Tools & Resources

Tips, Tricks, & Tools to Home
Buying & Ownership

Keith Carothers Homes in Kempner, TX, is committed to walking you through every step of the home building and buying process. From the initial phone call and concept ideas to turning over the keys to your brand new home, your experience with us is certain to be a pleasant one.

In keeping up with our efforts to educate you on the process, we have provided the information below about the mortgage application process, home maintenance checklists, and moving tips!

Financing

Before you start home shopping, you should get preapproved for a loan, so you can focus solely on homes in the price range that you qualify for.

Mortgage Application Process

When you meet with the lender for your loan application interview, it’s important to bring all the proper information to ensure that your mortgage application will be processed as quickly as possible. The following list will give you an idea of the types of documents and information you should be prepared to provide.

Documents for Lender

New Home Purchase Agreement
Sales contract, if selling present home

Personal Data

Social Security number for each borrower
Date of birth of each borrower
Address of residence(s) for past 24 months
If self-employed or commissioned, Federal tax
return for the last two years
Divorce decree (if applicable)
Bankruptcy papers (if applicable)

Income/Employment

Employment history of each borrower for a minimum of 24 months
Other permanent sources of income: Interest/dividends, pensions, disability, child support, or rental income

Credit History

Your ability to obtain a mortgage, to great extent, depends on the information contained in your credit report. So, it’s a good idea to get your credit report before you apply for a mortgage and correct any errors.

Deposit Accounts: checking, savings, credit union, IRAs, CDs, etc.
Name, address, zip code of each bank or credit union
Account number of each account & current balances
Outstanding Loan Accounts: furniture, auto, present mortgage, etc.
Name, address, zip code of each lender
Account number for each debt account, monthly payments, and current unpaid balances
Credit cards, monthly payments & current outstanding balances
Previous Credit References: name, address, zip code of each bank or lending institution, account number, highest credit, & date paid off

Miscellaneous

Cash value of life insurance & amount in force; monthly premiums paid
Household and personal property value
Auto(s) year, make and model; value
Other Assets: boats, motorcycles, jewelry, savings bonds, etc.

Maintenance

When you buy a car, you know and expect that you will need to maintain it to keep it operating properly. You add gas, change the oil, replace worn tires, wash it, and repair mechanical problems that may arise.

Well, the same holds true when you own your own home—it requires maintenance to keep it functioning properly. On the outside, there may be grass to mow, trees to trim, gutters to clean, windows to wash, and the roof to inspect for wear. Inside, you have flooring to clean, filters to replace, smoke detectors to check, etc.

A preventive home maintenance program will maintain your home’s value and save you money in the long run.

You may find it helps to use a maintenance checklist. Below we have included some checklists that you can either use as-is or customize to better fit your situation.

Monthly Checklist

Spring Checklist

Fall Checklist

Home Maintenance Checklist

Healthy Homes Maintenance Checklist

*Checklists are courtesy of www.frugalliving.about.com and www.nchh.org.

Moving

One Month Before Closing

When selecting a mover, check out their rating on the Better Business Bureau’s website and schedule your move.
Collect important papers and a list of important phone numbers you may need before everything is moved and unpacked
Now’s a great time to decide what to keep, what to give away, sell at a yard sale, or throw away
Begin packing items you won’t need for a while
Prepare a list of who you will need to notify of your new address
Contact new schools and arrange for the transfer of school records

Two Weeks Before Closing

Confirm your moving date and time with your moving company
Notify current utilities of disconnect/reconnect dates
Arrange for cancellation of newspaper deliveries and new subscriptions to your new address
Complete change of address at the Post Office
Notify businesses of your change of address (doctors, veterinarian, subscriptions, banks, insurance, etc.)
Arrange for someone to take care of your pets on moving day

One Week Before Closing

Pack items you will not need until after the move
Set aside items you will need on moving day, so they aren’t packed accidentally
Begin cleaning out the refrigerator

Moving Day

Gather items you will need to take with you and keep them handy
When the movers arrive, show them any items that will need special handling and supervise their placement of boxes and furniture
Make sure someone is at your new home to meet the movers

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