Families with Special Needs

Families With Special Needs

Tips for finding a friendly neighborhood for families with special needs

Moving to a new location can be exciting, adventurous and chaotic. From finding the best school and a new family doctor to making friends and neighbors, it can seem overwhelming. For a family with a physically challenged member, relocating can add more stress. John L. Scott agent, Judy Gratton offers the following recommendations for families with special needs to find the right home and neighborhood:

• As soon as you know or are seriously considering moving to a new city or state, begin your research. Look for neighborhoods that are special-needs friendly. Does it offer accessible transportation, recreation activities and entertainment options? Does it have sidewalks with cutout curbs, stores with easy parking spaces and safe play environments?
• For children, look for communities with universally accessible playgrounds, i.e. parks designed for people of all abilities. Make sure they have ramp access, play panels at ground level, and the correct surface for walkers and wheelchairs.  
• Interview school districts' special needs department and ask yourself: Can the school provide for your child’s needs? Does it offer a curriculum dedicated to ensuring such children with disabilities achieve full participation in their education? 
• Find and talk to families living in the community who have members with special needs to hear what they think about the community. 
• Ask your real estate agent to show you homes that have been previously owned by a family with special needs or ones easily reconfigured or expanded. Homes need to be accessible to allow family members to do what he or she needs and desires to do as independently as possible. Look for ramping entrances, wide doorways, low counters, lever or loop-style grab bars and a tub seat in bathrooms, and hardware on doors and drawers. 
• Know there is additional help for families with special needs, such as tax deductions for any home modifications, plus funding from local Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs, as well as the Paralyzed Veterans Association.

I am the proud parent of a 21 year old young man  with special needs.  As a Realtor, this is information and knowledge that I can bring to you as my client.  Please feel free to give me a call.

206-276-3289

You MUST get pre-approved in this market!

Pre-Approved Mortgage Loan

House hunting? Be prepared with a pre-approved mortgage loan. 

Most homebuyers miss out on one of the most important steps in the home buying process. No matter what type of real estate market, the experts at John L. Scott, including top agent, Judy Gratton suggest it’s a good idea to be pre-approved for a mortgage loan before the house hunting begins.

A pre-approved mortgage loan is a lender's actual commitment to lend to the homebuyer, with specifications on the exact loan amount. To become pre-approved, consumers must provide personal financial information, such as income, debts and assets, to an underwriter. After a homebuyer applies for the loan, the lender will most likely approve the application with certain caveats. As the lender is committing to the loan amount and interest rate up front, the buyer knows they have their financing in place before begin shopping for a home. Advantages of having a pre-approved mortgage loan include:

Establishing an advantage in a competitive market. A pre-approval letter gives the homebuyer an edge in a multi-offer situation. Sellers prefer working with potential buyers who are pre-approved; they do not want a deal to fall through because the purchaser cannot get sufficient financing. An offer with a mortgage pre-approval letter carries far more weight than an offer with only a pre-qualification letter or no letter at all. In fact, sellers often accept offers of lower dollar amounts from pre-approved buyers over buyers who have not been, despite higher offers. With pre-approval, the home sellers are more confident the deal will go smoothly.

Finding the best possible type of loan. Working with a mortgage agent before looking at houses gives the homebuyer plenty of time to decide what category of mortgage product works best for his or her financial goals. Once the buyer decides on the kind of loan he or she wants and has been pre-approved for it, the homebuyer can then focus on finding their dream home.

Establishing the price range. Getting pre-approved for a mortgage enables the homebuyer to determine, prior to house hunting, how much money he or she qualifies for, thereby establishing a price range. The real estate sales associate and homebuyer can then focus on looking at appropriate homes.

Seeking comfort with the loan amount. By taking the time to seek pre-approval, the homebuyer selects a comfortable loan amount. In many cases, buyers may qualify for mortgages that are more expensive than what they feel comfortable committing to for the long-term, merely because it works on paper. It is important for a buyer to purchase a home they can afford!

Once you  are pre-approved give Judy a call.  206-276-3289