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Buyers Most Frequently Asked Questions
Include here questions you are often asked by prospective home buyers and the answers. See below for some examples.
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Finding the Right Home

What should I consider before purchasing

Even before starting to look at houses, find out what price house or
condominium you can afford. In general, you can afford to buy a home equal in
price to three times your gross annual income. More precisely, the price you can
afford to pay for a home will depend on six factors:
1.your income.
2.the amount of cash you have available for the down payment,
closing costs and cash reserves required by the lender.
3.your outstanding debts.
4.your credit history.
5.the type of mortgage you select.
6.current interest rates.
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Pricing

What is the difference between prices?

A seller's advertised or list price should be treated as only a rough estimate of what he or she would like to receive. Some deliberately overprice, while others ask for close to what they hope to get, and a few actually under price their houses with hopes that potential buyers will compete and overbid. The appraisal price is another estimate of value. The appraised price is how much money a professional appraiser estimates the home to be worth and usually is based on comps, or sales of comparable homes in the same area. Purchase price and sales price are the same thing. Both terms mean the amount of money the successful buyer actually pays out to purchase the home.
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Financing

Are there first time buyer discounts?

Numerous programs exist to help first time buyers purchase a home. A host of private lenders offer low-down payment loans. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development offers a variety of programs through FHA that require approximately 4 to 5 percent cash down. Loan limits vary depending on the county where the property is located. Fannie Mae has a program allowing people to buy with just 3 percent down payments. For details, borrowers should contact lenders who offer government-insured loans.
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Home Inspections

How can I find a home inspector?

For a list of licensed Real Estate inspectors in the state of Texas you can contact "SABOR" at 210 593-1200 or by mail at;
San Antonio Board of Realtors
9110 I.H. 10 West
San Antonio, TX 78230
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Closing Costs

Who pays closing costs?

Closing costs vary from one transaction to another and often total
in the thousands of dollars. They may be paid up front or added to the
buyer's loan balance. However, anxious sellers may offer to pay some or
all of the costs to induce a sale. Here are some basic rules of thumb
concerning closing costs: Historically, if one or more real estate
agents are involved, their commissions are traditionally based on the
sales price and paid by the seller at the time of closing. In recent
years, buyers have paid for agent services in some cases.
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