Buying a home is a big step! Whether you’re buying your first home, your dream home, or your tenth investment property, yours will be a big investment. I know how important this is to you. And I have assembled a team of experts to make sure we find the perfect property for your unique circumstances.
Finding the perfect property is just one way I can help you with your real estate purchase. As a real estate agent, I have access to experts in every related field from lending to relocation. I believe in client education throughout every step of the buying process. When you buy a home with me, you can rest assured that you’ll know what is happening every step of the way.
Because this is my neighborhood too, I can provide you with detailed information about our communities, cities, and state. My web sites also have full access to our Multiple Listing Service (MLS) so you can shop online from the comfort of your own home using an up to date, accurate, and private web portal. When you’re logged into your account, save and/or rate the homes you want to see, and we’ll tour them together.
The home buying process may seem complex, but I’ll make it easy for you. I will help you:
- Identify your priorities
- Understand the market
- Research different communities
- Apply for financing
- Understand the seller’s responsibilities
- Search for properties
- Complete and present the Purchase Agreement
- Counteroffer and negotiate until the deal is just right
- Conduct a home inspection
- Arrange and attend the closing with you
As my client, you will have all the benefits offered by a professional Realtor. Below is a helpful timeline that will show you the basic steps in the buying process.
10 Steps to Home Buying
Buyer Step 1: Choosing the Realtor
Congratulations! Let me start off by saying thank you for your trust in me to help guide you through this process. In addition to choosing me, your real estate professional, you have also chosen one of the best residential real estate companies in the country to work with. RE/MAX Results receives awards year after year as one of the best there is and we couldn’t be more thrilled with the fact that we get to work with you!
Buyer Step 2: Pre-Approval
Unless you are paying cash for this home, this is quite possibly the most important step in the entire purchase process. Knowing “how much house” you can afford will set us up for great success during this transaction as well as give us a guideline to follow when searching for homes to look at. If you are not currently working with a mortgage professional, let me know and I can refer you to a few people that will take great care of you.
Buyer Step 3: Find Your Home
This is the fun part. Now that we have your pre-approval we can set up your search criteria. I will set up a search for you online so we can find those perfect houses to go see. When we go see them, I will be able to take you on a private tour of any house for sale in the area. Things I will want to know are items such as desired number of bedrooms and bathrooms, style of home, school district and price. You can have homes that match your criteria automatically sent to your email as they come of the market. Be sure to set up an account on this web site to access all the features available.
Buyer Step 4: Making the Offer
You found a house you love. Now it’s time to put all of your desired terms of the purchase on paper in a document called the “Purchase Agreement”. These terms will include everything from the price, amount of earnest money, closing date and financing terms. Inspection dates and other various addendums will also be added. It’s a lot of paperwork, but we want to make sure you are covered from all angles! After negotiating the best possible price and terms, we will electronically sign all the documents.
Buyer Step 5: Signed Purchase Agreement
Now that the forms are signed by all parties and we have all of our terms accepted, we have an inspection to do! If you have chosen to purchase without doing an inspection, you get to move forward a few steps. There may be a few more forms for you to sign and your mortgage person may need some updated documents from you, but for now, most of your signing is done until the closing.
Buyer Step 6: Home Inspection
Now that we have a signed purchase agreement, it’s time to do the inspection. If you chose not to do the inspection, then this step is complete. The inspection is a good time to verify that what you are purchasing meets your definition of “livable.” This definition is different for all buyers. There will be many items that come up on the inspection report that are not “perfect” and that is common with new and existing homes. Rest assured that we will look through each item carefully to make sure that you are confident in your purchase.
Buyer Step 7: Home Appraisal
The lender will send a certified appraiser into the home to make sure it’s worth what you’re paying for it. This is an important step because although you and the seller have agreed to the price, the bank that is giving out the money for the loan will want to verify that it’s an appropriate price for the market. I will update you once this is complete.
Buyer Step 8: Closing Company / Title Commitment
During this time period, I will also be arranging for your closing day. I will get you in touch with the person who coordinates the process for me. That person is called the “Closer”. They work with the “Title Company” for the deed, title, etc to make sure everything is in order for the sale of the property.
The Closer & Title Company is ready to go. Clear title on the home has been verified and the next owner will be you. The closers on both sides of the transaction will coordinate the place and time of closing and notify you. We’re almost there!
Buyer Step 9: Final Documentation
We are almost there and now your mortgage pro may still be asking for a few last minute documents. Once final underwriting is done and the bank giving your loan sends the “Loan Package” to the title company, we will get a final Settlement Statement. This breaks down all of the money being exchanged at the closing and will give us that final amount in which you need to bring to closing in the form of a cashier’s check. Your mortgage pro or I will go through this with you once we have it. If all looks good, all that is left is the final walk- through and then it’s on to closing!
Buyer Step 10: Closing Day
This is the day you’ve been waiting for. I will attend the closing with you, and the Closer will walk you though the documents to be signed. Both the buyer and seller will have a Closer and will be signing documents. The entire process takes less than an hour. The keys are handed over to you… and then you’re ready to celebrate.
The entire process is fun and rewarding. I’m honored to work with you through the entire process to make it stress-free and efficient. I have a 100% close rating, so you can relax and enjoy the buying experience!
Start With The Best Web Tool
[tribus-quick-search id=”1″]
