Buying a Home at the Lake? Get Ready with These Tips!

Are you thinking about buying a home at the Lake of the Ozarks? The process is exciting and well worth the effort when you can finally relax in your brand new Lake House. But it can also be difficult and stressful to go through the real estate process on your own. As the best title agency at the Lake of the Ozarks, Arrowhead Title has several tips on what you need to know before buying a home at the Lake. If we can answer ANY questions about purchasing a home at the Lake of the Ozarks, please give us a call!


Evaluate Your Finances 


Buying a home is a huge investment! With the down payment, private mortgage insurance, realtor fees, mortgage lending fees, cost of inspection, closing costs, and so much more... The amount you will be spending upfront on your home is going to be larger than the sticker price you've seen on the home's listing.

It's a good idea to catalog all of the possible costs that you will encounter when buying a home. This could change the type of home you are able to buy if it is significantly more than you anticipated and will affect your down payment. 

There can also be additional costs to consider when buying a lake front property. If there is a seawall and dock, you will need to pay to have the permit moved into your name from the previous owner's. The dock may also require additional money to get it up to your standards. Keep all of this in mind when you are looking at homes and take all repair costs into consideration. 

Consider the Neighborhood


The Lake of the Ozarks has several different areas to choose from. Whether you are looking for a bustling condo near all the restaurants you could imagine, or a quiet cabin in a small neighborhood, the Lake of the Ozarks has the perfect place for you.

It is also important to consider where you will be working before you choose your future home. If you plan on working in Lake Ozark but have been looking at homes in Camdenton, you may want to drive the route a few times to make sure you are comfortable with making the commute every morning. If you are working on opposite sides of the Lake, you will also want to calculate the cost of the toll for your commute, or the fact that you will need extra time in the morning to drive around the Lake. 

If you're not quite sure what you're looking for, try going to open houses. Walk around to get a feel for what layouts you like, how much room you really need, and what kind of neighborhood appeals to you. These details will be incredibly helpful to your realtor when they begin searching through listings to find your dream home.


Be Prepared


Before you decide to buy your dream home at the Lake of the Ozarks, make sure you are ready. There are a lot of other ways to prepare for the home buying process, but three you will want to do right away are ...

  • Review the total costs to determine how much you can afford.
  • Determine your ideal community so you know what kind of neighborhood to look for. 
  • Consider the unique situations that the Lake of the Ozarks brings to the table. Like commuting!

Buying a house can be a complicated process, but you can't beat that new-home feeling!
Let us know if we can help you with any further home buying advice. And when you're ready to choose your title company, be sure to call us at Arrowhead Title for the best title company at Lake of the Ozarks.


The Lake of the Ozarks' Most Trusted Title Company
Where Accuracy Matters!


750 Bagnell Dam Blvd Suite B
Lake Ozark, MO 65049

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Title Commitment vs Title Report

9 Fun Facts About Title Insurance

Why Would I Need a Title Search vs Owners and Encumbrance