Preferred Vendors
Closing Attorney
-
Campbell & Brannon, LLC – M. Scott Gazlay
- 770-771-5710
- sgazlay@cb.law
- www.campbellandbrannon.com
Mortgage Lender
- Movement Mortgage – John Bohannon
- 770-480-8210
- john.bohannon@movement.com
- https://movement.com
Home Warranty
- Choice Home Warranty – Gene Roberts
- 404-550-3898
Inspections
Contact Us
Insurance
- Stringer Insurance Agency – Clark Pierce
- 706-864-3515
- www.stringerinsuranceagency.com
Landscaping
- Clean Cut Landscaping – Tyler Dibble
- 706-973-705
Pest Control
- Pest Work Solutions – Shane Hurst
- 678-971-1191
- www.pestworksolutions.com
Handyman
- Handyman for Achasta – Jimmy
- 404-556-0397

MORTGAGE BASICS
8 Steps to Home Ownership
- SET A BUDGET & START A HOME FUND
Determine how much you can realistically afford to pay toward a mortgage each month. Other than what you spend on rent, write down everything you spend money on each month. These are your non-housing expenses. Next, subtract your non-housing expenses from your net take-home pay. Your goal would be to stay well under this number. The further your mortgage payment falls below this number, the safer you’ll be.
2. CHECK YOUR CREDIT REPORTS & SCORES
Your credit score can make or break your chances of getting a mortgage loan. Make sure there aren’t any errors or inaccuracies. If there are, dispute them ASAP. When looking at your FICO score, you’ll probably need a score of at least 640 to qualify for a mortgage loan.
3. SELECT THE BEST TYPE OF MORTGAGE LOAN FOR YOU
FHA. Conventional. ARM. Fixed-rate…there are many choices with different rates, fees and time periods. Determine how long you might be living in the home and select a term that would best fit that need. A longer stay might warrant a fixed rate vs. an adjustable rate might suit a shorter stay better.
Do you want to make a larger down payment of 10% on a conventional loan, and pay a smaller amount of mortgage insurance each month? Or … do you want to make a smaller down payment of 3.5% for an FHA loan, and pay more in mortgage insurance every month? Ultimately a mortgage expert can help you decide what will be best for your situation.
4. GET PRE-APPROVED & START SHOPPING
A lender will determine whether or not you’re qualified for a loan, and how much the lender is willing to give you. Once this is determined you will receive a letter informing you what you have been pre-approved for and this will help you decide what price range of homes you should be looking at.
5. MAKE AN OFFER
When you’ve found a house that meets all your wants and needs, you’re ready to make an offer! Your offer should be based on comparable sales of similar homes that have sold in the same area recently. Negotiations will begin and an agreement will be reached.
6. INSPECTIONS
After an offer is accepted, you will hire a home inspector. An inspection is a non-invasive examination of the house, including the visible portions of the roof, foundation, plumbing, electrical system, & heating /cooling system. This is done entirely for your benefit and gives you a better picture of a home’s true condition.
7. APPRAISAL
A mortgage lender has a lot at stake in this investment, therefore they want to make sure the home is worth the amount that you agreed to pay. The lender will have the home appraised to determine its current market value. If the lender determines the home is worth less than the agreed price, the lender might withhold financing.
8. CLOSING
When the property is transferred from the seller to the buyer, you are said to have “closed escrow.” Closing involves a lot of paperwork & the distribution of funds. The seller gets paid, if applicable, agents receive their commissions, and the lender fees will be paid. Make sure you have saved up enough money to cover your closing costs. Your lender will give you a written estimate of these costs in advance, always save over that estimated amount. Lastly you will walk away with the keys to your new house.





POSSIBLE ASSOCIATED COSTS
Buying a Home
EXPENSE #1
Down Payment
Many first time home buyers believe they have to put 20 percent down on a home. But that’s far from true. There are loan programs that let you buy with even less than 6 percent down.
EXPENSE #2
Monthly Mortgage Payment
This amount will vary widely, depending on the sale price of your home, the amount of your down payment, mortgage rates, and what fees are included in your payment.
EXPENSE #3
Closing Costs
Buyers closing costs typically add up to about 2% to 5% of the home’s purchase price. Closing costs depend on your unique transaction. Sometimes closing costs can be negotiated. However, as a buyer in today’s market, you’ll typically be expected to cover the closing costs.
EXPENSE #4
Home Inspections
According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, a typical home inspection costs $300 to $500, depending on the area and size of the home. In almost all cases, it’s well worth it for a buyer to perform an inspection.
EXPENSE #5
Home Renovations
It is very rare to purchase a home and have it perfectly move-in ready. Be sure to have money set aside for some painting and appliances.
EXPENSE #6
Property Taxes
Property taxes will depend on the state and county where your home is. Real estate property taxes are paid annually and usually between 0% and 2.5% of your home price
EXPENSE #7
Insurance
HOME OWNERS INSURANCE- Homeowners insurance is designed to help cover costs if any substantial damage happens to your home.
MORTGAGE INSURANCE- If you have put down less than 20% down payment, lenders will charge you mortgage insurance as a way to minimizing the risk to them.
Selling a Home
EXPENSE #1
Updates to Prepare for Sale
Most homes need to do a fresh coat of paint and update some things to get their home in tip top shape for sale
EXPENSE #2
Closing Costs
Closing costs for sellers can reach 8% to 10% of the sale price of the home.
EXPENSE #3
Realtor Commissions
Typically, the seller pays the real estate agent commissions which usually total between 4 and 6%.
EXPENSE #4
Title Fees
These are the taxes you’ll pay when the title for the home changes from you to your buyer at closing.
EXPENSE #5
Owner’s Title Insurance
protects the new owner from issues with your home’s title. This provides peace of mind to the future owner from the financial burden should there be a dispute over the property or because of outstanding liens from contractors, creditors, or the government.
EXPENSE #6
Closing Fees
Closing fees cover managing the closing. This includes recording, signing and holding all funds. Escrow providers charge either a flat fee typically $500-$2000 depending on where you live, or 1% of the home sale price.
EXPENSE #7
Prorated Property Taxes
When selling a home, you are responsible for prorated property taxes due up to the date of the sale, at which point the buyer will take over.
EXPENSE #8
HOA fees
If you live in a neighborhood with HOA costs, you will need to make sure you’ve paid up to the close date.
Mortgage Terms
Amortization
Amortization is an accounting technique used to periodically lower the book value of a loan or intangible asset over a set period of time.
Appraisal
An appraisal is a valuation of property, such as real estate, a business, collectible, or an antique, by the estimate of an authorized person.
Certificate of Title
A certificate of title is a state or municipal-issued document that identifies the owner or owners of personal or real property.
Debt-to-Income Ratio (DTI)
The debt-to-income (DTI) ratio is a personal finance measure that compares an individual’s monthly debt payment to his or her monthly gross income.
Equity
Equity is the amount of money that would be returned to a company’s shareholders if all of the assets were liquidated and all of the company’s debt was paid off.
Escrow
Escrow is a legal concept describing a financial instrument whereby an asset or escrow money is held by a third party on behalf of two other parties that are in the process of completing a transaction.
Good Faith Estimate
A disclosure from your lender that outlines all of the costs associated in obtaining a mortgage.
Hazard insurance (Homeowner’s insurance)
Hazard insurance is coverage that protects a property owner against damage caused by fires, severe storms, earthquakes, or other natural events.
Mortgage Rate Lock
A mortgage rate lock is an agreement between a borrower and a lender that allows the borrower to lock in the interest rate on a mortgage for a specified time period at the prevailing market interest rate.
Lien
A lien is a legal right granted by the owner of property, by a law or otherwise acquired by a creditor. A lien serves to guarantee an underlying obligation, such as the repayment of a loan.
Loan-to-Value Ratio (LTV)
The loan-to-value (LTV) ratio is an assessment of lending risk that financial institutions and other lenders examine before approving a mortgage.
Mortgage Insurance
Mortgage Insurance is an insurance policy which compensates lenders or investors for losses due to the default of a mortgage loan.
Term
Period over which a loan agreement is forcible to be collected. Also, this includes the before or at the end of which the loan should either be repaid or renegotiated for another term amount.
Title insurance
Title insurance is a form of indemnity insurance that protects the holder from financial loss sustained from defects in a title to a property.
Truth-in-Lending Act (TIL)
The Truth in Lending Act (TILA) is a federal law enacted in 1968 to help protect consumers in their dealings with lenders and creditors.




The Do’s and Don’ts When Buying a Home
DO
Do Get Pre-approved
Pre-approval helps to make sure you are shopping for homes in the right price range and helps to speed along the process when you find the home of your dreams and you want to place an offer.
Do
DO Check Your Credit Report
You may be surprised to find unknown credit inquiries. Which can negatively impact your credit score. It’s best to get this cleaned up before applying for a home loan.
DON’T
DON’T change jobs.
Most investors require 30 full days of paystubs or payment history, so changing jobs no matter how much better the salary may be will delay closing until the 30-day paperwork is obtained.
DO
DO Continue Paying Credit Cards and Any Other Debt
Paying or not paying your credit card bills regularly and staying current while paying down debt affects your FICO score. Your FICO score is key to getting the best interest rate and securing the best loan for your home.
DON’T
DON’T Make Any Major Purchases
You do not want to make any major purchases with any credit cards or loan until after you have closed on the home purchase. These purchases can absolutely delay closing. If you have any questions contact your mortgage lender prior to making a purchase.
SAY HELLO,
Contact Us


Achasta #1 Real Estate Broker
Nicole Amstutz
Work with Achasta’s #1 Real Estate Broker. Nicole Amstutz – Broker of Gold Peach Realty. Award-winning Top 10 Highest Producing Broker In North Georgia. Call (770) 283-1223