Buyer Tips, homes for sale in plano, how to buy a house, ask4duffy to buy a home

DFW Home  Buyers Main Information Page

    

Home Buying Process Decisions & Alicia's Favorite Links

 

Do You Even Need a Realtor
Discover the value of a Realtor in the home buying process and save yourself the headache.

Start Here Step One Video
What does it mean when I register at an Open House. What's a IBS? When I call yard sign I'm calling sellers agent right?


Buyers Agents: Working for You Free of charge

Who pays for the realtor in Texas?




P
I
C
K

Y
O
U
R

T
E
A
M


Stressed?

Learn how to have a stress free zen move by the people you choose now to be on your team.


What day of the month should you close on? 
Did you know that whether you close on the 1st or 31st can make a big difference in when your first payment is owed and how much you'll need to bring to closing? Checkout this article to choose wisely.



 

Listings at your fingertips!
Be the first to see the homes by getting on the direct from MLS Listing Alerts! Faster than zillow and realtor.com plus we don't share your information!

Building a Home?
Search builders in the DFW area. View new home communities videos. Get builder rebates.
 F
I
N
D

H
O
M
E

Distressed Homes?
Thinking of buying a home at auction or a foreclosure? Search direct thru auction site then call us to assist in your negotiations!

Active Adults 55+

Where should I live?
Checkout our favorite sites to compare cities, see crime rates, school rankings, cost of living and much more. 

 
FHA Handbook
How is FHA different than conventional loan? See guidelines and appraiser checklist
Calculator Rent vs Own
     L
     O
     A
     N
     S 
     



VA Process
Explains the process used for a Veterans Loan.

Financing Basics
General loan and financing questions answered.
 
  What's the difference in a Pre-Qualification and Pre-Approval letter?
See example of lender letter.

Calculate Property Taxes
Figure what your monthly property taxes in Collin County will be
 M
 A
 K
 E

 O

 F
 F
 E
 R

Making an offer
How to write an offer letter to win the house!

What is a Title Committment 
(click above link for info)

Programs for Better Offers
How to make a cash offer or Buy then Sell

 
Buyer's Home Inspection
The importance of a home inspection.
Inspector Standards
Detailed booklet by TREC for Inspectors deatailing all items they are to check and what to mark as deficient.


R
E
P
A
I
R
S
Negotiating Repairs
What items are typically asked to be repaired?

Item End of It's Life?
What does this mean and how long is that microwave, roof, foundation supposed to last? See Inspections page for this plus other details about items in an inspection.


 
Flip Guides

H
O
M
E

S
W
E
E
T

H
O
M
E


  







View more of my buyers showings below


 
BUYER REPORTSSELLER REPORTS

Preparing to Buy
Checklist

Answer Book
Complete list of buyers questions answered.

New home or a resale?

Condo or Single Family Home

Rent To Own

Renting vs Buying

Moving Tips

How To Videos


 National Association of Realtors compiled a 
40 page Buyer Questions Answered
Click here to view or download your own copy!

Staging Your Home

What is that smell?

Hiring a Real Estate Agent

I want to sell my own home.

Foreclosure Risk

Staging Videos

 




What exactly does Abutting mean and other real estate terms you might need.






LOCAL SCHOOL INFORMATION

Do a map search to see school ratings or
see tool below to search by name, city or zip code for a school. Don't know the what school then search by school rating on our map search.



Best School Districts 


 
 
 
 
                   
















For Neighborhood rolling live sold stats, days on market see our 



 

                                      Drive Time Map

Did you know we can setup your search in the MLS by how many minutes drive time to or from your work by any day of the week or time of the day. Click here to setup your MLS direct search for homes new and coming soon.



 





Videos For Buyers

Videos For Clients







INSPECTIONS
 
 


HOMEBOT 

HOMEOWNERS
HOMEBUYERS
    Tip: It you pay just more each month, you could save $53,656 in interest over the rest of your loan. You'd also be done with the loan and no longer making payments 6 years earlier! Learn more about this Already paid extra?








HOW MUCH IS A TITLE POLICY?






 

Search by City 

For City Guides, Tourist Attractions, Sex Offender List. Go to Interactive map to view neighborhoods by category you choose (income, children, race etc).





                                                   Market Trends by City

Demographics, school, market trends plus compare areas. 






For Neighborhood rolling live sold stats, days on market see our 



What exactly does Abutting mean and other real estate terms you might need.










UTILITIES

           Reliant Bill Estimator

IF Reliant Estimator does not pull up click here to go direct to their site.
 

Take these easy steps to estimate monthly electricity usage and costs in your new home.

 1. Fill in the details.                                

2. Get a month-by-month estimated average of cost and usage.1

3. Print and email the info.

Where are you moving?

  
 
 
 
Don't have the exact address? They can still estimate your bills based on average usage by comparable dwellings in the same area.

*Estimates are based on average consumption by comparable dwellings in the same area and are not are not exact predictors. Your electricity bills may vary. The Reliant Bill Estimator should be used for informational purposes only. Factors that can affect your actual monthly electricity usage and costs.

 

Connect all utilities free conceirge https://www.2turniton.com/


Oncor https://www.oncor.com/SitePages/ForHome.aspx





Power to Choose
  
The official and unbiased electric choice website of the Public Utility Commission of Texas

 

 













LIVABILITY SCORE

 




 




                                             PROPERTY TAX RATES

                  

Denton County Click Here
Dallas County Click Here                      
                        




Homebuyer Assistance Programs

Speak to your lender about some of these programs

https://chenoafund.org/

https://www.tsahc.org/

https://sethfc.com/texas-5-star/

https://sethfc.com/homebuyer-goldstar/

 

HOMEOWNERSHIP ASSISTANCE: TEXAS

 

Need help buying a home? You may qualify for one of these programs.

 

Statewide and Regional Programs

 

 

Programs by City/Town

 

Abilene

Arlington

Austin

Baytown

Beaumont

Brownsville

Bryan

College Station

Corpus Christi

Dallas

Denison

Denton

El Paso

Fort Worth

Frisco

Galveston

Garland

Grand Prairie

Harlingen

Houston

Irving

Killeen

Laredo

Lewisville

Lubbock

McKinney

Mesquite

Midland

New Braunfels

Odessa

Plano


Although buying a home can seem like a monumental challenge, there are many assistance programs to help first time buyers with down payment assistance, lower interest loans, and education to help make homeowner possible.

Down Payment Assistance:  Many communities have incentives and matching programs to help first time homebuyers save for a down payment. The Department of Housing and Urban Development offers some tips for first time homebuyers here.   

Loans:  Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans offer reduced rates, low down payments, and easier credit score qualifications. Find a FHA program in your state.   

Homebuyer Education:  Taking a homebuyer education class is the best way to learn about down payment assistance programs and subsidized loans.  In addition, upon completion of a qualified class, participants are often eligible for significant discounts on mortgage insurance. Many University Extension offices offer these classes or contact 211 and ask about homebuyer education programs






              Find a local contractor
(check prices for local home repairs & updates)

HomeAdvisor
Repair a Wall Project Cost
View more Walls & Ceilings cost guides or View all home projects



       
Build an Addition
Build an Addition
(5,413 projects)
AVERAGE NATIONAL COST:
$50,313
VIEW COSTS IN YOUR AREA                       


Demo an Interior
Demo an Interior
(4,478 projects)
AVERAGE NATIONAL COST:
$2,976
VIEW COSTS IN YOUR AREA              
Hire a Maid Service
Hire a Maid Service
(93,360 projects)
AVERAGE NATIONAL COST:
$173
VIEW COSTS IN YOUR AREA




Remodel or Renovate a House
Remodel or Renovate a House
(10,589 projects)
AVERAGE NATIONAL COST:
$51,801
VIEW COSTS IN YOUR AREA





Perform Home Renovations and Repairs
Perform Home Renovations and Repairs
(4,132 projects)
AVERAGE NATIONAL COST:
$14,393
VIEW COSTS IN YOUR AREA
 





Build a Barn, Shed or Playhouse
Build a Barn, Shed or Playhouse
(684 projects)
AVERAGE NATIONAL COST:
$3,396
VIEW COSTS IN YOUR AREA



Hire Movers
Hire Movers
(22,458 projects)
AVERAGE NATIONAL COST:
$923
VIEW COSTS IN YOUR AREA 





Paint a Home Interior
Paint a Home Interior
(62,301 projects)
AVERAGE NATIONAL COST:
$2,003
VIEW COSTS IN YOUR AREA






 
 

 
 
 




Moving Tips 
Find out what you can do to make the move less stressful on yourself and your family.

Moving Guides 

 Move for Hunger
Lookup movers who will pickup and deliver your food to charities.







 


PARKS AND TRAILS CITY MAPS








 Sellers Guide

VIEW SHARED FOLDER for all your checklist, timelines, Q & A, property saves & contracts.




Schedule your Q&A timeline building call with Alicia or if your already past that and ready to get moving schedule a showing here, call or text Alicia!



 


 






                                                                                


BACK To Home Search Map                                               NEXT Builder Search Map


×

Before you leave we'd like to say thank you for visiting by giving you our Ultimate Buyers Guide what you can expect from start to finish.