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Steps to Buying a Home
Purchasing a home can be an exciting experience that involves many big decisions. As a buyer, it is important to understand the entire process and ask questions along the way. Here are the basic steps to expect on the road to your new home.
Starting the Home Ownership Process
- Call us to connect you with a trusted lender
- Determine how much you can afford to spend on a home.
- Calculate the funds you may have available for a down payment.
- Identify the future use of your home:
- Create a list of home features you desire
- Evaluate your time and skill level to do repair work and touchups on an older home versus a newly constructed one.
Shopping for a Home
- Work with one of our trained and professional agents
- An agent can help you find listings that meet your specifications, schedule showings and provide you with insight on the home value and its location.
- Our agents will do the legwork for you and guide you to your dream home
- Schedule showings with your agent.
- Provide you with a sellers disclosure, a document on which the seller provides information about the age and condition of the house.
- Verify the school district, taxes, parking, flood history, etc.
- View an aerial map of the area for rail lines, major roadways, hospitals, streams, etc.
- Drive or walk through the development to assure the neighborhood suits your needs and family’s desires.
- Take your time and be patient. Buying a home is a big decision, don’t rush into it!
Making an Offer
- Identify the maximum amount you can afford
- Consult with your agent to place a bid on the home. Our agents can help you determine a fair price as well as negotiate with the seller and seller’s agent.
- Prepare your offer to ensure it is within your price range and includes:
- The pre-approval letter to strengthen the bid.
- Any contingencies or conditions to your offer.
- Wait for the seller to accept, reject or counter, which can take hours or days.
- In the event of a counteroffer, you can accept or “counter the counter.”
Offer accepted, now what?
- Our agents act like your quarterback, we will facilitate and watch over all of the moving parts during the critical stages of the next 30 to 60 days.
- Your agent will set up any necessary home, radon, sewer, water and pest inspections.
- We will send the final agreement of sale to a lender and title company (attorney) who will conduct the closing and provides title insurance.
- Do not make any large or new purchases on credit at this time which could jeopardize your ability to receive a loan.
- You will apply for a Homeowners Insurance policy which provides fire and storm damage protection.
- Our agents calculate all the closing costs so you have no surprises at settlement.
- We will keep in touch with your lender and title company to ensure all the necessary paperwork has been processed.
- We will schedule a walk through on the day of settlement to confirm the seller has completed repairs and other contingencies in the agreement.
Heading to Closing Day
- Bring funds (the title company will send us the final dollar amount) and settlement costs, usually in the form of a cashier’s check or wire
- Bring along a valid photo ID (drivers license)
- Discuss all paperwork with your agent before providing your signature.
- The home is officially yours when the seller signs the house over to you.
- The title company provides you with title insurance and will file the new deed in the local court house.
- Receive your keys and Enjoy your new Home!!!!
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