Buying a New Home is an Exciting Experience
But it can also be very stressful and frustrating. When you first embark on the journey towards homeownership, the sky is the limit and visiting open house after open house is extremely exciting. Exploring newly listed properties, discussing the pros and cons of quartz versus granite countertops, making the decision on whether you want a pool in your backyard or not, doing the math on square footage in your sleep and so much more becomes an endless loop in your head.
Once the novelty wears off however, it can become tiring spending your weekends going to yet another open house. You will see so many houses listed for sale that you don’t even know what you are looking for in a home anymore. This is why it is so important to do your research and prepare ahead of time before you even begin looking for a home.
Make Sure You Are Able to Afford the Payment & Expenses
Take the time to get together with a professional lender who will help you put your finances in order, help you understand the process of applying for a mortgage and provide you with a pre-approval that will show you just how much house you can afford.
Once you know how much money the bank is willing to lend you, then you will be able to begin narrowing down your search based on specific neighborhoods, home size and amenities.
Saddle Creek Community
As soon as you know how much money you can afford to spend on a home you will need to make a list of your wants and needs when it comes to selecting the right house. Prioritize the non-negotiable needs and look for homes in the neighborhoods that appeal the most to you. Take into consideration things like proximity to your work, schools, retail, restaurants and anything else that is important to you.
If you are looking for a beautiful home that is settled in the country side, but also located only minutes away from fine dining, shopping centers, award-winning schools and other convenient city amenities, then you may want to explore and learn more about the Saddle Creek community in College Station, TX. This wonderful neighborhood is located just off of Straub Road and Wellborn Road and is a short 9 miles away from Texas A&M University. Saddle Creek is a very peaceful community that is set amidst the natural scenery of the Texas hillside and is shaded by magnificent oak and cedar trees. Whether you are a young family looking for the perfect place to start a family, a growing family in need of more space or a retired couple looking to enjoy your Golden Years, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for at Saddle Creek.
The homes found in Saddle Creek are typically larger than the properties you may found around the Brazos Valley. The average home size is around 2,350 square feet and the lot size can expand across plenty of acreage. The architectural style of the homes in Saddle Creek is one-of-a-kind and there is a strict HOA (Homeowners Association) requirement that all homes but be 80% masonry. The average price point of a home in Saddle Creek hovers around $600,000, which is a bit higher than the average in and around College Station. The HOA fee for Saddle Creek residents is $300, and this annual payment is utilized to maintain the common areas of the community and to organize events and more for the residents and neighbors.
Within the Saddle Creek neighborhood residents can enjoy access to a beautiful community pool, luscious park, basketball court, athletic fields and a covered park area with picnic tables and built-in barbecue pits. All of these incredible amenities overlook the Brazos River and provide a wealth of entertainment and outdoor fun to the local community.
Living in Saddle Creek allows you to escape the hustle and bustle of city life without having the sacrifice the amenities that we all enjoy. The neighborhood also feeds into some amazing schools including Greens Prairie Elementary School and Cypress Grove Intermediate School.
Hire the Right Person
If any of this information about the Saddle Creek community sounds appealing, you will want to work with a professional real estate agent, who can help you through the process of finding the right home, submitting an offer, negotiating on your behalf and guiding you through the escrow process until the home officially becomes yours. Do you know what the difference is between a real estate agent, real estate broker or Realtor®? Most of the time, these titles are used interchangeably, but it is important to note that there are some important differences, as well as different requirements that allow individuals to identify with each specific title. Here is a break down of the different real estate professional titles you may encounter, and what they all mean!
- A real estate agent is a person who has a professional license that allows them to help people buy, sell or rent various types of housing and real estate. In order to obtain this license, every state requires individuals to attend classes and take part in specialized training for the job. Aspiring real estate agents will need to fulfill a certain number of hours to qualify for licensure, and then take a written licensing exam. If the person passes this exam, then they have officially earned the title of a real estate agent and can confidently work with buyers, sellers and renters.
- A real estate broker refers to an individual who has taken additional classes and education beyond what is required to be a real estate agent. This person must also have passed a broker’s license exam. Similar to real estate agent exams, every state has its own guidelines and requirements for broker education. The additional courses for a broker’s license includes topics like ethics, contracts, taxes and insurance – this is more in-depth than what is taught for real estate agent licensing. In order to take the broker’s exam and receive a license, real estate agents must already have some experience in the business, about three years. There are three different categories of real estate brokers with a subtle difference in the day-to-day duties they perform:
- A principal broker oversees all licensed real estate agents at a firm and ensures that they are all operating in compliance with state and national real estate law.
- The managing broker oversees day-to-day operations of an office and plays an active role in hiring and training new agents and managing any administrative staff.
- An associate broker is someone who has a broker’s license but is working under a managing broker. This person is usually not responsible for supervising other agents.
- A Realtor® is a licensed agent that is a member of the National Association of Realtors®. As a member, an agent is held to the standard of the association and its code of ethics. Realtors® also have more access to real estate market data and additional transaction management services, among other benefits.
- A listing agent is a real estate professional who focuses on representing home sellers. These individuals assist sellers with pricing a property, staging, marketing the home, hosting open houses, coordinating showings, negotiating with buyers and overseeing the home inspection and closing process.
- A buyer’s agent is a real estate professional who specifically works with buyers and assists them with every step of the home-buying process including finding the right home, negotiating an offer and guiding them through the entire purchase and escrow process.
- In addition to helping people buy and sell homes, real estate professionals also help those who are interested in looking for properties to rent. Sometimes a real estate agent will specialize in rentals and can be referred to as the rental agent – someone who guides your search from the beginning by helping you narrow down the right neighborhood, apartment size, price range, etc. Once you have selected the perfect apartment, your agent will help you read and understand the lease before you sign it. Rental agents can also help landlords who are looking for tenants.
Still Have Questions?
If you are looking for a real estate professional to represent you in a purchase or sale of a property, it is important to do your due diligence and interview numerous candidates before you make a selection. If you are looking for a real estate professional to help you buy or sell a property in College Station or Bryan, TX then please contact our team at Brazos County Realty. We have more than 25 years of experience in the real estate industry, and we guarantee the best service to meet and exceed your expectations. We look forward to meeting you, showing you around and helping you find your dream home in College Station or Bryan, TX.