Guide to Buying

Let's Find Your Perfect Home

There is a lot to consider when buying a home. You want to make sure that you get the best house for you. Choosing the right home, the right neighborhood, the right layout—it can become overwhelming. It doesn’t have to be, if you journal your thoughts and think about what are the most important factors you want in your new home and then start looking!  

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STEPS TO FINDING YOUR NEW HOME:

1. Make a list of Needs and Wants- In addition to helping you narrow down your search, this is a great communication tool between you and a co-buyer, as well as with me!  

2. Work with a lender you feel comfortable with and get your budget established (let me know if you would like a list of preferred lenders I've worked with)  You will need a Pre-Approval Letter when you decide to put in an offer!

3. Decide on a Realtor!  Having someone working for you through the transaction is so helpful. And, this service is no cost to you-- Seller pays for my services.  I would be honored to assist in working with you!

4. Look through Listings I send, and search on the internet and browse through neighborhoods you like.  

5. Let me know as soon as you see homes you like and we can set up showings!

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ONCE YOU FIND A HOME:

1. We will talk through details for your offer:  Price, Closing Dates, Special Circumstances, Seller needs we might accommodate, correct names to hold title, etc.

2. I will create a contract to buy the property, review together, then have you sign in person or e-sign.

3. I will submit the offer and connect with the Listing Agent.

4. If they counter the offer, we will talk through your wishes and either sign, counter or walk away.

5. Once the contract is mutually executed, we are UNDER CONTRACT and the clock to closing begins!

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NOW THAT YOU'RE UNDER CONTRACT:

Dates and deadlines start- you will find these in the offer:

1. Earnest Money - The earnest money must be submitted to the Title Company or other entity, as stated in the listing, by the contract deadline.

2. Title to Property: Title work is done to make sure there are no liens against the property.  When this is done, you will get a clean title to your property. We will review to see that there isn't anything objectionable.  You will get updated information several times before closing.

3. Financing: You will start a specific application for the particular property you have put an offer on.  You will continue to work with your lender throughout this process, this includes providing financial information, talking through different loan options, etc.

4. Inspection - Buyers have the right to have the property inspected professionally. If there are major items of concern, you may decide to Object and ask the Seller to fix or replace items.  If negotiations are not successful, you may choose to get out of the contract with your Earnest Money in tact.​ 

5. Home Insurance deadline - Contact your insurance agent to get a quote on this new property. If it lies in a flood zone or fire area, insurance may be out of budget.  This deadline also lets you get out of the contract with earnest money in tact if the insurance is too high.

6. Home Owners Association Regulations- Many neighborhoods have HOAs.  The sellers have a deadline to provide the HOA documents, then you have a deadline to review and make sure you feel comfortable with the regulations.  If not, there is nothing the seller can do to change those, so you can get out of the contract by the deadline with your earnest money in tact. 

7. Appraisal- Your lender will order an appraisal to make sure the value is at least the offer price. This is for both your protection and the lender's.  If the house does not appraise, you may choose to re-negotiate, stay in the existing contract, or get out with your earnest money in tact.  (If you are buying with cash, you may wish to waive the right to an appraisal and save some money.)

8. Loan Objection-  If, for some unforeseen reason, (for instance, rates went sky-high or the loan didn't meet your expectations,) you could get out of the contract and get your earnest money back.

9. Settlement Statement - About 3 days before closing, we will receive the Settlement Statement from the Title Company stating all the charges and necessary funds to close.  We will go over that together to make sure it complies with the contract and with fees we know of. Arrangements will be made for the wire transfer or specific check to bring to closing.

10. Walk-Through- We will arrange to do a walk-through before closing- often the morning of.  This is strictly for the purpose of seeing the last minute condition of the property and that it is clean, personal property has been removed and it looks at least as good as when you viewed the property originally. You can also double-check the Inspection Objection items have been completed.

11. CLOSING DAY!  Closings usually are held at the Title Company, but may be other places.  I will work with Title and the Listing Agent to schedule the time and place. The date has already been agreed upon in the contract.  BRING- your photo ID (maybe 2 pieces) and any Funds needed to close in the way specified by the Title Company.  (This may have been pre-arranged by you with a wire transfer or a with a check.)

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No matter what your budget is, we can find the perfect home for you. As a certified Real Estate Agent, I will be with you every step of the way, from helping you narrow your search to guiding you through the negotiation process. Everyone deserves to own their own home.

Interested in finding out more? Contact me to see how you can get started today.