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  Receive a full list of homes

      for sale from ALL local real

      estate companies.

 

FREE Mortgage Quotes

 Choose from a number of

     great financing  programs like

     Zero Down, Low Interest

     Rates, FHA, VA and many

     more!

 

Buying a Home with ZERO

Down:  Sound good to be

     true?  It's not!  Learn more

     about ZERO down financing

     programs.

 

First Time Home Buyers

Get ALL your questions and

     concerns answered regarding

     the home buying process.

 

Home Buying Tips and FREE Reports  Get tips and

    free reports on things to avoid,

    how to avoid them, steps to

    the home buying process and

    much more.

 

VA Home Loans: 

For our Military men and

    women, First of all, Thank

    you!!!  Apply here for VA

    home loans

 

Relocating to Des Moines

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     schools, neighborhoods,

     maps, restaurants,

     demographics and more.

 

Home Builders & Floor

 Plans Search Des Moines

     area home builders, floor

     plans and other new home

     products

 

Home Buyer Seminar:

Learn about the great

    benefits of home ownership

    like tax deductions and

    property appreciation.

 

Townhomes & Condos:

Find townhomes, condos and

    lofts for sale in the Des

    Moines area

 

Do you have a Buyers Agent?  Make sure you an

    agent to represent you and

    your best interest...and it

    should cost nothing!

 

Q and A:

Have a question on the home

    buying process, financing or

    anything else? Ask it here!

.

 

Matt Shaw  ABR

Licensed REALTOR®

State of Iowa

Ph # 515.360.2247

Fax # 1-866-754-9351

4800 Mills Civic Pkwy #203

West Des Moines, IA 50265

 

What Should You Offer:

When you find a home that you're interested in you're obviously going to know the asking price from the start.  But before making the sellers an offer you need to know that the house is priced correctly and with in it's market value.

The best way to determine a fair but good asking price if through a CMA (Comparative Market Analysis) A CMA is an analysis of recent home sales in the area of comparable size, age, style, amenities and condition.  Someone other than seller’s agent, or an appraiser hired by the seller should do your CMA.  For your protection some one that’s working or representing you, and only you should do it!   This is one reason it's critical to have an agent working for you and your best interest only!

There are three main sources of information on comparable sales, all of which are easily accessed by a real estate agent.  It's a little more difficult for the general public to gain access to some of this information, and in some cases impossible.

 

Should you start off low? 

As a buyer you of course want to get the most house for your money.  Before writing an offer to purchase, step back and look at the transaction from the sellers point.  The sellers are wanting to get the most money for their home, and the selling of a house tends to be much more emotional and personal than buying the house.

Most sellers are reasonable and expect buyers to come in and try to negotiate, but by coming in and offering way under the asking price, sellers tend to take it as an insult and that you're trying to get a deal, and at their expense.  Most sellers are willing to negotiate and work with the buyers, but when they feel like someone's trying to take advantage of them they're usually less will to negotiate and come down on price.

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