Home inspection is a crucial step in the home-buying process. After finding the perfect house, you will want to ensure that there are no hidden faults that may require lengthy and expensive repairs or renovations down the line.

To prepare you for this process, here are the top four things you need to know.

1. The buyer is responsible for the inspection. Make sure you give yourself ample time to find a reputable, certified home inspector by asking for referrals from your real estate agent, friends, and family and do your research online. Plus, don’t forget to factor in the cost of the inspection into your budget.
2. Home inspectors are usually generalists. They will evaluate most areas of your home, such as the foundation, basement, plumbing, electrical systems, heating and cooling systems, walls, floors, ceilings, and attics. But, if your home is equipped with special features, like a pool or chimney, you may need to hire a specialist.
3. Buyers can attend the inspection. In fact, a lot of inspectors suggest it! This is an opportunity for you to get any outstanding questions regarding the condition of the house you are purchasing answered.
4. You have options if the inspection uncovers a problem. If the problems discovered are serious, like structural damage or safety issues, the seller is legally required to fix them. You also have the option to back out of the purchase without facing any consequences. If the problems are smaller, you can submit a formal request for repairs and negotiate for them to cover some or all of the cost.

Do you have any questions? I can help!

Have a Great week!

Iveth Caruso
706.974.4577

Adjustable rate mortgage, counteroffer, principle... the list goes on and on. Many sellers and buyers may struggle to remember the meaning of these, and other commonly used real estate terms. Get ahead of the confusion by equipping yourself with this helpful Real Estate Terminology guide. Don't forget to download it!

Click on the link below to download the PDF version of the file.

Have  a great week!
Iveth Caruso

Here are six reasons you should own your home instead of renting one:
Happiness - The feeling of owning your own home is unmatched. You can fix it up, make it your own, get a dog, or plant a tree if you want. Doesn't that sound exciting!
Tax Savings - The government rewards homeowners by providing excellent tax benefits. The interest paid on your mortgage and other home-related expenses can generally be deducted from your income.
Appreciation - Home values have a well-documented history of going up over time. This increase becomes equity you can benefit from when you refinance or sell.
Equity - Renting has often been compared to paying 100% interest, but when you own a home and a mortgage is in place, a portion of your payment goes toward the principal balance on your loan. This builds your equity and acts as a savings account.
Roots - People who own rather than rent stay in their homes 4 times longer. This provides an opportunity to get to know your neighbors and connect with your local community.
Education - Research shows children of homeowners earn higher test scores and graduate at a higher percentage than those of renters.
If you are looking to buy or sell your home, call me.

Iveth Caruso
Providing the most professional, dedicated, informative and loyal service you can find in Real Estate!

Dreaming of buying your first home?  The Georgia Dream Home-ownership Program fulfills home-ownership dreams by providing affordable mortgage financing for eligible home buyers. Are you a first time home buyer?  You may be eligible for $15,000 for down-payment, closing costs and prepaid costs to purchase your home.
If you are interested in purchasing a home through the Georgia Dream Program, contact me and I will get you started!

The term due diligence generally refers to any period of time where an asset for sale is examined. In real estate it usually refers to a period of time where a buyer can examine or otherwise consider a property for which they're under contract - and pull out of the transaction if they find something unsatisfactory or undisclosed.

In Georgia, when you enter the due diligence period, in which, the buyer, does all relevant inspections and decide whether or not you would like to proceed with the sale.  The seller is bound to the buyer and cannot enter into other contracts for the sale of the home (except as backup)– but the buyer is free to terminate the contract with no penalty and get the earnest money back.

During this period the buyer should independently verify any information provided by the current owners with a third party source because many owners, even if well-intended, are unaware of certain factors that may affect your decision. Remember, it is the buyer's responsibility to conduct their own research during this period and to verify all information.

During this period, the buyer should schedule the home and termite inspections, order the survey and research information about flood plains, power lines, and zoning. If you are buying a home with an HOA or a condo, make sure that understand the bylaws of the homeowner's or community associations and that you know what the annual or monthly required fees are and what services are included in those fees.

Equally important is to inspect the neighborhood, some things to research during the due diligence period include proximity to any places or facilities that you might find troublesome such as a landfill, prison, cemetery, etc. It’s important to research local schools, crime rates. Additionally, you might also want to find out more information about your potential neighbors, including a violent sex offender search at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation website.

Generally speaking, the most common reason that a buyers terminates a contract during due diligence is that the inspection uncovers an issue that the seller is not willing to fix.  But remember, the buyer can terminate the contract for any reason and they get the earnest money returned.

Don’t be afraid to make an offer in a home, you could be the backup contract but remember, there is a lot of competition in the market right now for homes in the lower price points (especially those purchasing below $150,000) Because simply there are not enough homes listed.

So if you want to beat the competition, it’s highly recommended to present your best offer as quickly as possible, with proof of funds or pre-qualification letter and use the due diligence period to fully investigate it and ensure you want to go forward with the purchase of the property.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or for a free consultation.

Iveth Caruso
Providing the most professional, dedicated, informative and loyal service you can find in Real Estate!