Theresa (Terri) Cucinotta

Tips To Successful Home Buying

Tip #1:  Research Is the Key to Discovery - Only by reading available materials, talking to friends and experts and spend time looking at different homes, schools and neighborhoods will you end up with your American dream.  Avoid the nightmares by learning how best to buy and maintain a home.

Tip #2:  Make a Plan and get Pre-Qualified - Developing a home buying plan can help you focus on the important factors and organize the entire process.   Loan pre-qualifying helps you determine the home price you can afford and presents you as a genuine prospect to the seller.  A lender typically uses the 28% formula (your monthly mortgage can not exceed your monthly income) in approving your loan.  Planning your actions and getting pre-qualified will keep you out of the panic mode and allow you to take advantage of opportunities.

Tip #3:  Create a Top 10 List of Amenities - When shopping for a home, list the features (fireplace, fenced-in yard, new appliances, etc.) that are most important to you in deciding on which home to buy.  Establishing your criteria early on will save time shopping for inappropriate homes and may keep you from buying a home on a whim.

Tip #4:  Sign a Contract that Protects you - Make sure that the contract you put on a house allows you to arrange financing, inspect the home and negotiate any problems that you may uncover.

When you choose Theresa (Terri) Cucinotta Broker to sell your home or help you purchase a new home, you will experience a whole new level of personal service.

She values community involvement and partners with Childrens Miracle Network and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

Averaging more production and more advanced industry education than other agents, RE/MAX Associates are truly The Real Estate Leaders? in quality customer service.

Outstanding Agents. Outstanding Results.®

Welcome to the home of real estate's most experienced and professional agents. Nobody in the world sells more real estate than RE/MAX®.

Averaging more production and more advanced industry education than other agents, RE/MAX Associates are truly "The Real Estate Leaders"® in quality customer service.

RE/MAX values community involvement at all levels of the organization, from individual Associates to corporate headquarters. Children's Miracle Network and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation are two prime beneficiaries.

Items Prospective Homeowners

Overlook When Researching a Home

Governmental authority: Is the house within the city or town you think it is? Don't be so sure. You may think you know, but if you're one street outside the boundary, you could be in for a shock. Different municipalities mean different laws, zoning, police and fire protection, water supply, trash and sewer services -- or none of the above. 

 Nearby zoning: A big-box mega-store or shopping center may be penciled in for that nice vacant corner lot down the block where kids are now playing ball. Buyers in both new and established subdivisions have been stunned to discover that a long-fallow commercially zoned lot will soon give way to a high-traffic, 24-hour-a-day retail site, with frequent truck visits and too-bright lights. Use a buyer's real estate agent and ask for details about nearby non-residential zoning and what could be built on it. Check with the city planning department or zoning board to determine what uses are allowable on the land.

Homeowner associations: Is there a neighborhood association? If so, is that desirable for you? There may be dues to pay and required memberships in social or athletic clubs. Also, the powers of these associations vary greatly. Make sure you get a full written set of the documents, rules and regulations. Again, talk with other residents to find out how strictly or laxly the rules are enforced and whether that fits your personal philosophy. The positive trade-offs are more consistent code compliance and a more cooperative atmosphere. But there may be restrictions you don't agree with.