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This guide will help you through the planning process of buying a home. Yes, “planning”. If you don’t have a plan, you don’t know where you are going or how to get there. This plan applies whether you are a first-time buyer or a veteran who has purchased a home before. Don’t forget, the most important element of the process is you, the consumer. As a seller or a buyer, the final decisions are ultimately yours. We Realtors® are here to help you along the way by providing information and answers to the questions you may have so you can make the right decisions for you, the consumer. Never forget that!
Step 1 - Are You Ready?
First you have to determine if you are ready and prepared to buy a home. Here are questions to ask yourself. A Realtor® can help you explore the possibilities.
-- Do you know what you want?
-- Do you have the money?
-- Are your finances in order?
-- Should you buy instead of renting?
-- Do you have a house to sell?
If you decide to sell your existing home first, CLICK HERE for more information and contact me to let me know what you need. This service would include a "Maximum Home Value" Audit and providing comparables to determine the best pricing for your home in today's market. Of course, it's free and there is no obligation.
Step 2 - Find A Realtor
Every buyer should consider enlisting the services of a Realtor® as a Buyer’s agent. It is important for buyers as well as sellers to be adequately represented in the real estate process. There is a myriad of forms involved in the buying process and other details to attend to such as financing, inspections, pricing, negotiating and marketing. You need someone in your corner looking out for your rights and have your best interest at heart. I'd be happy to help if you are interested.
Step 3 - Get Pre-Approved
Now that you have decided you are ready to buy a home and have decided who will help you through the process, it’s time to sit with a mortgage professional and determine your financing options for your home purchase. It would have been disheartening to find a home that you love and then find out later you cannot afford it. You have also wasted precious time in your home search.
With your pre-approval letter in hand, you are showing sellers you are serious about the offer you are submitting and have a higher chance of meeting the terms of the sales agreement.
CLICK HERE here to do some quick rough calculations.
Step 4 - Look At Homes
The market has many homes available to today’s buyers. There are lots of options and locations to choose from. In order to find potential homes to visit and see, the buyer must decide what features they want in their next home. It is critical to decide what you cannot live without – what attributes you MUST have in your home. From a 2-car garage to a walk-in pantry to gas heat. You should also identify which features are higher priorities than others. Get your SEARCH started today -- two ways... 1. DO IT YOURSELF SEARCH, or 2. SET UP MY SEARCH FOR ME -- either way, you'll save time! You'll get direct access to all the current listings in the MLS.
You can also check out the schools and community facts & amenities.
Step 5 - Choose A Home & Make An Offer
After looking at different homes, you will eventually decide on which one is the home for you. Use sales data from comparable homes that recently sold to determine the details of your offer. You don't want someone else to beat you to your perfect home; so do your homework (steps 1-4).
Step 6 - Tend To The Details
Now that your offer has been accepted and you and the sellers are in agreement on the terms of the sales agreement, it is time to tend to the details to get to settlement. This may include finalizing your funding, completing inspections and obtaining hazard insurance and other particulars that may be necessary.
Step 7 - Close & Move In
At closing, you need to check the status of all the utility services for the property. Transfer what you can to your name, often without having to turn the service off. Make sure you maintain adequate insurance on the property. Be sure to file the papers you received at closing. You will need them later. Now that you have closed on your home, you start the process of moving. Finally, it’s time to enjoy your new home and get settled in. | 
