<p>Tips for buying a new home in OC.</p>
<p>#1 Do not buy from a builder with low JD Power scores! They do not care about them, they don't care about you and there is no incentive for them to care about the scores. So there is no incentive (bonus) to care about you or the thin moldy walled, electrical nightmare, flood causing too small plumbing, leaky roof crackerbox that you bought. Buy from the ones who have high JD Power scores! This means they care about them and that you will give them the highest score because bonuses depend on it.</p>
<p>#2 Use that JD Power survey to your advantage! If you are thinking of buying then take the $$$ incentive to use their lender. Yes their lender! They are all the same and have access to the same rates and same programs as everyone else. Unless of course you have major money with your bank and your private banker can eat money to get you a better than market rate. So go to your legitimate banks and lenders and show them a good faith estimate with fees and rates and the builders lender will match it. Why? Because you will be happy that they took care of you and rate them high on the JD Power survey. If you already own a home and something is wrong or broken call customer service and while on the phone say "Excuse me a second. What's that honey the mail came and there is a JD power survey for blank builder there? I'm sorry mr./mrs./miss soandso we wil have somebody there right away." They will be there that day to fix whatever it is you need and then some. Guess what they all are rated and their bonuses depend on the surveys too.</p>
<p>#3 Know who your super intendent is! Get to know him or her and treat them well. Do not over do it because they will take advantage of it. Seriously think about it if it costs you $100 in breakfast burritos to have more care taken in building you house wouldn't it be worth it? Do not BS them either they can smell it a mile away. I mean think about it they deal with the sales agents of the tract all day. Find someone who is a contractor who is a great person and really knows the business and bring them out to the project to talk shop with the super. If you bring a jerk don't be surprised to find rats and roaches feasting off the fast food scraps from the 15 months it took for them to build the place when you move in.</p>
<p>#4 Do not believe the sales agents! They don't know squat and will say just about anything to make a sale. If you don't look highly upon RE agents then know that most of these but not all new sales agents are the rejects who couldn't get buyers on their own so they now work for the builder. Yes there are some really good ones but they are rare. </p>
<p>#5 Get to know your escrow officer! This is a person who makes things happen and can make sure you are on top of the pile. They are also the most stressed out and treated the worst out of everyone you will deal with. I swear if they like you and you send them flowers or chocolate or whatever you find out they like the day that you call and they sound like they are in bad mood you will be amazed what can happen later. Shmoozed correctly and fees will reduce or even disappear. </p>
<p>#6 Get to know your loan processor! They are the second most stressed out and least paid out of everyone. But you would be surprised how much power some of them have. They can make things happen and can also help in reducing fees or even making them disappear. They may know more than the loan officer and find you a better deal. </p>
<p>I know I probably have more and when I think of them if you would like me to post them I will. These are typically true and will work for the most part. If you are a jerk to the processor then the escrow officer will know about it and then find your file on the bottom. So be cool and they will take care of you. When I say get to know them I mean find out who is their favorite football/basketball/baseball team is or find out what their favorite food is. You may think that this is a lot of effort when I am buying a house for $$$$ but trust me this will make everything easier and your place will be the best on tract. Especially when your neighbor who was a jerk and they call you when it is raining and their roof is leaking and yours isn't. These tips may not work if their lenders or escrow company are not the same company as in if the lender is Countrywide or Wells. </p>
