You’ve got a partner in buying a home, it won’t be long before you own it.
It’s a big move, literally and figuratively. Buying a house requires a serious amount of money and time. The journey isn’t always easy. It isn’t always intuitive. But when you get the keys to your new home — that, my friend, is one of the most rewarding feelings pretty much ever.
You’ve done your research, made a list of pros and cons, looked at your budget, thought about what’s best, and finally decided – you’re going to buy a house! Exciting stuff, but after the rush goes away what happens next?
IT's time to get serious
You’ve been diligently looking at homes online; almost every spare moment you have is spent searching in real estate apps, looking for homes, checking prices, and keeping an eye on market trends. You have an idea of what you want, but now it’s time to commit.
Oh sure, everybody wants to jump right into viewing houses. But before you even set foot into a foyer, you should get pre-approved for a mortgage loan. If you haven't started this process, no worries, I'll hook you up with some of the best mortgage brokers and lenders to get a clear picture of what you can afford.
Once you’ve decided on a lender/mortgage broker, you’ll work with your loan agent to determine which mortgage is right for you. You’ll consider the percentage of your income you want to spend on your new house, and you’ll provide the lender with paperwork showing proof of income, employment status, and other important financials. If all goes well, fingers crossed, you’ll be pre-approved for a loan at a certain amount. Sweet!
Your list of must-haves in a home will act is an inventory of priorities in our search. And there’s so much to decide: Price, housing type, neighborhood, and school district — just to name a few. Once we're on the same page about what you’re looking for, I'll provide listings you may like based on your parameters and will also help you determine the quality of listings you find online. Now comes the fun part, open houses and private showings, which give you the unique opportunity to evaluate properties in a way you can’t online.
Negotiate, negotiate, negotiate
Your in love! You found a home you want to buy. We'll craft an offer that not only specifies the price you’re willing to pay but also the proposed settlement date and contingencies — other conditions that must be agreed upon by both parties, such as giving you the ability to do a home inspection and request repairs.
Making an offer can feel like asking someone out on a date. Do they like me? Am I good enough? Will they say yes? It’s stressful! Some home sellers simply accept the best offer they receive, but many sellers make a counteroffer. If that happens, it’s up to you to decide if you want to walk away or let me go to bat for you and negotiate with the seller. This is the part where I crush it - You get my expert negotiating skills haggling on your behalf and I'm gonna make sure you nab the best deal.
CLose the deal
BOOM! Your offer is accepted. Now, you’ll sign a contract. Most sales contracts include a home inspection contingency, which means you’ll hire a licensed or certified home inspector to inspect the home for needed repairs, and then if needed, ask the seller to have those repairs made. This mitigates your risk of buying a house that has major issues lurking beneath the surface, like mold or cracks in the foundation. No one wants that.
When you offer to buy a home, your lender will need to have the home appraised to make sure the property value is enough to cover the mortgage. Once the home appraises close to the agreed-upon purchase price, you’re one step closer to settlement.
Settlement or closing is the last stage of the home-buying process. This is when you sign the final ownership and insurance paperwork and make this official. When it’s all said and done — You’ll have the keys to your new home!
