Buying A Home? Here are some basic steps...

Step

Get PreApproved Before You Begin House Hunting

Find out how much of a mortgage you can qualify for.
Find out in detail how much money you'll need for down payment and closing costs.
Strengthen your bargaining position with sellers.

Step

Choose a Real Estate Agent You Can Trust

Ask your mortgage lender to recommend agents they work with on a regular basis.
Only work with an experienced professional who knows the market, will listen to your needs and knows how to negotiate effectively on your behalf.
Ask for references from family and friends.

Step

Find The Right Home

Determine the needs of you and your family.
Create a of list of "wants" and "must have" features you are looking for in a home. Schools and distance to work are usually a top priority.
Take notes as you preview homes or pictures if allowed.

Step

Make An Offer

Your real estate agent will get your offer presented to the seller, who will accept it as is, make a counter offer on price or other condition or reject it.
When the price and terms have been agreed upon, you and the seller will sign the Purchase Agreement, defining the terms of the sale.

Step

Have The Home Inspected

Hire a professional home inspector after the offer has been accepted to provide an in-depth look at the basic systems of the house, to reveal any safety hazards, major defects or substantial updates that may be needed.

Step

An Appraisal is Ordered

An appraisal is a formal report of the home’s current market value and may be required for your lender if you have less than 20% down payment on a purchase.

Step

Title Insurance is Ordered

This guarantees that the property you are purchasing is free of liens or discrepancies in rights of ownership.
The policy insures against any losses to the property that result from defects on the title or deed.
The Title Company will prepare all the final documents where you will meet with the sellers to sign everything and "close" the deal.

Step

Close on the Property

If you have questions or need more information to purchase a property or refinance, get in touch anytime and I'll be more than happy to help!