Home: It’s where you spend most of your time and where you’ll have first’s, last’s and experience some of life’s most significant moments.Keeping all this in mind, finding the perfect place to spend your life can seem like an impossible task. Luckily, it doesn’t have to be.  If you’re on the search for your dream home in Kansas City, the experts at Cami Jones Collaborative know the city better than most. Here are a few tips for making the hunt as painless as possible.

Finding Your Dream Home in Kansas City

Find an Agent that Understands Your Wants and Needs

Find an agent that makes your wants and needs a priority. This person should make the house-hunting process easy for you by taking your budget, style, and other preferences into consideration. You have a vision in mind and finding an agent who can see that vision as clearly as you do will yield great results.

Find the Right Area

Anytime you’re looking at homes to buy; it’s crucial to do your homework. Find out what is most important to you in terms of neighborhood and which area of the city you want to live in.Prefer a location with a lot of character? You may want to look in a smaller neighborhood just outside of the city. If you have children, consider what school district you prefer to live in. You should also think about your lifestyle and if you would be happier in the suburbs or downtown.Last, but not least, consider your commute to work and any amenities you might want to have access to. Make a list and bring it to your realtor. They can help you decide what area of the city will best for your needs.View ‘Your Guide to Neighborhoods in Kansas City’ to learn more about the different areas here.

Figure Out the Size and Style of Home You Want

Are you often drawn to styles that exhibit classic elegance or do you prefer the sleek, industrial appeal of a modern condominium? How many bedrooms will you need? Bathrooms?Getting specific about your preferences in terms of style and what you need space-wise can really narrow down the scope of your search. If you’re set on any specific features, be sure to note those to your agent as well.All of these things will help make it easier to pick out which homes in Kansas City are worth looking at, and which homes simply won’t be a good fit.

Make a List of Pros and Cons for Each Home You Look At

After you have a general idea of what you’re looking for, it’s time to get out there and look at some houses. By this point, you’re probably pretty excited, but try to keep a level head.Bring a piece of paper and pen with you on your house hunting journey. Look at each house as objectively as possible and make a list of pros and cons for each home you visit.Creating a house hunting checklist can be extremely helpful for this part of the process. Simply check off boxes for which features each home has (and doesn’t have) and compare notes later.

Make an Offer on the Home You Want

Find the home you’ve been dreaming of? Don’t waste time. Get together with your realtor and make an offer. They will work with you to make the best offer possible and negotiate a final price that fits your budgetIf it’s really the house of your dreams, you don’t want someone else to get their hands on it first!The experts at Cami Jones Collaborative know and love Kansas City. Our specialists are here to help you! Let our team help you find the perfect home in the perfect neighborhood. Give us a call today!  You can reach our team at 913.521.8806.  Want to come and see us? Our office is conveniently located at 5000 W. 135th St. Leawood, KS 66224.

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]You’re embarking on one of the most pivotal adventures of your life; finding a new house to call home. This process can be both thrilling and confusing. While you may think you know exactly what you’re looking for, the likelihood of finding a place that has everything you want is extremely low—at least without some help.This is why every house hunter needs a checklist. Visit a couple of different homes without one, and you’ll see what we mean. In the end, there’s a lot to consider and being unorganized costs valuable time.

The Ultimate House Hunting Checking for Home Buyers

To help you get through this process swiftly and efficiently, our team of top real estate agents at Cami Jones Collaborative has put together a guide to creating the ultimate house hunting checklist.

Make a Wish List

First thing’s first: Decide which amenities are most important to you.If your wish list is seemingly endless or too vague, you won’t have a logical place to start from when you start looking for houses. This is likely to result in you viewing houses that are out of your budget or simply not at all what you want, which can leave you feeling overwhelmed and frustrated.Narrow down which amenities are most important to you. Start with the necessities and follow up with a few wants. Use this wish list as a guide, deciding which houses to visit based on which boxes they check off.

Do Your Research

A house may have all the features you want, but if it will make your commute to work or school unbearably long or difficult—is it really worth it? That is a question only you know the answer to, but it’s something you should look into prior to viewing a home.Before considering the house itself, these are a few things to cross off your house hunting checklist.

• Is the home in your desired area?
• What is the average home value in that neighborhood?
• Are there any homeowner association fees in the neighborhood?
• What about trash pick-up or other miscellaneous fees?
• How close are you to school and work?

The answers to some of these questions might be difficult to find—even if you already live nearby.Find a real estate agent that is familiar with the area. These local experts can help you narrow down which homes make the most sense for you to check out based on your personalized house hunting checklist.

Interior House Hunting Checklist: 

What features do you want the interior to have? Here are some of the most important aspects to consider.

• # of bedrooms and bathrooms
• Is everything is up to date and in good condition? (unless you plan on renovating)
• Is there enough storage space? Closet space?
• If there is a basement, are there any signs of water damage or mold?

Exterior House Hunting Checklist: 

What about the exterior of the home? Consider these common examples, along with any necessities from your wish list.

• Is there enough garage space?
• Do you want a pool?
• Does the foundation look intact?
• What about the patio and deck? Does it look stable?

Other:

• Ask about the home’s history and any known damages.
• Check out the surrounding homes and if possible, meet the neighbors.
• Take plenty of photos when visiting prospective homes.
• Stay within your budget.
• Take notes and don’t forget to bring your house hunting checklist!

If you’re house-hunting in the Kansas City area and needing some assistance checking off the boxes on your house hunting checklist, the team at Cami Jones Collaborative would be happy to guide you on your journey to finding your next home.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vcex_button url=”https://www.camijoneshomes.com/contact/” size=”medium” align=”center”]Click Here to Contact the Cami Jones Collaborative Team[/vcex_button][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Here at Cami Jones Collaborative, we get a lot of questions about how credit affects the home buying process and our answer always starts with asking our client to check their credit score. OpenListings.com recently released some valuable information on how your credit score affects the home buying process, and we wanted to share that with you today.While there’s no strict credit score minimum to get a mortgage and buy a home, there are guidelines most lenders follow. While your credit score is a major factor in buying a home, it’s not the only one. Lenders also consider your employment history, income, and current debts.And, since credit scores fluctuate, following good credit practices can increase your score and help you get a mortgage or lower rate in the future.Most first-time home buyers are looking to understand how the credit process works. A good credit score can mean the difference between qualifying for a mortgage loan and having your application rejected.It is important to understand what your credit score means, and how it is calculated. These factors directly influence your eligibility for a mortgage, in addition to your interest rate. Even if you qualify for a mortgage, a lower credit score means you’ll likely be stuck with a higher interest rate. And that high-interest rate will cost you more over the lifetime of the loan.

How Does Your Credit Score Factor into Buying a Home?

To understand how your credit score factors into home buying, you first need to understand the credit score basics. You’ve probably heard the phrase “FICO score” in credit card commercials, but here’s what it really is. FICO (which stands for Fair Isaac Corporation) is one of the most common credit scores. It’s used by banks and other financial institutions to determine your creditworthiness.So, what makes you worthy? The bank needs to believe you’ll pay back your mortgage loan, and that FICO score helps them decide whether or not you’re a risk.For them, the higher the credit score, = the lower the risk, which means that you’ll enjoy lower interest rates. And, for those with lower credit scores, the opposite is true. Your credit score plays a huge role in determining whether a bank believes you will pay back the mortgage loan or not. If you are deemed a lower risk (because you have a higher credit score), then you will have a lower interest rate and pay less for the loan. But if you have a lower credit score, the opposite will be true.

Factors that Affect a Credit Report

FICO scores use several different factors from your credit report. This information comes from the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion), and it is used to assemble a score ranging from 300-850. Here are the factors that go into your credit score:

• New credit 10%
• Types of credit 10%
• Length of credit history 15%
• Amount owed (30%)
• Payment history (35%)

What Credit Score is Needed to Buy a House?

Your credit score plays a big role in your mortgage application, but it is important to remember that it isn’t the only factor. Financial institutions will also consider factors such as your employment history, your current debts, your income, the size of the loan you are asking for, and the total amount you are willing to offer in a down payment.There are no hard lines when it comes to a minimum credit score. Instead of an exact answer on what is the right credit score to buy a house, most financial advisors use guidelines for home buyers. The guidelines help home buyers to determine if they are on the lower limits of an acceptable credit score or not. Here are a few credit score guidelines for the most common types of home loans:

• Federal Housing Association (FHA) Loan – 580
• Veteran’s Affairs (VA) Loan – No minimum credit score required
• Conventional Mortgage Loan – 620

Types of Home Loans Explained

Not all mortgages are made alike. There are several different types of home loans, and they have key differences. Here are the most common types of mortgages available on the market:

• Conventional loans

This is the most typical option — two-thirds of mortgages are conventional loans. Unlike FHA and VA loans, these loans aren’t backed by the government. Lenders will generally ask for a 20% down payment. If you can’t make that amount, you can pay as little as 5%. But going with a down payment under 20% means that you will have to pay for private mortgage insurance, which can be expensive. These loans typically have a 620 minimum credit score.

• FHA loans

FHA loans are a are a valuable option for those with lower credit scores, as the minimum score for an FHA loan can be as low as 580. FHA loans also allow homebuyers to put down as little as 3.5%. Still, you’ll need to pay PMI if you decide to put down less than 20%, similar to a conventional loan.

• VA loans

VA loans are limited to veterans and current members of the US armed forces. They are especially attractive because home buyers seeking this type of loan can put as little as 0%. In addition, there is no PMI penalty for putting down less than 20%. VA loans are backed by the federal government, and lenders are not required to use a minimum credit score.

When Does Your Credit get Checked in the Home Buying Process?

When does your credit get checked in the home buying process? Well, once you send in your credit application to a lender, they are going to check your credit score. It is one of the first things they will do to determine whether you are eligible for a mortgage. If your credit score is too low for a particular lender, then they’ll use it to weed out your application before they go further and check things like your income and employment history.Check your credit score for free by asking any of the three major credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion, Equifax) for your credit report. Your credit report won’t just include your credit score — it will also include all of the factors that led to the final number. So you’ll be able to look and see if an account you forgot to pay, or a high credit utilization is dragging down your score. If your credit score isn’t as high as you’d like, don’t fret. You might not qualify for a mortgage right away, or you might not get the interest rate that you want right off the bat. But you can improve your credit score over time.

Is There a Risk in Having Your Credit Checked Multiple Times During the Application Process?

When you apply for a mortgage, the credit check is listed on your credit report as an inquiry. That means that you are looking at taking on new debt. A credit inquiry will have a small negative impact on your overall score, but there isn’t much you can do about it.You should also know that shopping around for a mortgage isn’t going to harm your score. If you have multiple credit checks from mortgage lenders within a 45-day period, it will be reported as a single inquiry. You can shop around by completing mortgage applications, getting a preapproval, or getting an official loan estimate.Other types of credit applications can also have a negative impact on your credit score. Applications for credit cards, car loans, student loans, personal loans, and business loans can also result in an inquiry on your credit report that lowers your score. If you are considering shopping around for a mortgage, then you want to make sure that you avoid applying for a car loan, credit card, or another type of debt so that a new inquiry doesn’t push down your credit score.

The Difference Between a Hard and a Soft Check

There is a difference between the types of inquiries that get listed on your credit report. Inquiries are separated into two categories: hard and soft.Hard inquiries occur when a lender uses your credit report to decide on whether or not they will provide you with credit. Credit card applications, car loan applications, and mortgage applications are all forms of hard inquiries.Soft inquiries occur when a credit card company checks your credit to pre-approve you for a new credit card or when you check your own credit online. Soft inquiries aren’t listed on your credit report, and they don’t impact your overall credit score.

How to Improve Your Credit Score

If your credit score isn’t where you want it to be, don’t get frustrated. You can improve your credit score over time. The first thing you should look at doing is lowering your credit card balances. Your card utilization rate plays a factor in your overall score. You’ll also want to make sure that you pay any unpaid debts as well as paying your bills on time. By paying off old accounts and keeping your new ones in good standing, your credit score will rise over time. You should also avoid taking out new lines of credit if you don’t have to. If you are making multiple applications for lines of credit, lenders will think that you are strapped for cash.It will likely take months, at the earliest, to have a dramatic positive impact on your credit score. But following good credit practices, you can improve your score and put yourself in position to qualify for a mortgage or get a better rate.This article originally appeared on OpenListings.com

It is imperative to protect your new home and your belongings, but it can be hard to justify paying for an intangible product after you have invested so much money in purchasing a new house. Our friends at Openlistings.com recently shared some interesting information regarding homeowner’s insurance and home warranty that might help you understand the importance of these protections and why you need them.

What Exactly is Home Insurance?

Home insurance, also known as homeowner’s insurance, provides you with financial protection against disasters. It protects the house itself and everything in it, as well as provides liability coverage in case anyone injures themselves in your home or on your property. Getting home insurance must happen before the close of escrow, and lenders will insist upon it.

What Does Homeowner’s Insurance Cover?

Your policy covers both damage to your property and legal responsibility for any injuries you or your family cause to other people in the house.The structural protection normally includes damage or destruction due to fire, hurricane, lightning, hail or other disasters outlined in your home insurance policy.Most policies will not pay for damage caused by earthquakes, floods or lack of proper maintenance. You can purchase additional coverage or a separate policy for those. It is also important to make sure detached buildings like garages and storage sheds are included in your policy, even if that costs a little extra.Your personal belongings inside the home, including furniture, electronics, tools, and clothes are covered for theft and other insured disasters, but high-end items like jewelry, art, and collectibles will require additional coverage if you want to insure them for their full appraised value.A good rule of thumb is to buy enough coverage so you can rebuild your house if disaster strikes.

What’s a Home Warranty?

A home warranty typically provides coverage for air conditioning units, heating furnaces, and other home appliances/systems like the oven or range if they fail due to normal wear and tear. Additional coverage can be purchased to cover a swimming pool and spa pumps.It’s common practice for a seller to pay for a home warranty, but a home warranty isn’t always necessary and can just as easily be bought at a later date.

Policy Types: Cash Value vs. Replacement Cost

You have two choices when insuring your home and belongings.If you opt for “actual cash value,” you receive the amount of money needed to repair or replace your home after depreciation is factored in. With a “replacement cost” policy, your home will be restored to “like new” condition using materials of similar quality, without considering depreciation.If you have an older house with rare moldings and hard-to-find fixtures, you should insure your home for 80% to 90% of its replacement cost.The liability protection of your homeowner’s insurance policy includes such accidents as someone slipping and falling on your driveway, or your dog biting a visitor in your living room. It covers you against lawsuits for bodily injury or property damage that you or your family members (and pets) cause to other people.

Additional Types of Home Insurance Coverage

Certain considerations and requirements come with homeowner’s insurance, depending on where your dream home is located, such as the history of claims in your neighborhood and on your property, may make home insurance difficult to obtain; i.e., if you chose an area prone to wildfires or mudslides. In California it is requiredDeciding whether you need a home warranty is a less pressing matter, but if you’re closing on a home or thinking about making an offer soon, it’s important for you to find the right home insurance provider.

Finding a Home Insurance Provider

Need help finding the best insurance rates so you can save money and close your loan quickly? Open Listings recommend Matic, which helps you compare up to 8 options and get a quote online.TL;DR: While first-time homebuyers often get home warranties and home insurance confused, the reality is that it’s not an either/or situation. You have to have home insurance before you close on your new home, but a home warranty can be bought any time.Are you looking to buy a home in Kansas City?  Let our team help guide you through the entire process. Give us a call today!  You can reach our team at 913.521.8806.  You can also come visit our office at 5000 W. 135th St. Leawood, KS 66224.

Our friends at OpenListings.com are back with more real estate tips for you! Here are some tips for buying in a seller’s market.Looking to get into that perfect home in your dream neighborhood?So is everyone else. Whether it’s the killer school district or easy access to shops and restaurants that makes your target neighborhood a top pick, odds are homes for sale in hot markets are hard to come by.If you want to get that dream home, you’re going to need to buy smart. Luckily, you’re not in this alone. We know what buying in a hot market (also called a seller’s market) takes and how to get there. When the time comes to make an offer, you’ll want the leg up.

1. Get Started ASAP

No matter where you live, houses in popular neighborhoods don’t come up often, and when they do, they don’t hang around for long.With that in mind, if you have your heart set on buying in one of these areas, starting your house hunt early and having patience means that time will be on your side. And when the moment comes, you’ll need to act quickly.If you’re really interested in the house, get as much info as you can beforehand: ask for property reports & disclosures, and find out when offers are due. Open Listings’ Buyer Experience team can reach out to the seller’s agent on your behalf.Be sure to pay close attention to when any open houses are, or if possible, schedule a private house tour. But keep your schedule open, because, in hot markets, this is one situation where you may not have a second chance.

2. Have Your Proof of Funds & Pre-Approval Ready

This part is where lots of excited homebuying first-timers get their heart broken.If you’ve decided you want to throw your hat in the ring and make an offer, it’s safe to assume that many others have as well and that there will be multiple offers on the home.For truly hot markets, you’ll likely only have a day or two to get your offer in order.Even after you’ve seen the home, speed is still the name of the game. Double check with the selling agent when he or she intends to present any offers on the home so that you can be sure to submit yours on time.In this case, it’s crucial to have any supplemental paperwork, like your mortgage pre-approval and proof of funds for the down payment, ready to go ahead of time.

3. Keep Your Offer Simple

Most offers include contingencies — things like completing inspections and receiving a mortgage commitment — that need to happen for the transaction to move forward.When looking at offers, sellers tend to see contingencies as potential opportunities for the deal to fall apart. As a result, they’re more likely to choose an offer that’s relatively “clean” or reduces their risk of potential hang-ups.In a competitive market, you’ll see people either removing or reducing their contingency periods to make their offer more competitive.However, it’s also crucial that you feel comfortable moving forward. If you choose to waive your inspections, you’re agreeing to buy the home regardless of what problems may exist.As you put your offer together, consider how far you’re willing to go. Would you rather buy this house with all its problems or wait for another property that will allow you more peace of mind?

4. Include a Strong Sale Price

Aside from keeping your contingencies in check, there is one other obvious component of the offer that will help set you apart from the crowd — the offer price.Put simply, money talks.Sellers are likely to be enticed by a big payout, or if possible, a cash offer.When you’re vying for a home in a popular neighborhood, you need to put your best foot forward.As for how much you should offer, consider the asking price first. You’ll want to meet it and potentially go above. Consider the amount listed on your pre-approval as your maximum, and work within those limits.You can use a mortgage calculator to get an idea of what your monthly payment will look like at various sale prices.

5. Write an Offer Letter

At face value, all offers look the same.In a situation where the seller is contending with multiple offers, all that paperwork can have a tendency to blend together.An offer letter, or a personal note you write to the seller explaining why you’re the perfect buyer for the home, might just be the thing that sets your package apart from the crowd.Though it sounds like blowing hot air, a little flattery goes a long way.Buyers who submit offer letters are 2x more likely to get the house.The ideal offer letter is short, sweet, and to the point.In a few paragraphs, you’ll want to tell the seller why you fell in love with there home and how you picture your future there.Here, sentimentality is key. Your goal is to connect with the seller emotionally so that they’ll be more compelled to choose you.Thinking of buying or selling your home in the Kansas City area? Let the Cami Jones Collaborative team help you! Give us a call today!  You can reach our team at 913.521.8806.  Want to come and see us?  Our office is conveniently located at 5000 W. 135th St. Leawood, KS 66224.This article originally appeared on OpenListings.

If a sudden job transfer or unexpected event happens and you find yourself relocating to Kansas City, a little pre-planning and expert knowledge can help make your move less stressful. After the excitement of moving begins to fade, stress often sets in, especially when the realization hits that you might not know anything about buying a home in the area. Luckily, our team of top real estate agents at Cami Jones Collaborative are here to help.

Your Guide to Buying a Home in Kansas City

Kansas City has many different areas, and it is often a lot to take in. No matter what your lifestyle is, we can guarantee that there is a place here that fits your needs. Let’s take a look at some key things to keep in mind when buying a home in and around KC.

What Do You Value?

During a new buyer consultation, it is important that your agent knows what is most important to you. You will be asked questions like:

• Do you want to live in an area with great schools?
• Do you want a lot of space to entertain friends and family?
• How close do you want to be to your office?
• Would you prefer to live in a bustling city or a quiet suburb?

Answering these and giving a little information about yourself, will help your real estate agent determine the area and home that is right for you.

Know Your Budget

Kansas City home prices vary greatly and knowing your budget will help determine how much home you can afford. During your consultation, your agent will put you in touch with our trusted loan officers for a free pre-approval. Knowing you’re pre-approved will help let sellers know you are motivated and serious about buying. Here is a quick glance at some of the most desirable areas on both the Kansas and Missouri side of the state line. Ask your agent which area is right for you and your budget.Popular Areas on the Kansas Side:

• Leawood
• Overland Park
• Prairie Village
• Lenexa
• Olathe

Popular Areas on the Missouri Side:

• Midtown/Westport
• Downtown
• West Plaza
• Brookside
• Liberty, MO

Find a Community That Fits Your Lifestyle

Once you and your agent have determined your budget and what you value, they will give you more information about the areas listed above and more. For example, if you want to live a more city-centric lifestyle surrounded by galleries and a thriving nightlife, Midtown and Downtown might be where you want to start looking. If you prefer a quiet, family-friendly area, Overland Park and Leawood are both great places to settle down.With the help of your Cami Jones Collaborativeagent, you will set up a custom Home Match account to begin researching available homes in your desired community.

Choose Your Home and Bid Quickly

One thing that should be noted about the real estate market in Kansas City is that it moves quickly. Once you and your agent find the perfect home, they will quickly prepare the offer to purchase and review details with you. Your agent will then use their knowledge of the market to negotiate a purchase price with your best interests in mind.

Closing Day

After your agent finalizes all of the necessary paperwork with the sellers, they will be by your side on closing day as you sign your paperwork to purchase your new home.Cami Jones Collaborative will be an available resource to you even after you close for all of your home-related concerns.Making the move to Kansas City? Let our relocation specialists help you! Give us a call today!  You can reach our team at 913.521.8806.  Want to come and see us?  Our office is conveniently located at 5000 W. 135th St. Leawood, KS 66224.