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                 4 Hacks to Save Money When Buying a House
 
                               
Buying a house is likely to be the largest financial transaction of your life. In 2023 it’s getting more and more costly with home prices still rising and interest rates going up. That leads to buyers needing to cut costs and save money anywhere they can. Read on, then, to discover 4 hacks to save money when buying a house.

Hack # 1. Ask for What You Want

Our first hack to help you save money when buying a house is simple, but not always easy for many people to do. But it works, so you should muster up the courage to do it. And that is to ask for the things you want.  That is where your experienced agent comes in. An experienced agent knows the best ways to ask for the things you want. One of those ways may be to find out what the seller really wants besides the highest price. They may want something like a short time to lease back, needing to sell quicker due to a job transfer or to take some items like maybe some personal items that would normally stay such as some of the planted landscaping. If you can give the sellers something that they really would like to have they may be more open to a lower offer than some of your competition.
For the past few years across the country, the real estate market has been a strong seller’s market. As a result, sellers, because they have been in the driver’s seat, have been largely unwilling to make concessions and grant perks. But there is evidence that the market is cooling a bit, and sellers have lost some of their leverage. The upshot is that they are likely to be more willing to throw in some extras to sweeten the deal. So concesssions which might not have been given in the hotter markets may be allowed in a softening market.
So be sure to ask the sellers for what you want. This might be requesting that they leave larger items like appliances. Be sure, then, to ask the seller to leave behind things you may want, such as a refrigerator, washer and dryer, and patio furniture. If they agree to leave these items with the house, you won’t have to buy them when you move – which can save you a significant amount of money.  And may save them the space or chore of moving them.
Many sellers are downsizing and don’t want to have to move these items and then find a way to fit them into the new home’s space. If you know they are moving a far distance like out of state, the sellers may be willing to part with items they might normally take. The moving van may not fit everything they want to take or they could choose a smaller moving van if they leave items for the new buyers. With bidding wars less common, they may be willing to grant your requests. Ultimately, you’ll never know if you don’t ask. And it does not hurt to ask.

Hack # 2. Improve Your Credit Score

One of the best ways to save money is by improving your credit score. The better your credit score the better rate and better terms you will get on your mortgage. Lenders offer better rates to borrowers who are more financially responsible and less of a risk. 
Just a percentage point or two can save you money over the life of your loan. So get to work now improving your credit score for that best rate.

How to improve credit score fast gives one tips which goes a bit against the grain on adding new credit. Most credit gurus state you should certainly avoid taking out new lines of credit, pay down (or off) existing debt, and make payments on time.

Don’t neglect to check your credit report for errors. That can be more common than you may think. If you find any errors on your report that impact your score, get them cleared up before applying for a mortgage. Make sure that all 3 credit bureaus are corrected if all three reflect the same error.

Hack # 3. Try to Pay 20% Down

You can also work toward saving enough money to be able to make a 20% down payment. This too will allow you to save money when buying a house for a few reasons.

First, your monthly mortgage payments will be smaller, thus increasing your chances of paying off the loan early and saving a significant amount on interest. Second, a 20% down payment will allow you to access conventional loans, which typically often have better terms than, say, FHA loans. And, finally, you won’t have to pay for private mortgage insurance (PMI). PMI adds to the cost of your loan. What is PMI?

Even if you can’t manage to come up with a 20% down payment, paying as much down as possible will still save you some. Or the other factor is that it will give you some money for those unexpected expenses like having to buy a refrigerator or the cost of moving. For some guidance here, you can contact Floresville agent at (210) 216-7722.

Hack # 4. Buy During the Off Season or Buy a Fixer-Upper

There are two remaining tactics that will help you save money: buying during the off-season and / or buying a fixer-upper.

Historically, spring and early summer have been the hottest seasons in real estate. The weather is nice, people are house hunting, they are wanting to move in before school starts the new year, and those months can be the best months for sellers. During colder months, though, buyers are far fewer for several reasons such as the weather or the holiday season means buyers are busy with other activities and that means sellers may be willing to sell for less. This is especially the case if sellers couldn’t sell their house during the spring or has to list it during the winter when prices can be lower. Buying during the winter just may allow you to get a deal and save money. The only time when the sales are higher in the winter is a city with a heavy military presence. That is one of the times or the year when the military does PCSing. The military makes family change of stations at the end of the year.

The other option here to save money is, of course, buying a fixer-upper. This has the potential to get you the best deal and save you the most money. But you do have to be willing to invest some money and/or sweat equity to make the needed repairs and upgrades. So if you take this route, you must make sure you know exactly what you’re getting into and whether the savings will outweigh the repair costs. Many people may think they are open to a fixer upper but either don’t realize the cost or their lack of experience with repairs. So in the event you take that route do it with open eyes to the cost or time line

Work With an Experienced Floresville Agent
These are some effective ways to save money when buying a house, but there are more. And with home prices still rising, you need to be aware of all the strategies to save. An experienced Floresville agent can help you do just that, especially by bringing to bear her negotiating skills to get you the best deal possible. So if you’re considering buying a house in Floresville and want to save money, contact me today at (210) 216-7722.

 

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What my clients are saying  

Faye is the best!!!! She is always available and gives you all the information you need to know about the property. She is very knowledgeable and very professional. It doesn't matter what day you call her, she'll answer and will help you out. Thank you Faye!

 

~ Adam Arispe

She is the best, answered all my questions and concerns. Really professional. wouldn't go with anyone else. Thanks for all your help, you got me exactly what I and my family were looking for.

 

~ Sergio Decanini

I've had the pleasure of working with Faye Taylor for several years as her lending partner, and I can confidently say she is one of the most professional, dedicated, and client-focused realtors I’ve worked with. Faye consistently goes above and beyond for her buyers and sellers, ensuring they are informed, confident, and supported throughout the entire process. Her attention to detail, strong communication, and deep market knowledge make every transaction smooth and successful. It’s always a great experience partnering with Faye—she truly cares about her clients and it shows in everything she does.

 

~ Tom Romanello

Even after working with Faye, and buying a home, she continues to be there when I have a question or need info, even if she isn't getting anything out of it. Faye has been an exceptional help in finding the right property for us. She is so thorough and keeps us up to date on all changes in the area as far as pricing, etc. She never fails to give complete information on every property we ask about. Also, she is more than accommodating when we need to see a property, even in a rain storm.

 

~ Saundra Meyer

Ms.Taylor is the best agent. She is kind and cares about people she works with. I will recommend her any time.

 

~ AeSuk Sebastian

Fay is one of the hardest working and knowledgeable realtors you will find . It was a blessing that we found her. We dealt with a few realtors before finding fay and not one of them came close to having the knowledge that Fay has. She was amazing , she helps you to look at each situation. From every angle possible and was able to lay out almost every possible outcome for any situation that we dealt with. We ran into a lot of challenges when trying to purchase our home and it took a lot longer than anticipated because of the problems that arose. But Fay always knew what to do next and her advice was priceless. She never gave up no matter what challenge we face and worked harder than anyone I know. I swear sometimes I wondered when this woman slept because she was always working. I promise you will not find a better realtor . If your blessed with the chance to work with Fay don’t look anywhere else. She is everything and more than you could ask for.Thanks again Fay!

 

~ David Gruszka

We originally met Faye because she was representing the seller of the last house we bought. Two years later when we went to relocate, I immediately knew that I wanted Faye to help us sell our home. She was so professional and so very very knowledgeable in real estate - especially with Floresville and the surrounding areas with the first sale that it was without hesitation that we called her. I don’t think Faye ever let my calls go to VM, she always went the extra mile to make sure we understood every step of the process, made sure we knew all options we had and also that we were in charge. Having worked with her on both ends of a transaction, I can confidently say Faye is an incredible real estate agent and I would HIGHLY recommend her for any real estate transactions you have. We love Faye!

 

~ Heather Hammers

Faye Taylor helped my wife and I sell our first house. She made the whole process easy to understand and not overwhelming at all, as oppose to the other realtors we interviewed with. She was very a professional and kind lady and we are glad we had a chance to work with her. Highly recommended!

 

~ Jose Rios

We were so BLESSED to have found Faye as our Real Estate Agent. Moving from Idaho to Texas was a HUGE step for us and she made the process so easy. She listened to everything we wanted and found the PERFECT fit. She feels like family. She went above and beyond many times to do whatever was needed to make sure we were taken care of. Faye is very trustworthy. We felt confident through out the entire process. Less than two years later when we had to return to the west coast we never even considered another agent to see our home. Faye was the first person we called. If you are considering buying or selling a property FAYE is your lady. I recommend you call her, she will get the job done RIGHT.

 

~ Tonia O'Neil

If you're looking for real estate south of San Antonio, Faye knows the area inside and out! She goes above and beyond for her clients in her research, pre arranging & making the time to meet with you to show you the places, and she makes sure to take care of her clients during the whole process, as well as letting you know her honest thoughts on a property before you make any big decisions. Before we chose her, I did my research, and that's what many of her previous clients mentioned--and she was the same with us! I highly recommend Faye!

 

~ Jennifer Klanika

Because I live out of state, I selected Faye based on her reviews. I was looking for a local realtor based in Floresville to help my husband and I find a home there. After speaking with her on the phone I knew she was perfect. Through her connections she found us the home we wanted in a day and exactly where we wanted to live. From the very start to the very end she kept us in the loop and went out of her way to make everything run smoothly with this out of state transaction. Her contacts and connections are amazing. She makes things happen. Faye works hard for you and goes above and beyond to get you answers. I feel like I can call her a friend and I feel blessed that she was the one to handle this sale. We just closed on the house and we can't wait to meet Faye in person when we arrive next week. If you are looking for an agent with deep roots in the area of Floresville, Faye is absolutely the best!

 

~ Nancy Balogh

I have known Faye for many years. She was my realtor when I first started my home search many years ago. Faye has been a stalwart advocate for me in the entire process of buying and selling my home. She is honest and genuinely has the clients best interest at heart throughout the entire process. She is knowledgeable and thorough and readily available whenever needed. Though buying and selling a home can be a difficult undertaking Faye makes it easy. I recommend Faye to all of my friends and family because I trust her. In the future I would not hesitate to enlist her again for any real estate endeavor I might undertake. Thank you Faye!

 

~ Terry Lem

Faye listed our home for sale around Christmas time. The house had an offer in 2 weeks and we closed shortly after. She has the knowledge to guide you in all the aspects of selling. We feel very comfortable with her, like we’ve known her forever. She let us make all the decisions and answered all of our questions and concerns with great advice.

 

~ Richard Batson

Faye was very knowledgable on all aspects of buying and selling. She was available for questions anytime. Very friendly and knows a lot of people in the community.

 

~ Carol Schumaker

Excellent service. Caring and goes beyond expectation. Highly recommend.

 

~ S Virani

Faye was the 3rd Realtor I interviewed to help me sell land in Atascosa. She was the only one to research the utilities on site,, provide us the info and we ended up getting 3 offers, all asking price or over! Highly recommend her!

 

~ Erika Hizel

Faye made buying our home in Floresville so easy. She was very professional and went above and beyond to make sure we ended up with the perfect house for our needs. She was knowledgeable on all the aspects of purchasing a home and worked around our wild and busy schedule. We would definitely recommend her to anyone looking to purchase a home.

 

~ DeAnne Harris

We moved from San Diego to La Vernia. It’s difficult trying to find houses long distance but our agent put us in touch with Faye Taylor and she went way beyond the call of duty to make sure she found exactly what we needed. She kept in constant communication with us and sent us updates on new properties often. She is extremely knowledgeable in all areas of real estate. She would go out to properties we were interested in and get back to us immediately with her findings. When we met it felt like meeting an old friend. We still keep in touch. She’s great! We highly recommend her.

 

~ Christina Moreno-Marroquin

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