1. Making the decision to become a homeowner
When you purchase a home it is a emotional and financial decision that can sometimes be overwhelming. That’s why its important to have a professional team help walk you through the steps and make this an exciting experience.
2. Find the right agent
With all of the forms, financing, inspections, marketing, pricing and negotiating, its crucial to have a professional who will look out for your best interest. Finding someone that will listen to your concerns, needs and guide you, will make the process more exciting and less overwhelming.
3. Get pre-approved
This is a crucial step in the process. Find out how much you can afford before you begin your search.
4. Time to start looking for that perfect home
The internet has many sites to search for homes and there will be endless hours of web surfing. As your agent I will send you homes that I think may fit your needs based on what you have told me. Then we will start touring the homes of your interest.
5. Choose a home
Finding the home that meets your needs and priorities will make for many years of happy living.
6. Make an offer
Once you have found the home you want to buy we will sit down and decide how much you would like to pay for the home. Then we will submit the written offer. After we submit the offer, we wait to hear back from the seller and their agent on whether your offer was accepted, rejected or signed back with a counter-offer. Be prepared that we may have to go back and forth with the seller a few times before everyone is happy and the deal is accepted.
7. Accepted offer
This is when you’ll want to have home inspections done so that you can learn everything about the home from the ground up before making the final commitment to purchase the property. During this time, you can also ask the seller to repair any problems revealed during the home inspection or make consignments to offset the costs of fixing the problems yourself once you move in. While the home is in a “sale pending” state, you’ll also finalize all paperwork with your lender to make sure your financing is squared away.
8. Appraisal/Survey
Now is the time when the appraisal is done as to make sure your not paying more than the home is worth. Also the survey is done so you know exactly where the property starts and ends,
9. Homeowners Insurance
Real estate insurance protects owners in the event of catastrophe.
10. Closing
Closing is the formal process where all parties sign the necessary paperwork to complete the transaction and funds are transferred from your lender to the escrow company and the title of the home is transferred to you, the buyer. More importantly, it is when the seller hands over the keys to your new home!