As your Lake Charles Realtor, I will listen to your needs so I can match your criteria to produce the great results you deserve and expect. This includes advising you of the current market and pricing, helping you with inspections and much more.

Southwest Louisiana Buyers Will Find These Home Buying Tips Located Within the Buyer Tab:

Things to Consider When Searching for a Home in Southwest Louisiana

How Much Can You Afford?

Get Pre-Approved

Talk to your local lender to get preapproved for a home loan. Preapproval helps to know how much money the bank will lend you and what different loan options will cost. This will give you an educated idea of how much you can spend, so you don’t need to worry about falling in love with a house, only to learn that you can’t afford it. Also, it makes the negotiation process easier when you are ready to move forward and make an offer on a Lake Charles home.

Know Your Non-Negotiables

Before you start your Lake Charles home search, it is important to pinpoint your needs and wants. For instance, if you have children and/or pets, you will probably want a fenced yard with room for them to play. Need at least three bedrooms? Can’t live without a shop? Will you lose your mind if you have to spend more than 15 minutes in your car on your daily commute to work?

Think about your lifestyle and your budget. Making a list of what is important to you is helpful because when you start looking at houses, certain home features will catch your eye, leading you to want to compromise on your original goals. That Pool might be attractive, but if the home doesn’t meet your other needs, in the end, it’s not a good fit. Your list of priorities will keep you focused and help you narrow down the many choices on the market.

Research Lake Charles Home Values

Once you narrow down the Lake Charles neighborhoods you like , you can begin to research Lake Charles Homes for Sale in your price range. This is important so you don’t overpay and can get the best deal possible on your home. As your REALTOR I can assist you with Lake Charles comps and home values per sq ft.

When you have an idea of what you are looking for in in a home and establish a budget, you can finally begin to actually view Lake Charles homes for sale. This is the fun part and the internet is a great resource. When viewing the Lake Charles Real Estate and Homes for Sale website with searchable MLS listings at your fingertips , you can enter in all of your needs and find a list of relevant properties, complete with images of each property.

Questions to Ask When Buying a Lake Charles, LA Home

Most people start their home search by looking online at Lake Charles Homes for Sale. You will find many nice homes for Sale in Lake Charles that you may fall in love with. As a Lake Charles home buyer consider these questions before writing an offer1) Can the homeowner pay off the mortgage and the closing costs at the expected selling price?

If the home is a short sale:
- how many loans and liens are recorded against the property?
- are the property taxes paid, sold or delinquent?
- is the seller qualified for a hardship?
- has the agent and/or attorney prepared a short sale package?
- is the homeowner involved in any civil litigation like a divorce or business bankruptcy?

What are the neighborhood comps of similar homes sold for in the past 3 months?

How long has the home been on the market?

Has the house had any price drops since it has been on the market?

Have there been any previous offers? What happened?

What are the local ratios for sold to (last) list-price ratio and sold to (original) list-price?

Is the seller offering any special incentives to the buyers such as closing costs or flooring allowance

What is the seller’s timing with moving?

Are there any special HOA assessments or new taxes the new homeowner will have to make in the near future?

As you consider your Lake Charles housing needs, it’s also important to consider how long you may live in your Lake Charles home. If you’re newly married, you might not be concerned with a Lake Charles school district right now, but you could be in a few years. It’s important to think about your new home’s location just as carefully as you do about a house’s features. In addition to considering the distance to work, you may also want to evaluate the convenience of shopping, schools and day-care.

Take Notes and Photos When Viewing Lake Charles Homes for Sale:

When you are ready to view Lake Charles homes for sale, bring a digital camera to take pictures of the Lake Charles homes you view – you’ll be happy to have the photos to refer to later. After touring each home, write down what you liked and didn’t like.

Take Advantage of Buying Seasons

If you want the most inventory to choose from, the best time to start your Lake Charles home search is during spring or summer — this is when most houses go on the market. It’s also the time of year when most people are buying a new home, so sellers may be less willing to lower prices or offer closing credits.

If you’re looking for the best prices, consider waiting until winter, when Lake Charles real estate sales may be slow. While there won’t be as many options, sellers will be more open to offers they wouldn’t have considered earlier in the year.

Top Reasons to Buy a Home in Lake Charles, LA

Money is available for borrowers
A House can provide long-term tax savings.
Selection is excellent in all areas and price ranges
It’s a buyer’s market, which means buyers have more negotiating power.
A home is a great investment.
Building equity in a home is one of the best and most painless ways to save for the future.
When you own your own home, you are investing in yourself.
Many homes are “move-in” ready, meaning immediate occupancy without painting or fixing up.
Interest Rates are historically low.
Security and pride. Once you buy a home it’s yours. The price of owning your home provides a great sense of accomplishment.

Why Should I work with a Real Estate Agent

There are several reasons why you should use a Lake Charles Real Estate Agent. Buying a home is often the biggest financial investment one makes in their lifetime. Your REALTOR is valuable to you in your Lake Charles home buying process. REALTORS have the expertise to help buyers narrow down their choices by sharing Southwest Louisiana real estate market trends and Lake Charles community information.

A Realtor’s commission is paid for by the seller of the property not the Buyer. Real estate agents have current knowledge of real estate law that can protect you in a home transaction. Real estate law is complex and comprehensive. You should always have a REALTOR represent you in a real estate transaction to protect your best interests. Not having a REALTOR represent you is like going into court without a lawyer!

Buying a home in Southwest Louisiana can be a smooth process when you and your agent work hand in hand through the process together.

As your CENTURY 21® agent I am here to guide you through every step of buying your Lake Charles home. You can begin your Lake Charles Home Search right here on my website.

Buying a home is often the biggest financial investment you will make in your lifetime. The COST of a home is dramatically impacted by the mortgage component. Today, Lake Charles home buyers can get low mortgage rates and lock in at a rate for the next thirty years!! Both of these opportunities may disappear in the future. You should take this into consideration if you’re looking to purchase a home.

I am thrilled to work with all types of home buyers in Southwest Louisiana and look forward to assisting you in your Lake Charles Home Purchase!

Marilyn Boudreaux is a Full Time Licensed REALTOR in the State of Louisiana affiliated with Century 21 Mike D. Bono & Co.’s.

Marilyn Boudreaux, REALTOR® 337-499-9592

Century 21 Mike D. Bono & Co.’s

4410 Nelson Road

Lake Charles, LA USA 70605

337 478-1578