WNY Homes for Sale

Buffalo NY is a community that has been misunderstood by many but those that live in Western New York know it is a wonderful place to call home.   Situated in the western portion of New York state nestled on shores of Lake Erie.  The Buffalo region is one of the fastest growing Real Estate markets in the United States today.  To the north is Niagara Falls and over the boarder Toronto.

Buffalo is a city under an amazing amount of change; all for the positive. Visitors regularly say, "I had no idea." This expression of surprise has happened so often weve given it a name: the "Who Knew?" effect. As in, "Who knew Buffalo was such a beautiful city?" or "Who knew there was so much to do here?" or the "Who knew there were so many amazing restaurants?"  

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There is something in the Buffalo Niagara Region for everyone.   Winter snow provides some incredible opportunities to enjoy winter and mild summers set the stage for incredible sailing on both Lake Erie and Lake Ontario.  The weather also creates an incredible micro-climate for some of the best wine that is produced on the shores of Lake Erie.  Sports fans have a selection of professional and college teams to cheer for.   Those that love the arts there are an amazing selection of Museums and Theatres.   With over 20 colleges and universities in the Greater Buffalo region, Western New York is progressive in Sciences and Technology fields.

Thinking of purchasing Real Estate in the Buffalo Region?   There is an amazing selection of affordable housing and in Western New York you are never more than 20 minutes from Downtown Buffalo. 

One of the most important things you will do when deciding to purchase a Buffalo home is how you are going to finance the purchase.   If you plan on obtaining a mortgage, rules are changing and you need to understand the process.  At bear minimum you need to pre-qualify for a mortgage for no other reason that to determine what you can afford to purchase.   This way we can ensure you are seeing Buffalo homes that you can afford. There is nothing more frustrating to a Buyer than to fall in love with the absolutely perfect home only discover you cannot afford it.

Pre-qualify vs. Pre-approval

To start, it might be helpful to explain the difference between pre-qualify and pre-approval.   Many Real Estate Professionals use the terms and you may not know the difference between the two.  The difference is significant:

• Pre-qualify - is when the mortgage professional asks you several questions, and based on your answers they tell us you would qualify for a particular amount
• Pre-approval - requires documentation and is based on the facts gathered.   The approval will be contingent on the home's appraisal and that your financial situation does not change.

Mortgage pre-approval will also make you a stronger buyer on paper when we present offers to sellers.  So not only does it give you a competitive advantage it will enable you to close quickly when you do find the right Buffalo home.

Before you start looking at houses with me, I will ask that you pre-qualify for a mortgage if you plan on financing your home purchase.   This will assist me in helping you find the right home.  

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The National Association of REALTORS® has created a useful document for homeowners in "How to Avoid Foreclosure and Keep Your House" if you are in trouble it is an excellent place to start.

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Some of the resources cited in this document include:

For immediate advice, call 888-995-HOPE To speak to a counselor on how to avoid foreclosure. Available in English and Spanish, 24/7. Or visit their website for more information.

HUD Resources regarding Foreclosure

• For a list of HUD-approved counseling agencies, by state, go to www.hud.gov/counseling.
• HUD's Internet page-"How to Avoid Foreclosure"-is aimed at borrowers with FHA-insured mortgages, but can help other borrowers as well.

Additional Foreclosure Resources Check out:  Are You Facing Foreclosure in WNY?