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Whether you're looking to buy a home or want to see how this whole thing works—this blog has it all! Take a look at our Buyer related articles and give us your feedback!

Found 71 blog entries about Buyers.

One of the most common questions we hear from first-time homebuyers is, “How will the realtor be paid?” Beyond not knowing how the realtor fees are covered, many buyers and sellers also don’t know exactly what a realtor does (even though they know they need one). 

The good news is, if you’re buying a home, you do not have to pay the realtor to help you. Typically the seller pays all of the fees in a real estate transaction. At no expense to you, you can have a local real estate market expert be your advocate during the home buying process. There is a lot that goes into the home buying process, and your realtor will help you every step of the way. 

Another surprising fact to some home buyers and sellers is that your realtor will not get paid…

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Nathan Torgerson of The Torgerson Team at Keller Williams Realty was named one of America’s most productive sales associates as a part of REAL Trends America’s Best Real Estate Agents, the newly issued ranking report produced by REAL Trends and sponsored by Zillow Group.  

This is the second year in a row he has been named a member of the “America’s Best Real Estate Agents,” and ranked in the top 100 for the state of Tennessee. Torgerson is one of only eight Chattanooga realtors to receive this recognition.

“I am honored to be named on this ranking of the country’s top residential real estate agents,” says Nathan Torgerson. “It represents the time and effort that we put into each client that we serve and how much work it takes to build a successful…

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Movement Mortgage premieres new zero-down payment mortgage program


Want to buy your first home but are having a hard time coming up with that necessary down payment?

Movement Mortgage has just announced its new down payment assistance program for first-time homebuyers that allows borrowers to put nothing down on a home. 

Movement Mortgage, a top 10 retail home lender, has just introduced a financing option that provides eligible first-time buyers with a non-repayable grant of up to 3 percent. Not only that, but the program also allows for sellers to further assist the buyer by paying up to 4% of closing costs and pre paids on the home. 

For example, say you were to buy a $200,000 home. The necessary down payment costs would be about $6,000…

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Buying your first investment property is exciting! In Chattanooga where home inventory is low, buying investment property or flipping homes is a great opportunity to make additional income. But for any beginner, it’s easy to make mistakes in the process. Here are some of the most easily done missteps and how to avoid them. 

1. Assuming it’s a get rich quick situation. 

Some people paint real estate investing as easy way to make money fast, and that’s just not always true. There is a lot of time and effort that goes into a real estate investment, and your first one may not go as planned. If you buy a home looking for the market to improve later and give you a profit when you resell, that may take longer than you imagined. Understand that

2.…

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If you’re looking to buy a home, it’s time to check that dreaded credit score! While to us our credit score doesn’t mean too much, to a lender who’s considering whether to approve your mortgage loan, a low credit score can indicate you’re a risky borrower. And for most of them, that’s not a risk they’re willing to take. 

So, what do you do to get your credit score up and get ready for your home purchase? Let us help with these tips. 

1. Get a current copy of your credit report

Knowing is half the battle when it comes to your credit. If you know where you stand, then you know exactly how much work it’s going to take to make that good credit score happen for you. You're entitled to one free copy of your credit report every 12 months from each…

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With technology evolving more every day, it’s easier than ever for scammers to find their way to you and sell you on whatever they may be offering. Between phony telephone calls, get rich quick schemes and fake online listings, it’s hard to know what’s real and what’s not. Let us help you with identifying some of the most notable real estate hoaxes and how to avoid them. 

1. Bogus real estate investment seminars

Chattanooga’s real estate market is booming, and you want to get in on it! So, when someone advertises a  FREE real estate investment or house flipping seminar, that sounds like a great plan, right? Maybe. Many real estate “gurus” will get the public in the door with the promise of free information, but then it goes downhill from there.…

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Whether you’re selling your home or looking to buy a home, it’s important to know the reasons why the deal may not work out in order to plan in advance. We’ve made a list of our top five reasons so you can do what you can to avoid them! 

1. The home didn't appraise for the contract price

In a market like ours where there are so few homes available, it’s very possible for a buyer to get into a multiple offer situation. In that case, if you really want the home, it’s important to offer your highest and best. But what happens if the home doesn’t appraise for the agreed-upon contract price? In this case, the buyer might have to bring additional funds to the table, which might not be an option, or get a second opinion. Or the seller has to be…

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Building your dream home or renovating your current home is such an exciting decision! Now the next important decision on your list is to pick a builder. There are so many horror stories of bad craftsmanship and blown-out budgets, and we want to make sure that doesn't happen to you! Check out our list of the most common mistakes people make when choosing a builder, so you can avoid costly and stressful problems in the future. 

1. Assuming the cheapest quote is the best option 

You’ve heard the saying, “You get what you pay for,” right? If a quote seems too good to be true, it probably is. A low quote does not a good builder make, and that isn’t the type of risk you want to take for a place you plan for you and your family to spend the next…

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Moving can be incredibly stressful for people, so imagine how hard it is on pets! Although you have every idea of what’s going on during your moving process, your pet doesn’t. Unexpected activity in their home, the anxiety of car travel and getting used to a new environment can be overwhelming for them. Although it’s different for every pet, here is a list of tips that should help ease the process for your furry family members:

Make A Care Kit

Prepare an easily-accessible 'overnight kit' that has enough dog food, kitty litter, toys and grooming tools to sustain your pet and keep them comfortable during the first few days of unpacking. 

Packing Up 

Cats, in particular, aren’t big fans of change. You can help your cats (and skittish dogs)…

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Buying a home can be an overwhelming thought—especially for first time buyers. We’ve compiled a list of our most frequently asked buyer questions to help you get started on the home search! 

Q. What is the first step in the home buying process?

The first step in buying a home is to get pre-approved for a mortgage loan. The pre-approval process includes talking with a mortgage broker and providing them with information like pay stubs, bank statements, credit report, etc. to help them determine exactly home much of a home you can afford. This is important to do BEFORE you start the home search. If you start looking at homes but can’t get approved for a loan, it’s a waste of both yours and your realtor’s time. Not to mention, if you are approved…

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