to you in Bryan-College Station. Your experienced, local realtor can also help you find more restaurants and the available homes nearby, as well as grocery stores for the nights you dine in. 

Land for Sale in College Station

Sarah Miller, your RE/MAX realtor bryan-college station can help you discover a lot of great tips for making a profitable sale of your home. Call Sarah Miller at 979-255-1904 for your real estate needs in Bryan-College Station and the entire Brazos Valley!

What Makes College Station Such a Great Retirement Destination

J. Wayne Stark Galleries

When you think of College Station, Texas, you probably think of students from Texas A&M. You might think of the friendly, laid back city with its excellent schools and parks as a great place to raise a family. What you might not realize is the appeal of College Station to retirees. In 2013, USA Today ranked College Station as the 4th best “unknown” retirement destination in the United States. The city has much to offer retirees: affordable living, friendly neighbors, great parks, sports. Here are some of the reasons to make College Station your retirement destination.

Recreation and Entertainment

College Station takes great pride in their beautiful parks. Whether you just want to take a stroll, sit on a park bench and enjoy nature, or find a new place to play golf, the city has you covered. But there are plenty of recreation options in College Station that don’t include the parks, like Zumba classes, yoga, and live theatre. You can see Broadway acclaimed shows at the University’s MSC OPAS theatre. There are also local theatre and live music events, including the Brazos Valley Troupe community theatre. But when it comes to entertainment, many come to College Station for the famous Aggieland football. Become a season ticket holder at Aggie Stadium, and you can enjoy all the home games in person yourself.

A Variety of Affordable Neighborhoods

If you like living in the city where all the activity is, you can find a place in College Station. If, on the other hand, you prefer the peace and quiet of the suburbs, there are still a number of neighborhoods in Bryan-College Station to suit you. If you want a spacious yard, you can find that easily in the Brazos Valley area. Wherever you choose to live, cost of living is reasonable and helped by the low tax rate of the area and lack of state income taxes. Whatever your tastes, College Station has a place for you without breaking the bank.

Jobs

Many retirees aren’t quite ready to just quit working altogether. You may want to seek out a part-time job, even in your retirement, and College Station is a great place to do so. The unemployment rate in College Station is just 3.9%, below the national average, and over the next 10 years, job growth is expected to increase by over 40%. Retirees can easily find a part-time job to keep themselves occupied and get to know their new community.

Rest assured that finding a home here won’t be a hassle with the help of a local expert realtor. Your realtor can help you find the perfect house for your retirement in the right community and within reasonable distance of the amenities that interest you. College Station is both an active and laid back city, with a low crime rate, friendly neighbors, and beautiful Texas scenery. Whatever your reason for retiring in College Station, we’re happy you’re here. 

Land For Sale in College Station

Sarah Miller, your RE/MAX realtor bryan-college station can help you discover a lot of great tips for making a profitable sale of your home. Call Sarah Miller at 979-255-1904 for your real estate needs in Bryan-College Station and the entire Brazos Valley!

3 Myths About Realtors Debunked

When you hear someone talk about realtors, there’s often a suspicious connotation. The stereotype is that realtors are rich, successful tycoons who want to get richer by swindling unsuspecting home buyers. It’s for this reason that so many buyers believe it would be better to find their new home without a realtor. However, the stereotype is little more than just that...a misguided representation of the industry as a whole. The expertise of a local College Station realtor is invaluable in finding a home, especially if you’re new to the area. A skilled realtor isn’t out there to strong arm you so that they can make a sale. They prefer to make their commission by helping you find the right home for yourself and your family.

Here are 3 statements you may have heard about realtors in the past.

Realtors Will Say Anything To Make a Sale

While there are dishonest people in every profession, this is completely untrue for the majority of realtors. Reputation is everything in the real estate business. Most realtors receive new clients by referral, whether word of mouth or reviews left online. If a realtor has a history of dealing poorly with clients, that kind of news will spread to other homebuyers and drive away business. Because of this, realtors generally hold themselves to a strict ethical code. If you’re unsure whether a realtor is trustworthy, check their reviews online before you hire them. If they tend to lie and cheat, their reviews will reflect that.

You’ll Get a Better Deal If You Buy Directly Through the Listing Agent

Many buyers believe this because it saves them the trouble of finding a realtor and it saves the seller the trouble of having to pay a commission to two agents instead of one. This is false, however. Most sellers have a set commission already in mind, whether there are two agents or one. If the buyer has their own seller, the commission will be split between the listing agent and the buyer’s agent, that’s all. It could also get you into trouble, because the listing agent is vouching for the seller’s best interests, not the buyers. Having your own agent will level the playing field in this regard.

All Realtors Are The Same

Wrong again. A realtor that’s been in the area for years will offer a completely different perspective from a realtor who has been in the area for three months. Someone with expertise and experience in the area can tell you where to find the best parks and places to eat, where to find arts, sports, and good schools in the area. There’s also the matter of quality of service. Some realtors have a better understanding of their customers or of certain areas than others. Here again, it’s a good idea to look at reviews before making any decisions about which realtor to hire.

A great realtor will not only show you the best homes to fit your needs, but they’ll champion for you to help you get the best deal. Of course it’s all business, but at the end of the day, the best thing for a realtor’s business is for you to leave satisfied and tell your friends about their exceptional service. 

Land For Sale In College Station

Sarah Miller, your RE/MAX realtor bryan-college station can help you discover a lot of great tips for making a profitable sale of your home. Call Sarah Miller at 979-255-1904 for your real estate needs in Bryan-College Station and the entire Brazos Valley!