Buying a Home

Buying a home can be one of your most significant investments in life. Not only are you choosing your dwelling place, and the place in which you will bring up your family, you are most likely investing a large portion of your assets into this venture. The more prepared you are at the outset, the less overwhelming and chaotic the buying process will be. The goal of this page is to provide you with detailed information to assist you in making an intelligent and informed decision. Remember, if you have any questions about the process, we're only a phone call or email away!

 Steps to Buying a Home 

Decide What You Want

The first step to take when buying your first home is to decide what you want. The best way to do this is to create a prioritized list of features and amenities that are important to you. This list should serve as your guide to searching for a new home, keeping in mind that the home you eventually purchase might not include every feature on your list. Three important factors to consider in your search are location, personal tastes, and budget. I can provide a information on community characteristics including schools, shopping, dining and other neighborhood features that will play an important part in your final decision.                                                                              

Determine What You Can Afford

Once you have made your prioritized list, it's time to decide how much house you can afford. There are many things that factor into what you can afford: income, credit rating, current monthly expenses, down payment and interest rate.

Apply for a Mortgage

There are literally hundreds of mortgage programs available to first time homebuyers, and it can seem like a daunting task to know which program will give you the most for your money. Contact me and I will tell you the easiest way to get a pre-approved home loan.

Shop for a Home

Now that you have an idea of the area you would like to live in and how much you can afford, you can start your search for your new home. To help you simplify the process as much as possible, you can contact me and I will help you search the area for properties that are of interest to you and also set you up so that you automatically are notified when new listings are available that match your search criteria.

Once you see a few homes that you like, you should begin to visit homes in person. I can arrange visits for you and you can attend open houses in your target area and price range.

Make an Offer

Once you have found the home that you wish to purchase, I will use all of my professional training, knowledge and skills to help you structure the best offer for you. Offers are about much more than price. Contingencies, allocation of costs, setting the right closing date, etc. are just a few examples of the terms that I will address to help you and the seller come to an agreement. The offer is just the first step of the negotiation process. When an offer is presented the seller will have the option of accepting, rejecting or counter-offering. You will appreciate your my negotiation skills which will be critical in getting you the property you want at the best terms possible for you.

Inspection and Insurance

Once your offer is accepted, you will need to set up, coordinate and interpret various inspections on the property. These can include insect, radon, building quality, oil tank, title, etc. It is important not to get discouraged if problems are discovered during this period. I as your realtor will always be there for you to make this process as easy and smooth as possible. Many homeowners find that consulting a real estate attorney can also help with interpreting and understanding the language involved in the contracts and paperwork that need to be completed. In addition to the previously mentioned inspections, you will also need to arrange for homeowners insurance and finalize your mortgage agreement. 

 

The Final Closing

Before you arrive at the final closing, you should make sure that all the necessary paperwork and deposits have been completed and forwarded to the appropriate parties. Missing or incomplete information can delay the closing, so it is imperative that everything is done prior to your closing date. Once all the paperwork is completed and signed, you own the house.

 

 

 

Click on "Auto Search" link above and I will then automatically email you all new listings that fit your search criteria within minutes after your ideal home hits the market. You'll be one of the first to know, it just doesn't get much easier then that!