Buying A Home

Buying a home is an exciting process, but it’s constantly changing and without the right advisor can also be a daunting process. Our expert team of advisors can provide you with all the resources you need to make finding your dream home as effortless as possible.

What are the Advantages of Owning a Home?
Should I Buy a Condominium or a Single Family Home?
In general Single Family Homes offer you more freedom and control, but also require greater responsibility.

Condominiums (Condos) are typically a better choice for those Buyers who value a lower maintenance lifestyle such as those people who travel a lot, or are not able to keep up with the ongoing maintenance involved with a single family home. Condos in many cases are also available at lower prices making them attractive to first time home buyers. Contact us for more advice.
Do I Need a Real Estate Agent?
There is typically no charge for a Buyer to use the services of a Real Estate Agent since their fees are customarily paid by the Homeowner who is selling the home. Platinum Service Realty can guide you through every step of the process of buying a home, making the process manageable, providing valuable resources and saving you money at the same time! Contact us for more advice.
What is My Credit Rating?
It’s a good idea to check your Credit Rating 6 months to a year before you’re ready to buy since it’s not unusual to find errors on your Credit Report which can take months to resolve. Errors could prevent you from getting a loan for a new home, or mean a higher interest rate. We can arrange for a free credit check before you get started. Contact us for more advice.
What Features Should I Consider in a Home?
While everyone has their own idea of what’s important to consider in a home, there are certain features such as having more than one full bathroom that are important to consider from a resale perspective. Our expert team of advisors can help you decide the best use of your money. Contact us for more advice.
How Do I Know if it’s a Good Price?
When you use Platinum Service Realty to help you buy a home, we conduct a Market Analysis to determine the Fair Market Value of the home you’re considering. We’ll use that Analysis to determine if the Seller is asking a fair price for the home relative to the other homes which have sold in that area. Contact us for more advice.
How Much Should I Offer?
We’ll use the Market Analysis to determine what would be considered a fair price for the home, then develop a negotiation strategy to make sure you don’t overpay for the home. Contact us for more advice.
What Type of Loan Should I Get?
In general the type of loan is based on how much money you have available for a down payment, as well as how long you plan to live in the home. Based on your individual situation we can help you select the best loan for your needs. Contact us for more advice.
Do I Need a Down Payment?
Most loans today require at least 3.5% of the purchase price as a down payment, however there are still some special type loans for Veterans, as well as loans for homes in selected geographic areas which are available with no down payment. Contact us for more advice.
What About Down Payment Assistance Programs?
Depending on where you decide to buy a home, there may be grant money available to help assist you with a portion of the down payment. Contact us for more advice.
What Will the Monthly Payment be?
The monthly payment includes an amount to repay the loan, plus property taxes and insurance. This is often referred to as PITI, which stands for “principle, interest, taxes and insurance”.

There may also be a component for fees associated with being in a Homeowners or Condominium Association. Generally Condominium Association Fees are higher because they typically include certain items such as building maintenance that you pay for separately if you own a Single Family Home.

We can arrange for a free Loan Pre Approval to estimate your monthly payment before you get started. Contact us for more advice.

What are Closing Costs?
Closing Costs is a generic term which covers all the costs which are required to complete the purchase process. Most of the costs are fees for services which are required to get the loan, while others involve money you need to have available as a reserve which is required by the lender. These costs can vary widely depending on the type of loan you choose. Contact us for more advice.
What are The Tax Benefits?
When you itemize your taxes you are entitled to deduct the interest you pay on the loan as well as any property taxes, which reduces the amount you pay in taxes. Contact us for more advice.
Do I Need Insurance?
Assuming you get a loan to purchase the property, the lender will require you to maintain insurance on the property to protect your interest as well as theirs. Contact us for more advice.
Do I Need an Attorney?
Platinum Service Realty is able to complete all of the necessary contract forms required for a purchase or sale of Real Estate and therefore it is not required to have an Attorney. An Attorney can be helpful if there are questions concerning the legal ramifications of a specific issue, or in the event of a contract dispute. If needed we can refer you to a Real Estate Attorney who can help. Contact us for more advice.
How Do the Schools Compare to Those in Other Areas?
The State of Ohio publishes “Report Cards” which provide detailed information about district and school progress, such as student performance, enrollment, graduation rate, education funding and more. Click here for more information
How Do I Know if There are Problems with the Home?
As part of the Home Purchase Process you have the right to have the home inspected by an independent Home Inspector. Even if you know a lot about homes, having an independent inspection is an invaluable way to evaluate the home and provides an unbiased report which can be used to address any problems with the Seller if needed. Contact us for more advice.
How Long will an Expensive Item Like the Furnace Last?
As part of a Home Inspection, an Inspector can identify the age of the furnace and certain other items and give you an estimate of the remaining life of the items. Contact us for more advice.
Are There any Restrictions to My Use of the Home?
One of the many benefits to owning a home is the freedom and control it offers versus renting, however factors such as local Zoning laws or Homeowner Association rules may have an effect on how the home can be used. Contact us for more advice.
What about New Construction?
While it typically costs a little more to build a new home, there are numerous benefits. New homes offer the latest in floor plan designs and features with the ability to customize a home that meets your exact needs. A new home gives you the ability to select all your colors and materials and comes with all the warranties typically associated with a new product.

New Construction can also be a complicated process that involved lots of choices and with that comes its share of stress. Our expert team of advisors can guide you to a reputable builder, help you to negotiate the best price and make the process as effortless as possible, at no charge to you.

Ask about our free New Construction Services Package!
These are just some of the many issues our team of experts will guide you through.

Contact us for more advice about buying Cincinnati real estate.