Purchasing your new home in Harmony with RE/MAX Select Properties
Buying a home intimidates a lot of people, but with some planning ahead of time, it's not very hard.
I like to furnish buyers with a road map of the whole deal so they understand exactly what they can expect.
Below are my nine steps to buying a home.
When you're ready to get started, just contact me here or e-mail me at . I'm glad to address questions you have regarding this information.
Step 1 – Get ready to purchase
There are a lot of things you need to contemplate prior to starting your home search.
When you start your search, you'll want to assemble a checklist of items you need to have, get a feel for what school districts you want to live in, and begin working on your budget.
Keeping your mortgage payment around 30 percent of your net monthly income is a good rule to follow.
Step 2 – Contact a real estate agent
This is where RE/MAX Select Properties comes in.
I'd be more than happy to schedule a time to get together with you and speak with you about why you want to buy a home and get an idea of your future plans.
We'll discuss the mortgage industry, other economic factors that may potentially affect your buying decision today or in the future, as well as neighborhoods and schools in the Harmony area.
I can also help you facilitate the loan process.
There are some great mortgage professionals in Harmony, and I partner with a lot of them, so you'll be in great hands.
They'll help you decide which type of loan is best for you, as well as help you get qualified.
Step 3 – Start looking
After our initial meeting, I'll start looking for houses on the market that are good for you.
I'll get a sneak peek of most of the homes and throw out the bad ones, and then we'll schedule appointments to tour the houses at a time that's convenient for you.
When we tour the homes, I'll call attention to good features, as well as bad ones. I'll even ask you what things you like and dislike.
Oftentimes, buyers revise their must-have list as we tour houses and some features become far more necessary than others.
If such is the case, I'll search all the listings one more time and narrow it down to the house you've been wishing for.
Step 4 – Comprehend the market
My knowledge of the Harmony market is an imperative aspect in your home search. I'm informed of all the neighborhoods and schools, and I'll alert you to certain neighborhoods are "hot" and demand immediate action and some that are "cold" and allow for more examination.
As we tour homes, I'll be sure to tell you if the seller's asking price has room for bargaining or if I believe the house is "priced to sell."
When working with an agent, be careful and make sure you ask plenty of questions. Every real estate agent will claim to understand the market.
If things don't add up, contact me at 5078864221 or e-mail me at , and I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have. My knowledge of the market will keep you a step above the rest through the entire deal.
Step 5 – Find the home you've been waiting for
I'm sure we'll find the house of your dreams in Harmony. When we do, I'll carefully create your real estate purchase offer. The offer will be tailored keeping your needs in mind and the home, including several contingencies. A few examples are obtaining financing, finishing the inspection, and a clean title.
Upon submitting your offer, you'll need to present "earnest money." This is a cash deposit made to the seller to secure the offer to purchase the property, and it's often put towards the cost of closing. If your offer is accepted by the seller, we should close on the home within 30 to 60 days after. This allows enough time for your mortgage financing.
Step 6 – Negotiate the deal
Unfortunately most contracts don't close on the initial offer, and it's extremely common to receive a counter offer. But don't let this intimidate you. We'll consider whether or not to accept the counter offer, propose our own counter offer, or decline the seller's offer and move on.
How aggressively we negotiate the deal depends on market conditions.
In addition, we'll work within your budget. And when it's all said and done, we'll put together a contract that is best for you.
Step 7 – Get a loan
Upon finishing the deal, you'll begin working with your mortgage lender to close the loan.
If you're already pre-qualified, this shouldn't take long at all. But you'll want to keep in close contact with your lender.
And I'll deal with all the property information your mortgage lender will need to close the loan.
Step 8 – Close the deal
Your mortgage lender will provide you with a Loan Estimate (LE) detailing closing costs within three days of getting your application. You'll get a Loan Estimate (LE) detailing closing costs from your mortgage lender within three days of taking your application.
The estimate is formed from the loan amount, and RESPA requirements mandate that it has to include all closing costs and fall within a tight range of accuracy. I'll review the estimate and let you know if everything looks permissible.
Then it's time to close on your house. This will likely occur at a title company or escrow office and will probably be a smooth and relaxed occurrence.
Step 9 – Move in
Congratulations! It's time to move into your new home. Enjoy it. And if you have any questions, just contact me at 5078864221 or e-mail me at .