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Glenn Elliot, ERA Justin Realty Broker Salesperson has won many awards as monthly top overall producer. He was also awarded as Top Team member of the ERA Top Gun Academy, a Graduate of the Realtor Institute (GRI), a Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), and more. Glenn prides himself on being 1st in service to his clients and customers. His focus includes helping renters become buyers.
ERA Justin Realty’s Glenn Elliot: Helping Renters Become Buyers in 2013
Nothing compares to the feeling of having a place to call home. At one time or another, however, most of us have felt frustration at seeing hard-earned money go into rent every month rather than a more permanent house payment. Renting is most people’s first step toward home ownership, but what do you need to do to realize the dream of owning a home? ERA Justin Realty’s Glenn Elliot shares important insight for South Bergenite readers who want to become a homeowner.
“Sometimes, it’s not the regular rent-money obligations but other expenses that are the main obstacle in saving. A whole debt-counseling industry has arisen to guide consumers in getting out from under what they owe. Smart saving, not depriving yourself, just ensuring stability and enjoyment over the longest term involves many moves both major and simple, and can help prepare you for that first down payment.
On the simple end, rediscovering home cooking (and enjoying the leftovers as brownbag lunches) can amount to significant savings as compared to regularly dining out. On a higher level of financial planning, establishing a household budget and sticking to it, including a specific amount set aside for savings every month can get you to your home-affording goals sooner than you might have imagined.
You may also want to meet with a counselor who might negotiate a lower rate and set a sensible structure for your repayments on credit cards, while advising you how to ease dependence on them. This not only gets you on your own financial feet, but helps keep your credit rating intact for the very home loan you hope to someday secure.
There are additional ways to start working toward home ownership. Some sellers will enter into a rent-to- buy agreement, in which part of the regular rent is considered an installment of the home’s down payment, which, once built up, can help you obtain financing. Low income renters may also qualify for federal “Section 8” vouchers which are paid to the landlord, subsidizing your rental expenses and helping you save for a permanent home.
Just as some renting options allow you to set funds aside, some types of purchases can help defray your costs even as you fulfill the stepped up obligations of home ownership. Pooling resources with other buyers to occupy a two-family home could be one; buying such a home by yourself and renting one half of it could be another.
Even if your economics remain challenging, there are low-down-payment mortgages, and other forms of financing for special circumstances, available to buyers who meet the right criteria. Our ERA Justin Realtor sales professionals can help you navigate through these options, accessing financing programs through the varied mortgage lenders who we may recommend. He or she can also identify what government help might be available, and generally counsel you on your readiness to be a buyer, and on what else you might need to do to get there. If you consult the right sources, your personal counselors and seek common-sense strategies, then your every move in the renter’s world can be pointing you home.”
Elliot concluded, “ Our team at ERA Justin Realty have many answers and are available just a phone call way. Because of our daily priorities, we proudly received the prestigious ERA world-wide 2003 – 2012 ‘Commitment to Excellence Award’, one of several selected from ERA real estate firms with approximately 30,000 brokers and agents. We are the Realtor of choice to thousands of buyers and sellers since 1950.
Jennifer Darby Metzger, ERA Justin Broker co-owner added, “Ask to see our over 700 reviews of our services from our buyers and sellers. All across the nation, the most coveted award that can be achieved in business is the ‘J.D. Power & Associates’ award, in the past received by ERA Real Estate for Highest Satisfaction for First Time Home Buyers Among Full Service Real Estate Firms. For these reasons ERA Justin Realty should be your buying and selling Realtor of choice.”
Elliot and all of the ERA Justin Realty full service Realtor salespersons can be reached at either of their two Rutherford offices at 118 Jackson Avenue and 57 Park Avenue. By office phone (201) 939-7500, (201) 438-0588 or (201) 438-SOLD. View 1000’s of homes at their websites at ERAJustin.com and ERAJustinRealty.com.
