Realtor for Women Buying Solo Fran Gianaris Offers Tips to Guide Single Women to Buy Real Estate in Sizzling Market

WASHINGTON, June 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Real estate sales across the USA are growing hotter with rising temperatures.  Single women — a group that includes the divorced, never married and widowed — today comprise roughly one in five home purchases annually – so reports the National Association of Realtors.

Since 2002, Realtor for Women Buying Solo Fran Gianaris has guided hundreds of women to achieve their home ownership dreams. Gianaris notes that women buyers share a number of qualities in common, though their circumstances may differ greatly. Among their similarities are the need for more hand-holding, conversation around details about the transaction and the emotions around it, and the need for ample time to arrive at their best choice.

"These needs can play havoc in competitive bidding situations," Gianaris says. "Let's face it. Turning on a dime isn't comfortable for many women about to make the biggest financial decision of their lives." Gianaris offers these tips to make their best moves.

• Get your financial house in order.
• Have two buckets of cash – one for the down payment and the second for closing costs.
• Know your credit score.
• Have your loan pre-approval in place before you begin your home search.
• Be prepared to waive contingencies.
• Be clear about must-haves to make wise use of precious time in the search.
• Know, like, and trust both your Realtor and your lender. Ask for referrals and do your due diligence. Gianaris advises, "Make sure you know in your heart, head, and gut that both have your back. These are people who should already be in your trusted circle of advisors so you can feel safe making perhaps the biggest investment of your life."
• Know your deal breakers. That means knowing how many bedrooms, bathrooms, location, size, amenities (parking, lighting, laundry, access to shopping and transit, etc.) and not-to-exceed price.
• There are no stupid questions. Set aside the idea that you should know the process. Ask all the nitty-gritty questions that come to mind without apology.
• Safety first. Before making an offer, talk to neighbors, check crime statistics from the local police department, notice lighting on the street and avoid ground floor units.
• Don't go it alone. Bring a buddy along to tour the home that might be your own – your sister, best friend, or your son or daughter.
• Compromise is essential. There is no perfect house, just like there is no perfect partner. 
• Do the math.  Insurance, property taxes, utilities and home maintenance costs count for a lot. Know the score before signing any contracts.
• Keep a box of tissues nearby. Buying a home is an emotional process full of tears, laughter, drama, trauma, and chaos. "Cry when you feel the need, and keep your wits around you at all times," Gianaris says.

To access her special report to showcase how to avoid simple mistakes when buying a home, visit this link.

About Real Estate Specialist for Women Buying Solo Fran Gianaris:

Fran Gianaris has been guiding single women to successfully buy homes since 2002.  She launched her blog -- Bounty and Bliss: A Woman's Guide to Buying a Home of Her Own – to serve and reach women around the nation. Her forthcoming book by the same title will debut in 2014. In 1995, Gianaris faced divorce and the complications of remaking her life as a single parent to two young sons. Today, she owns her own home AND a thriving real estate business in the Washington, DC area.

For over a decade, she has earned rave reviews for her first-class and heart-centered services. Taking a buyer by the hand and helping her successfully navigate the sometimes rocky path of securing a home is where Gianaris' skills shine brightest. It is a path she knows well, and she is dedicated to helping single women walk it with grace and ease. She enjoys staying in touch with clients through the years and seeing how they have grown into their homes and planted their roots. Solid home ownership can anchor a woman safely in her heart's center.

For media interviews, call or email 301-633-4199 or [email protected].

SOURCE Fran Gianaris