5 Simple Steps To Virtually Guarantee Success When Purchasing Your New Home 1. Know your DTI (that's code for "buying power") First, you’ll need to determine your debt-to-income (DTI) ratio, which is just what it sounds like — your monthly expenses versus your monthly cash intake. This includes all the bills you have to pay, divided by your gross monthly income. When you consider your debts, include any recurring bills, such as student loans, car payments, child support payments — anything that you pay on a monthly basis. That number needs to be 45% of your gross monthly income. Once you have that, you can back into a price range that fits your monthly payment goals and how much money you have to close. But, remember that’s the “outside” number you can spend — and doesn’t mean that you necessarily should. I know all this sounds complicated, but don't worry, we do all the math for you. It's part of the free service that we provide. 2. Get Pre-qualified (for FREE) Before you even start looking at homes, you should shop around for mortgage lenders. This is another free service we offer. We routinely help buyers shop around for lenders. Our experience working with hundreds of buyers gives us insight as to which lenders are perfect for each specific need. Depending upon the area you're looking in and your credit score, you may also qualify for 100% financing up to a $400,000 loan. Many people don't know that the best lenders usually have dozens of incredible loan programs. It’s good to get it if you can, especially as a first-time homebuyer. 3. Find a Real Estate Agent You Can Trust While you might want to do some looking on your own, whether you’re browsing online or attending open houses, it’s in your best interest to find a trusted real estate agent. This is probably the biggest financial decision of your life up to this point. Don’t take it lightly; shop full-time agents. An agent will be your ally in sizing up the pros and cons of various homes and can even offer interior design advice. A good agent will walk you through the homebuying process linearly, before taking you to visit houses. They’ll help you understand what you can afford in what neighborhoods.  They do far more than scout out prospective homes. They are the ones “on your side” watching out for your best interest. We offer complimentary, no-obligation consultations even if you are many months away from your target move date. At the end of our meeting, you get to take home a book that clearly shows you all the timelines and answers all of the frequently asked questions that smart buyers have. 4. Choose the right neighborhood For some homebuyers, this step can be overwhelming. That’s why it’s smart to ask your real estate agent to weigh in. They often can offer advice on subjects that you might not have considered, such as whether the home is in the right school district for you or if it’s been on the market a while (and therefore might have a potentially anxious seller who’s ready to deal). But make sure to do your own looking, too, by checking out homes online and visiting them to get a better sense of your own tastes and needs.  As with any decision-making process, the more data you have, the less likely you are to make mistakes. So use every tool at your disposal to effectively hunt for the homes in your price range. Create a custom search HERE. 5. Prepare to Negotiate and Win in a Bidding War Ask your realtor what solutions they have to win a bidding war that does not include raising the purchase price. Here are some very easy ones: Write a personal letter along with the offer. Ask the lender to personally call the listing agent. Have a conversation with the listing agent to reveal the seller's needs. We have 11 more highly effective negotiation techniques that can help you win a bidding war, including how to beat cash offers even if you are financing 100% of the purchase price. For a FREE no-obligation buyer consultation, you may call us at (817) 928-4300 or email chandler@chandlercrouch.net

  Click Here for Crime Rate Map Fort Worth Tx Example of crime map   Buying a house can be stressful, especially if you don't know the area well. Before investing a ton of money in a house, it is smart to do a little research about the neighborhood you are planning to live in. Feeling safe in your home is a foundational requirement for anyone looking to find a place to live. One of the things that you want to look at is the crime rate of the area.  You also need to understand whether a specific crime is known in the area or just a one-time mere coincidence.Here is a video guide Chandler has prepared to help you know if a neighborhood you are interested in is the kind of home you want to live in. You can navigate, filter, and get the exact information that you need to search the area you are interested in.