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Using a rent to own contract can be a great way to purchase a house in Atlanta however there are some things you should watch out for. Learn more about the process in our latest post! Rent to own agreements are becoming increasingly popular with buyers in the Atlanta area. It allows people who may have had one small setback to finally find the path to homeownership. It can help people who are ready to lay down roots today but lack the funds for a traditional down payment at the current moment. It can help people in all stages and situations who want to buy a home right away in the Atlanta area! Below are a few things you should know and watch out for when using a rent to own contract to buy a house in Atlanta ! Contract Terms Not all contracts are the same. Youll need to look over all the details to make sure there isnt something in the contract that could come back to bite you. The downpayment monthly lease payments penalties and the amount going to your down payment on the home need to be laid out so there are no discrepancies. You might also be faced with an option fee or a percentage of the taxes and insurance costs. Repairs Some leases will require the tenant to handle small repairs and maintenance to the home before they technically the owner. While most tenants dont have a problem with this it is important to include in your budget when purchasing a property this way. Its important to make it clear who is responsible for what as to avoid any disagreement in the future. Default What happens if you are late on a payment? You dont want a small infraction to end up costing you the house you want and the money you have put into it. While your down payment wont be that of a loan it still wont be anything you will want to lose. Preferably you should be on good terms with the seller so drastic measures are avoided for small and infrequent mistakes. Contingencies When agreeing to buy via a rent to own agreement youll want to make sure you have an escape route should anything go wrong. If after you move in you discover there is a major problem with the house you wont want to have to be obligated to purchase the house or lose your money. Be sure there is a contingency in the contract allowing you to walk away if there is something fundamentally wrong with the house or the title. Losing Money If you have signed a contract but decide the house simply isnt right for you when it comes time to purchase you will be out the deposit money you paid upfront in addition to any rent overages you aid during the lease term. This can mean thousands of dollars the property owner will not need to give back to you. When going into a rent to own agreement ideally you want to be 100% certain it is the right property and that you will be able to buy it with a traditional loan in two years or when your negotiated lease term is up. If you are confident a rent to own contract can be a great way to buy a house in Atlanta . We only offer the best properties and rent to own situations for the clients we work with in the Atlanta area. Let us help you find the rent to own situation that is right for you! If you are interested in using a rent to own contract to buy a house in Atlanta reach out to us we are here to help! 678-337-1165 The post Things To Watch Out For When Using A Rent To Own Contract To Buy Your Home In Atlanta appeared first on Fresh Start Home Sales. via Blog Fresh Start Home Sales https://www.freshstarthomesales.com/things-to-watch-out-for-when-using-a-rent-to-own-contract-to-buy-your-home-in-atlanta/

In our latest post we will help you learn how to find rent to own homes in Atlanta ! Find out how easy it can be to become a homeowner no matter what your financial situation currently looks like! Using a rent to own agreement to buy a house is becoming increasingly popular for homebuyers in Atlanta . Finding the properties or understanding how it works can feel a bit overwhelming if you arent sure exactly what you are doing. Below we will offer some tips to find the best rent to own properties in Atlanta ! Work With A Pro Fresh Start Home Sales can help you find the best rent to own properties in the Atlanta area. Our specialty is helping good people buy homes. We know that one mistake or blemish on your credit can cost you for years to come. People are much more than what their credit report says! At Fresh Start Home Sales we work with buyers and sellers who are interested in the rent to own process. We understand the legalities and can help with the entire process from start to finish. Search The Classifieds Many homeowners will opt to place ads themselves both in print and online. Keep your eye on the many different sites out there people use to post items for sale. Sometimes a rent to own property can be found in the strangest of places! Present Your Case Maybe you have found the perfect property on the MLS but you just arent in a place to buy. One option would be to wait until the listing has expired then propose a rent to own scenario to the owner. Youll want to have your facts and figures in place showing them how they will be able to benefit by receiving their original asking price. Your Current Property Have you been renting the same house for a long time? While your landlord likely enjoys receiving your rent check each month they might like it even more if they are able to cash in their property ultimately getting their asking price. If you think your landlord would be receptive to the idea reach out to them! Have the numbers available to show them what the situation would look like from their point of view. Reluctant Landlords You can look for reluctant landlords by finding listings that have expired with the properties being rented out instead. These landlords had likely wanted to sell as opposed to dealing with tenants and continued maintenance. Unkempt Homes You know when you are driving down the street and you see a house with overgrown landscaping visible damage or signs it is vacant? Typically those owners arent as involved with owning the home and frankly may not care if they do or not. They may see your offer as an excellent way to sell a property that hadnt cared about in the first place. Most ownership information is public record. Once you know who the owners are approach them politely and professionally with a well thought out letter and proposal. Less Competition You are likely to find rent to own homes or homeowners willing to use a rent to own contract in areas with a slow or less competitive housing market. These sellers are looking for buyers and if you are able to present the right situation for them youll likely be able to find a seller you can work with. At Fresh Start Home Sales we will make the process simple for you! We can help you get a better understanding of the rent to own process so you will know exactly what to expect. Contact us today to find the best rent to own homes in Atlanta ! 678-337-1165 The post How To Find Rent To Own Homes In Atlanta appeared first on Fresh Start Home Sales. via Blog Fresh Start Home Sales https://www.freshstarthomesales.com/how-to-find-rent-to-own-homes-in-atlanta/

If you want to buy a house now but have something holding you back a rent to own situation might be the solution for you! Rent to own doesnt always get the best rap but when set up correctly it can provide you with tremendous benefits! In our latest post we will provide you with 7 reasons why you should rent to own your home in Atlanta ! Many people think that if they want to buy a house they will first have to save up a small fortune and make sure their credit looks perfect. While these things are both beneficial for future homeowners there is a way you can find secure and lock down the house you want today even if you arent quite ready on paper. Below we offer many reasons why a rent to own agreement can benefit you when purchasing your house in Atlanta ! #1 Time To Save Up When you agree to purchase via a rent to own contract youll have the time to save up as much as possible. Youll know exactly when the purchase will become official. giving you lots of time to prepare. You will be living in the house already it will feel like home and you wont feel like you are simply throwing your money away on rent each month. #2 A Chance To Try Before You Buy Imagine being able to live in the house for two years before committing to buy it? When you rent to own that opportunity can present itself! What if something goes wrong with the house? Youll want to make sure there isnt a penalty for changing your mind about purchasing. If needed include disclosures to protect yourself in case of discovered damage or other circumstances. #3 Youll Have Time To Fix Your Credit Rebuilding your credit can feel intimidating but with a plan of attack a lot can be accomplished in a couple of years. With a little work and some proper budgeting youll be able to raise your credit score allowing you to qualify for a loan. You might be surprised at how quickly your credit score will jump with just a few small changes. #4 Lock In Todays Price When you sign an agreement with a seller the purchase price will usually be agreed to upfront. This means that no matter what happens with the market the previously agreed upon price is what goes. While home values can always drop its more than likely the house will be worth more in a couple of years ultimately letting you purchase below market value. #5 Build Equity While You Rent While your rent may be higher in a rent to own agreement contracts are typically set up so that a portion of your rent will go toward the down payment on the home when it is time to buy outright. Keep in mind that if you default on the agreement the owner may be entitled to keep all of the rent paid in addition to the deposit and option fees. Entering into a rent to own agreement should only be done if you are 100% positive you will be able to hold up your end of the deal. #6 Confidence Boost Owning a home can do wonders for your self-confidence. Maybe it has been a goal of yours for a while but has always felt a bit out of reach. With a rent to own agreement youll be able to reach your goals faster than you think! Youll be able to take pride knowing you are well on your way to owning a home of your own. Contact us today to learn more abouthow to rent to own your home in Atlanta ! The post 6 Reasons Why You Should Rent To Own Your Home In Atlanta appeared first on Fresh Start Home Sales. via Blog Fresh Start Home Sales https://www.freshstarthomesales.com/6-reasons-why-you-should-rent-to-own-your-home-in-atlanta/

When selling your house things can get expensive quickly. That said there are some ways you can save money when trying to sell your house in Atlanta area. In our latest post we will explore ways you can save money on the sale of your house in the Georgia area! When selling your house in Atlanta every dollar counts. There are common things you can avoid as well as alternate selling methods that can ultimately leave you with more cash in the long run. Before you commit to a listing agreement learn more about what a direct sale can do for you! Keep reading to learn more! Sell Your House As-Is Selling yourhome without making repairs can save you a fortune. Many times homeowners will make repairs before putting their homes on the MLS in order to make it competitive with others on the market. Once a buyer is found additional repairs will often be negotiated after the appraisal and inspection process. From there repair costs can snowball often turning into expenses far greater than you had originally planned for. When you work with a cash buyer your property wont be subject to repair costs inspections or appraisals. You will be able to save money and sell the property without any additional costs to worry about. There are no surprise fees or hidden costs that you arent prepared for. In addition you wont ever be asked to clean up the property. We will handle everything from the cleaning to the repairs to the upgrades. With our simple selling process youll be able to sell youre Atlanta house without any work cost or hassle. Avoid Agents By skipping the middle-man you will be able to keep 6 of the final sale price in your pocket. A direct sale t Fresh Start Home Sales will never require you to pay any commissions or fees.There is never any sort of cost for our services. While some agents are worth their weight in goldfor others paying the commission can equate to thousands of dollars down the drain.When you choose to sell your home directly to a company such as Fresh Start Home Sales you will be able to save time and money while avoiding the runaround you might get when trying to sell your house the traditional way. Not all agents are bad but for some properties in Atlanta a fast and direct sale is the more efficient and profitable way to go. Sell Quickly For every day that you are listed as the owner you will incur costs. Utilities taxes insurance a mortgage and maintenance costs add up quickly. Depending on the property holding costs can add up to thousands of dollars. As any real estate investor will tell you the faster you are able to close the more money you will be able to keep in your pocket. Holding costs can quickly make your projected profits fade away into nothing. Listing your home on the MLS and successfully selling can take months. However when you sell your house directly to Fresh Start Home Sales we will likely be able to close in only a matter of days potentially saving you thousands of dollars along the way. Avoid Marketing amp; Photography Costs When selling your house the traditional way there will be advertising and marketingcosts that will go along with it. Its easy to tell a good listing from a bad one. Successful and eye-catching listings utilize professional photography and staging techniques. The house will need to be cleaned from top to bottom before any of this id done. If done by a professional even better. Using featured listings both in print and online can be expensive but will get your property in front of more potential buyers. Cleaning photography staging services and premium listings can be expensive and you will likely have to pay for advanced marketing out of your own pocket. By selling your house directly to a buyer who is ready to close right away youll be able to avoid all of the costs of advanced marketing keeping more cash in your pocket. Work With A Cash Buyer As you can see from the tips above selling your home directly to a professional buyer is a great way to save money and sell quickly. At Fresh Start Home Sales we have the funds in place to buy immediately so you never have to worry about the sale falling through due to a low-appraisal. From day one youll know how much youre getting and what day we can close. In fact we will close on your schedule so you can plan ahead and know what to expect. Selling a home in Atlanta doesnt have to feel challenging or expensive. By working with Fresh Start Home Sales selling a house in Atlanta has never been easier. We can help you save money on the sale of your Atlanta house! Get in touch with us today to learn more about how we can help you! 678-337-1165 The post 5 Ways To Save Money On The Sale Of Your Atlanta House appeared first on Fresh Start Home Sales. via Blog Fresh Start Home Sales https://www.freshstarthomesales.com/5-ways-to-save-money-on-the-sale-of-your-atlanta-house/

When you are thinking about selling your Atlanta house be sure you know the costs to hold the property. Keeping the property might be costing you more than you think. In our latest post we take a look at the most common holding costs homeowners face when trying to sell their homes in Atlanta . Holding costs can quickly eat away at the sale price you will eventually receive for the home. As long as your house is on the market there are a number of costs you will be responsible for. When selling your house to a private buyer who requires financing the process to sell yourAtlanta house can take months resulting in potentially thousands of dollars you will have to spend. However when you sell your house directly to Fresh Start Home Sales the holding costs can be eliminated on only a matter of days! Mortgage Payments The most obvious expense is the monthly mortgage payment. If you own a home youre not happy with or if you are paying a loan on an underperforming rental the hefty mortgage payment can be a lot to deal with each month. Your mortgage is undoubtedly at least a few hundred dollars a month. This is money you could be spending on a new property instead of the one thats no longer working for you. Utilities Whether or not you are living in the home while it is up for sale you will need to make sure the utilities are working for any potential buyer who may want to see the home. They will likely check out the light switches and the water pressure things that cant be done if you have turned off your utilities. Plus you cant really show a home in the dark! In addition inspectors will need the utilities on in order to do their job. While your bills might be lowered if you are no longer living in the home you should still plan on paying a few hundred dollars each month to your bills. Property Taxes Depending on where you live the taxes can add up fast. Peopleliving in states like New Jersey or California will see these costs eat away at their profits even faster due to high property taxes which must be paid. You are responsible for the taxes up until the closing date. When working with a traditional buyer the closing can take months dueto the lenders red-tape. When selling directly to Fresh Start Home Sales your financial obligations to the home can end in only a matter of days. Homeowners Insurance Homeowners insurance is a necessary evil every homeowner is faced with.Depending on your home and policy your insurance can help to quickly eat away at your profits.As long as you are listed as the owner you will be responsible for the insurancecosts. You should also keep in mind that insurance will be high for landlords as opposed to owner-occupied properties. Maintenance If you decide to list your Atlanta house your home will inevitably need maintenance work while it is listed on the MLS. A good rule of thumb is to set aside 1% of the properties value for routine maintenance and minor repairs each year. This way you arent blindsided by unexpected costs while trying to sell your home. And remember the faster you sell your house the less maintenance you will be responsible for. Repairs In addition to the regular repairs and maintenance you will likely face there is always a chance a major repair will be needed while you are waiting for a buyer. Maybe the roof starts leaking or the hot water heater blows. Things like this can be costly but should definitely be fixed in order to attract more buyers. You should always have an emergency fund set aside to deal with such expenses so you arent stuck with a damaged property while trying to sell it. When you sell directly to Fresh Start Home Sales all expenses are covered. Repairs and all we buy as-is. HOA Fees If the property is located in a private community youll be stuck with those homeowners association dues until you are no longer listed as the owner of the house. Depending on your community HOA fees can be high and some can change rapidly. Dont forget to factor these costs in when its time to sell. Things like this can often be overlooked when trying to sell the property. As a homeowner in Atlanta who wants to sell it important you keep all of your holding costs in mind. When they are all added up the amount can be thousands. This can severly alter how much you are making on the sale. When selling your house in Atlanta dont forget to account for the holding costs. And dont forget to find out how a direct sale of your property will benefit you! To help better understand the costs to hold a property in Atlanta get in touch with Fresh Start Home Sales today! 678-337-1165 The post How To Calculate The Costs To Hold A Property In Atlanta appeared first on Fresh Start Home Sales. via Blog Fresh Start Home Sales https://www.freshstarthomesales.com/how-to-calculate-the-costs-to-hold-a-property-in-atlanta/

When reviewing offers for your Atlanta property it important that you know how to correctly run the numbers. Just because an offer looks good on paper doesnt mean it is the best choice for you. Learn more about how to crunch the numbers in our latest post! While the highest offer might appear to be the best this isnt always the case. There are many numbers you will need to factor in when reviewing offers for your Atlanta house. Below we discuss some of the costs you may face when selling yourhome in the Atlanta area. Closing Costs With a traditional sale to a private buyer a seller can expect to pay about 2-5% of the final sale price in closing costs. While this varies by the transaction youll want to budget at least 5% to closing costs to ensure you are covered. You dont want to be surprised at the closing table owing more than you had planned for. Repairs While reviewing offers for your Atlanta house youll want to consider all of the costs you encountered making repairs and fixing it up.Repairs arent always cheap and you will likely have to face them before putting your Atlanta property on the MLS. In addition your potential buyer will likely attempt to negotiate even more repairs once the inspection has been completed. Spending money on a house you ultimately want to sell can be extremely frustrating with a direct sale youll be able to keep that cash in your pocket. Other Contingencies There are all kinds of contingencies a buyer might put in their contract. Having a contingency protects the buyer should something go wrong. If there is a problem with the property they will be able to back out of the sale without any penalty. Some common contingencies include things like not being able to sell their current house in time. If their lender backs out of the deal. And if the inspection comes back with a significant number of repairs that need to be made. Timeline How fast will your buyer be able to close? As any property investor will tell you the longer you hold on to a property the more it will end up costing you. Holding costs can add up quickly eating into your profits. While the property in on the market youll have to continue paying for things such as homeowners insurance property taxes utility bills possibly a mortgage and routine maintenance on the property. You are responsible for these items up until the day of closing. If your house sits on the market for a while or if your sale falls through you could find yourself stuck paying these costs for the next several months. Risk When reviewing offers youll want to calculate the risk involved in the sale. If your buyer is using financing youll want to beprepared just in case things fall through. Often times a lender will back out of the deal if a property appraises too low. Sales fall through every day and youll want to be prepared if yours does too. If youre working with a buyer who is using financing make sure they are pre-approved not just pre-qualified. If you choose to sell to a cash buyer your risk of things falling through drops significantly. Cash buyers will have the money ready to go before making an offer for your property. This will save you days or even weeks as opposed to dealing with lender requirements. When you sell directly you wont have to deal with appraisals inspections repairs or any red-tape from a lender. If you choose to work with a local {market_city] real estate agent youll have to commit to a listing agreement. Once you have entered into this agreement your agent will be entitled to their commission or at least a part of it no matter how the house sells. However if you are able to find a reputable buyer such as Fresh Start Home Sales before hiring a Atlanta agent youll be able to instantly save on commission costs. This can be upwards of 6% of the final sale price that youll be able to keep in your pocket. This could amount to thousands of dollars you will e able to use for your next property should you so desire. Appliancesand Fixtures Sometimes when selling a house the furniture fixtures and appliances will all come into play. Does your potential buyer want to keep any of these items or will you be taking everything with you? If you are leaving any items with the new buyers youll want to factor in how much it will cost you to replace these items. Having to replace appliances fixtures and other items in your new home can cost a fortune. Make sure you are prepared for these replacement costs before accepting an offer for your Atlanta property. We can help you know what to look for when reviewing offers for your Atlanta property. Get in touch with us today! 678-337-1165 The post How To Really Run The Numbers When Reviewing Offers For Your Atlanta House appeared first on Fresh Start Home Sales. via Blog Fresh Start Home Sales https://www.freshstarthomesales.com/how-to-really-run-the-numbers-when-reviewing-offers-for-your-atlanta-house/

There are many things to consider when choosing the right offer for your property. The best offer may not be the highest. In our latest post we will offer tips to help you choose the best offer for your Atlanta house. Having multiple offers or different options when it comes to selling is a dream come true! Every seller would love the problem of trying to decide between multiple offers. However youll want to employ some strategy when deciding which offer to pick. Just because the offer looks good on paper doesnt mean its the right one. Keep reading to learn more about some things to consider when deciding which offer to accept for your house in Atlanta . Tip #1 The Actual Profits When looking at an offer on paper its important to consider all of the costs you will incur and deduct them from that offer price. This will give you a good idea of where you stand financially.A few things you might want to think about are your closing costs which will run about 2-5%. If you are leaving appliances or furniture behind when you move these items may need to be replaced which is an additional cost you will encounter after the sale. You should also factor in the cost of repairs needed in order to sell. You will likely make some repairs upfront and a few more after the inspection has been completed. Keep in mind if you sell your house directly to Fresh Start Home Sales there are no repair or closing costs to worry about. Tip #2 How Theyre Buying Some buyers will pay in cash without requiring a loan while others will need to talk to the banks about financing.Cash buyers are often favoredby sellers due to the faster closing speed and less red-tape. The offer is much more likely to go through as you are not bound by the results of an appraisal. Banks pull funding all the time because houses dont appraise high enough. If your buyer is using bank financing to acquire the home make sure they have been pre-approved so youdont have to wait even longer for that to occur. Please note that being pre-qualified is different than being pre-approved. With a direct sale to Fresh Start Home Sales you wont have to worry about any hassles or waiting. The funds are available to purchase your Atlanta house outright without any hassles or waiting. Our process is extremely simple and straightforward with no red-tape to worry about. Tip #3 The Timeline How quickly can the closing take place? The faster you eliminate your holding costs the more cash you will be able to put in your pocket. Ask any investor and they will tell you that once you have decided to sell the longer you end up holding a house the more it is costing you. Your costs of ownership add up each month. Utility bills property taxes homeowners insurance standard repairs and maintenance are a few of the costs you will end up paying until the home closes. Once you add up all of the costs you will be facing month after month your total could be in the thousands. By selling your house directly to Fresh Start Home Sales youll be able to close quickly and eliminate your holding costs right away. Tip #4 Buyer Intent Do you want to make sure your home goes to a good home? Many people feel an attachment to their property and with good reason. It has likely been the place of many memories and laughs. Whenselling your Atlanta home when you find a buyer who will love the home as much as you do youll have the peace of mind needed in order to sell confidently.When deciding which offer to accept for your Atlanta house learn more about the people who want to buy and why. What are their plans for the home? Are they planning to live there and love it as you did or do they want to tear the property down for something better? Remember it is never ok to discriminate but you do have the right to decide which offer is right for you! When selling your Atlanta house its nice to have the peace of mind in knowing that the new owner will love the property as much as you do. When choosing the best offer for your Atlanta house its important to consider more than just the price. The selling timeline method of purchase and intent of your potential buyer can all have an impact on which offer you ultimately choose. To learn more about the costs and alternate ways you can sell your house in the Atlanta area feel free to reach out to us at any time. Do you want to learn more about how to choose the best offer for your Atlanta house? Wed love to help you run the numbers! Get in touch today! 678-337-1165 The post 4 Tips To Help You Choose The Best Offer For Your Atlanta House appeared first on Fresh Start Home Sales. via Blog Fresh Start Home Sales https://www.freshstarthomesales.com/4-tips-to-help-you-choose-the-best-offer-for-your-atlanta-house/

Youre on the hunt for the home of your dreams but you worry about paying too much. What can be negotiated down in price and what cant? How do you ask for a lower price without insulting the sellers and they stop negotiating with you? How do you buy a house without overpaying? Whether youre looking to purchase your first house are planning to upgrade or need to downsize its easy for anyone to get caught in the trap of paying too much for a home. Here are some tips to help you buy your dream house without overpaying for it: REMOVE EMOTION Once youre inside looking at a potential home its really easy to get swept up in the emotion of the process. Whether its that gorgeous window seat where you envision reading on the weekends with a cup of coffee or that fenced-in backyard where your dog and kids can play whatever the reason youve connected with a home the feeling is swift and powerful. But dont let those dreams of the future cloud your judgment today. Take a step back and try to evaluate the home on all fronts good and bad before making a decision. Your love for that eat-in kitchen may overshadow the fact that the plumbing is old and bad but jumping to make a quick offer on emotion could cost you. TAKE YOUR TIME Deciding to make a move is an exciting thing. Whether your move is motivated by the necessity of a job change or you just want to find a different house the desire to find a place and get moved in can be strong. To avoid making hasty decisions youll regret later make a rule that you wont put an offer in on a house until youve had at least 24 hours to think about it. In that time carefully go over disclosure statements and any notes or photos you took during your showing. This time distance between the showing and your offer hopefully gives you a chance to see any flaws more clearly and make a more level-headed decision. HIRE A BUYERS AGENT Having a professional to point out the good and bad in any homes youre buying counsel you on what you need to negotiate for and advocate for you at the bargaining table can go a long way toward buying a house without overpaying. Your buyers agent can help you sort out your wants from your needs and advise you on whether the sellers are asking too much or if your attempting to negotiate are likely to go nowhere. A buyers agent is especially invaluable if youre a first-time homebuyer or looking to purchase in an entirely new city than youve lived in before. TAKE NOTES Your memory of a house youve viewed especially if it had one or two features that you really loved is likely to be foggy in parts as soon as you sit down to discuss the pros and cons. Without notes and data you could have trouble remembering that the floor in the kitchen was slightly slanted or that the bathroom fixtures were outdated. When you go to view a house take a notebook pen and a camera or smartphone with you. Take photos of any defects you see or features you like and write down notes in every room. These notes will become invaluable when making your pro and con lists for final decisions. Use your lists when deciding between properties deciding whether to make an offer and what items to factor into a request for a price reduction. While buying a house without overpaying can seem challenging at first taking your time stepping back to evaluate the facts of each property and getting a trusted team on your side can go a long way. If you need a team to help you buy a house without overpaying contact us at 678-337-1165 today! The post How To Buy A Atlanta House Without Over Paying appeared first on Fresh Start Home Sales. via Blog Fresh Start Home Sales https://www.freshstarthomesales.com/how-to-buy-a-atlanta-house-without-overpaying/

To classify your property as Section 8 housing you must participate in an annual housing authority inspection. Know what to look for in our latest post! Understanding the ins and outs of Section 8 housing can be difficult. As a landlord owning a Section 8 property can help ensure little vacancy. Below we answer some of the most common questions about the process as well as ways to help you prepare for the inspection! Common Questions About The Housing Authority Inspection Process What Is A Housing Authority Inspection? When you decide to make your property available to renters with Section 8 vouchers you will need to have your property inspected before anyone moving in. The house will then be subject to inspection each year or if there are any complaints from either the tenant or landlord about the condition of the home. The inspector will take an in-depth look at the property both inside and out. All kinds of things are looked at from the electrical plumbing and heating to items such as chipped paint and faulty smoke alarms. Pest problems doors without deadbolts and windows without locks can all cause you to quickly fail your inspection. Its essential to have a checklist so you can make sure everything is in order before the inspector shows up. What Kind Of Property Will Qualify? Per Chapter 10 of the of the Housing Choice Voucher Guidebook the home types permitted for Section 8 assistance include single-family homes multi-family homes manufactured homes congregate housing single room occupancy shared housing and group residences. How Much Will The Inspection Cost? There is no cost for the inspection however you should plan to spend for a small number of preventative repairs made beforehand. What Does The Inspection Look For? Before any property can be considered for low-income housing it will need to comply with basic housing quality standards (HQS) to provide decent safe and sanitary housing. The HQS contains 13 separate areas or performance requirements. These include: Sanitary facilities The facilities must all be in working order and in a separate room. There must be hot and cold water and a working shower or tub. Food preparation and refuse disposal The unit must have a safe and sanitary place to store prepare and serve food. There must be a working stove refrigerator hot and cold water and a way to properly dispose of food waste. Space and security The unit needs to be safe and secure for the tenants. There must be a living room kitchen and bathroom at a minimum. There must be at least one bedroom or sleeping room for every two adults residing in the home. Exterior doors and windows must all be lockable. Thermal environment There must be heat provided to each room as necessary. There is no requirement for A/C however if a system is present it must be in working order. Illumination and electricity Each room must be supplied with adequate natural or artificial light to permit regular activity. There must be sufficient electrical sources so tenants can use appliances etc. The electrical fixtures and wiring must not pose any fire hazard. Structure and materials The construction of the home must be free of any defects and provide a safe and secure environment for the tenants. There must not be any leaking sagging large holes or buckling. Manufactured homes must be properly tied down. Interior air quality The air in the unit must not pose any harm to the tenant and be free of carbon monoxide sewer gas and other pollutants. There must be proper ventilationand air circulation. Sleeping rooms must have at least one window. Water supply Clean uncontaminated water must be distributed to all fixtures within the home. There must be proper drainage and sewer facilities. Lead-basedpaint Properties built before 1978 will be visually inspected for deteriorated paint surfaces inside outside and in common areas in which tenants must pass through to gain access to their unit. Access There must be private access with alternate access in care of afire. The emergency exit must not be blocked. Site and neighborhood The site and neighborhood must be reasonably free of disturbance. There cannot be any dangers to the health safety and general welfare of the occupants. Sanitary conditions The must not be any pest rodent or vermin infestation. Smoke detectors Working smoke detectors must be located on each level of the unit. The above is only an abridged list of what is required. Before your inspection is completed be sure to review the full checklist to ensure you are in compliance. What If I Fail? Landlords fail their inspections quite regularly. Things that may seem small or that go unnoticed can quickly cause you to fail your inspection. Chipped paint a small leak in a faucet or cracked outlet covers have all been known to cause a failing grade. If you fail your first inspection you will be given time to make the repairs before the property is reinspected. To learn more about purchasing and preparing your property for a housing authority inspection get in touch! We would love to answer any questions you have. 678-337-1165 The post Preparing Your Atlanta Rental Property For A Housing Authority Inspection appeared first on Fresh Start Home Sales. via Blog Fresh Start Home Sales https://www.freshstarthomesales.com/preparing-your-atlanta-rental-property-for-a-housing-authority-inspection/

The decision to buy a new home has been made and now youre eager to get house-hunting. But before you start scouring the local listings and scheduling showings you need to work out how to get a loan in Atlanta . From pre-approval to closing heres what you need to know to get a loan in Atlanta : CHECK YOUR CREDIT SCORES Before you ever approach a lender you need to get an idea of how your financial situation may position you in the eyes of the ones giving out mortgages. Check your credit score (You can get a free credit report annually from each of the three major credit reporting groups Experian Equifax and TransUnion) and see where you stand today. If youve got a credit score above 720 youre in good shape to qualify for a variety of mortgages and decent interest rates. Knowing your credit scores ahead of time helps you better prepare for the types of loans amounts and interest rates you can expect to be offered by lenders. GATHER YOUR DOCUMENTS Regardless of whether youre going with a traditional bank a credit union or another mortgage lender youll need to provide a great deal of financial information when applying for your loan. Some key documents to make sure you have handy are: Pay stubs Tax returns W-2 forms Bank account statements Other mortgage statements Investment statements Photo ID Social Security number All of this documentation will be provided to your lender during the pre-approval process and may need to be updated during the final mortgage approval process. GET PRE-QUALIFIED This is the first step in the mortgaging process. It doesnt actually require strict proof of income but it is a good starting point when searching for a home. In the pre-qualification process you will be interviewed by the lender about your income assets and expenses. Although pre-qualification is not an official process and doesnt actually indicate that you will be approved for a loan when the time comes it helps you get a better idea of how much loan you can afford when the time comes. This information can direct you toward homes in your price range and narrow your search leading to a faster and less frustrating process for you. SECURE PRE-APPROVAL The final step before you finally get a loan in Atlanta is pre-approval. Pre-approval is not a mandatory part of the process but it is one that can help put your mind and the sellers minds at ease. In securing pre-approval you will provide all that important documentation proof of income proof of assets and identifying information to the lender. The lender then pulls your credit report and uses all available information to make a determination on whether you qualify how much of a loan you qualify for and at what interest rate. With this information in hand you can more confidently put a solid offer down on that home you fell in love with getting one step closer to move-in day. GET COMMITMENT Once youve gotten pre-approval and have an accepted offer on a home your lender will assess the value of the property you intend to purchase. With all this information in hand the lender then issues official commitment to lend you a certain amount of money at a specific interest rate. This determination will come in one of four forms: Approved Approved with Conditions Suspended or Denied. If you have pre-approval the likelihood that you will receive a Suspended or Denied determination is much lower. When you receive this approval youre well on the road to final closing day and your new home! It can be stressful to get a loan in Atlanta but with the help of our trusted experienced agents the process can be easier. Let us be your partners in finding your dream home! Contact us at 678-337-1165 today! The post Getting Pre-Approved: How To Get A Loan In Atlanta appeared first on Fresh Start Home Sales. via Blog Fresh Start Home Sales https://www.freshstarthomesales.com/getting-pre-approved-how-to-get-a-loan-in-atlanta/