First Time Home Buyers through HAPEC

The Housing Assistance Program of Essex County is a non-profit organization that exists for the sole purpose of assisting Essex County residents in a variety of ways. They provide a wide variety of excellent services and information to home buyers, including assistance to First Time Home Buyers.

Housing Assistance Program of Essex County
103 Hand Avenue, PO Box 157
Elizabethtown, NY 12923

(518) 873-3691
info@hapec.org

Services Offered to Buyers

A list of Services either provided or planned with links to the details:

• A Private Buyer's Blog
  
• Special Advanced or Early Notice of Properties
• Property Preview
• Events & News Items of Interest to Buyers
• Pre-Qualification of Buyers
  
• Comparative Market Analysis (CMA)
• Negotiations
• Transaction Tracking BLOG for Parties to Contract
• Links to Documents
• Professional Services Contacts for Buyers
• Links to APA Regulations

Links to APA Regulations

This is a start to understanding more about the Adirondack Park Agency and the regulations that apply to all property within the park. Please email me or leave a comment about sites you may have found helpful and I'll be happy to add those to this list.

• The Adirondack Park Agency (APA) - Index
• Adirondack Park Agency (NY State site)
• Adirondack Park Agency - Regulations
• APA - Maps/GIS

Links to Documents

The following documents require Adobe Reader:

{list coming soon}

Negotiations

I remain actively involved in the negotiation process and keep an online record in your private blog. Personal references will be available soon

Pre-Qualification of Buyers

One of the single best and easiest things a buyer can do to improve his/her bargaining position is to obtain a pre-qualification letter. For cash buyers this can be in the form of a letter from their financial institution simply stating they have sufficient funds available to cover the intended purchase costs. For someone that plans to secure a loan, lenders can normally obtain all the information necessary by phone in a few minutes. They can then fax or email a letter for me to have on file that states you are approved up to some amount.

• I have no need to know particulars of your financial situation, only what range we should stay within.
• A Seller has no need to know what your limit is, only that it is sufficient.

This is of utmost importance to both of us. Most of the services I provide can only be provided for per-qualified buyers

Comparative Market Analysis (CMA)

Before any of my clients makes an offer I run a CMA to come to our own assessment of a fair price. I use that information when presenting the offer, in person whenever possible, so the seller has a clear understanding of the basis for that offer. This is valuable in all transactions, but may be even more so in offers to FSBO property.

My goal is to present a fair and well thought out offer from the start. This places the buyer in a strong position and improves the prospects of obtaining the desired property for the best possible price with the least amount of negotiation delay.