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Here at the Asheville Realty Team, our goal is to help you find your dream home or land in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina. We will make this process easy for you. All you need to do is complete the client profile. This will give us the information we need to complete your search.

We will save your search criteria so you can immediately start receiving alerts from the multiple listing service "hot sheets".

You will automatically receive emails updating you on newly listed properties that meet your search criteria. Be the first to preview the properties that match the features you indicated you are looking for! When you see something you would like preview, just call us and we will be happy to schedule a showing for you. If you would rather complete this process over the phone please feel free to contact our office at 828-450-5882. There is no charge to you and you may terminate the alerts at any time by contacting us.

We look forward to helping you make your dreams of the mountains become a reality!

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Pre qualify

Kevin F. Johnson is a senior loan consultant with Monarch Mortgage with offices located in downtown Asheville and the South Asheville/Arden area. He has worked in the mortgage industry as a loan officer for several years. Kevin grew up in Southwest Florida where he earned a bachelor's degree in finance at Florida Gulf Coast University.

Kevin and his family relocated to Asheville in 2007 and is looking forward to raising his family in our beautiful mountains. He has been providing a pleasant and simple financing experience for his clients by making himself available all hours of the day to inform and educate his customers. He is not limited to one bank or mortgage program. Offering many mortgage possibilities, Kevin will find one perfectly suited to the needs of you and your family.

Kevin is dedicated to finding you the best rate with the lowest fees available. Being a finance major, Kevin can also help you with the big picture, from choosing your mortgage to defining your long term financial goals. Give Kevin a call today or submit the following application so you can take the first step to finding your new home.

Kevin F. Johnson :: Contact Information

Phone
828.808.9954

Email
Kevin F. Johnson kevin@monarch-mortgage.com

Address
18 Wedgefield Drive
Suite 201
Asheville, NC 28806

Buying a Home

‘One thing you can definitely say about Western N.C. is that it has something to offer everyone from downtown condos, arts and craft bungalows, to mountain cabins.’

-- Local Agent

Western N.C. home market

still robust, fairly priced

By BRETT CORNWRIGHT

For the new home buyer, the real estate market’s recent decline can be very disconcerting. Rest assured, however, that the market in the Western North Carolina area is as vibrant as ever. In fact, during the real estate explosion that the rest of the United States was experiencing over the past few years, North Carolina in general and the Asheville area specifically remained fairly priced according to several national publications.

“The breath taking views and numerous outdoor activities to enjoy during our mild four season climate combined with top notch healthcare facilities and our lively arts and music scene makes Western North Carolina a great place to live and raise a family,”Local Agent, said. “Our quality of life is wonderful! We have a more laid-back lifestyle where people are friendly and still wave to one another; yet our city is alive with music, culture, and the arts plus we have nationally recognized hospitals that you would normally find in larger cities.”

Before you start looking for a house to buy in each of these quaint cities and towns, however, it’s best to find out exactly how much of a home you can afford. You do this by becoming pre-qualified by a lender.

“The first step is to always talk to a lender and get pre-qualified to make sure you can obtain a loan for the type of property you wish to purchase,” Local Agent said. “Once pre-qualified, select a real estate agent that listens to your needs that you feel comfortable working with. Having a lender and real estate agent working with you that are looking out for your best interest is very important. The next step would be to find the home itself. Once you find a home that you like, try to find out as much as possible about the neighborhood such as future developments that could affect the value of the property, crime rate, what similar homes are selling for, etc., before making an offer.”

It’s important to note that pre-qualifying is different than preapproving for a home. When you pre-approve, the lender will present you with an official letter, certificate, or a wallet-sized card that bears your name and the maximum loan amount.

• When applying for a loan, you should be prepared to bring several important forms with you, including the following: your last two tax returns, along with W-2s and 1099 forms, paycheck stubs for the last 30 days, recent credit card statements, and bank statements for the last three months.

“Underwriting guidelines have tightened up over the past few months, but for people with good credit scores and a stable work history, there are still several loan packages out there to choose from with favorable rates,”Local Agent said. “Always look at the overall cost of obtaining the loan and the loan payments over a period of time to determine which type of loan is best for you and your situation.”

Next, it’s time to find a reliable real estate agent because he or she can guide you through the process.

Real estate gents are very knowledgeable about the local market, schools, commute times, and other important information. Friends, family members, and co-workers can provide referrals for agents, but if you’re brand new to the area, then there are several things you can do to find the perfect agent for you.

Communication is key, so talk to your agent about what you want and don’t want in a home, such as a two-car garage versus no garage and a three-bedroom home versus a two-bedroom home. It’s also a good idea to have a particular area in mind. For instance, if you commute to your job, you may want easy access to major roads. Discussing this information with your agent will help ensure that no time is wasted on seeing homes that you’re not interested in.

Now that you have some preliminary details nailed down, it’s time to look for your dream home. Once you find the perfect home, it’s time to make an offer. Keep in mind that this process can go back and forth with counteroffers, especially if there are other potential buyers vying for the same home.

Once you find your ideal home, the real work begins.

“Getting a home inspection is essential,” said Local Agent. “A good home inspector can point out potential problems that need to be corrected or offer helpful preventive maintenance tips that will help you keep your home safe and in good repair for many years.”

In North Carolina, attorneys handle all real estate transactions. Buyers are responsible for securing financing, and paying for a home survey, appraisal, fees, and other miscellaneous costs. Buyers should also be prepared to pay for closing costs even though the amount may be negotiable.

Sellers are responsible for paying their portion of the property taxes; however, they can sweeten the deal by offering warranties or offering to pay some of the closing costs.

Buying a home can be stressful. But rest assured, the local professionals can help smooth your home-buying experience. And remember, the Western North Carolina area is brimming with housing options for every style and taste. “One thing you can definitely say about Western N.C. is that it has something to offer everyone from downtown condos, arts and craft bungalows, to mountain cabins,” Local Agent said.