Home Buying Process

Commit to your agent

 As you set out to find the right home for you, be sure to select an experienced, trusted professional who will help you make informed decisions and avoid any pitfalls.

I will be helping you navigate each step of the homebuying process while being readily available to answer your questions. My agent's job is to help you find a home that meets your needs and budget requirement. I can also provide information on neighborhoods, schools, property tax rates and more and will handle negotiations with the seller when you're ready to put an offer on a home.

 

Start The Search

Before you begin looking for a home, let’s talk about what you want in a home, why you want to buy and where you'd like to live.

Bring your house hunting checklist with you and ask questions.

Know where you want to live, scope out the neighborhood and evaluate the school district.

Bring a camera and take pictures.

Keep an open mind.

Focus on the things you can’t change such as the size of the home or number of bedrooms. (Don’t focus on the things you can change such as the paint color).

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Urban or suburban :

Do you want the convenience and walkability of city life? Or do you want a larger home with a yard, away for hustle and bustle of urban living?

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Proximity to your job :

Are you wiling to make an hour-long drive to work or do you want a short commute

Consider your current job and future opportunities.

Access to public transportation :

Do you need access to public transportation to get to and from work, school, or your primary health care provider?

Determine your "must-haves" and your deal breakers. Think about your household now and how your needs may change in the future. It is easy to get overwhelmed with so many possibilities so consider creating a homebuying wish list to narrow down your choices.

Through this phase, we’ll work closely together, determine a fair offer price while making sure you stay within range of what you can afford. I will also handle all contract negotiations with the seller’s agent.

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Determine the price

You've found the perfect home, and are ready to make an offer. Now what ? 

We will be by your side, helping your determine a fair offer piece based on my experience and the following home, market, and budget considerations ;

·       Recent sales prices of similar homes in the neighborhood

·       The condition of the home

·       The competition ( seller's vs. buyer's market)

 

Decide on contingencies :

Contingencies are clauses in the sales contract that would allow buyers to walk away with their earnest money if certain specific conditions are not met. Common contingencies include financing, title, home inspection, appraisal and sale of prior home contingency.

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Submit the offer :

Next, I will draw up the purchase agreement to submit to the seller's agent. The offer will include the purchase price and terms and conditions of the purchase, including :

·       Target Closing date

·       Provisions for certain fees

·       A deadline for the sellers to accept or counter your offer

·       Any contingencies

 

Negociate the offer :

oftentimes, the seller will counter the offer, typically asking for a higher purchase price or to adjust the closing date. In these cases, the seller's agent will submit a counteroffer to your agent, detailing the desired changes.

Following the counter offer, you have the option to accept, reject, or counter again. Your agent will play a large role during this part of the process, communicating all changes with the seller's agent.

 

Finalize the contract

The contract is considered final when both parties sign the written offer.

In your written offer, it is highly recommended that you make the home purchase contingent on the appraisal and inspection.

Once your offer is accepted, the next step is to get the home inspected. The inspection is not a requirement but is highlyadvised as it protects you from underlying issues with the home that you can't detect.

Home inspections give you the opportunity to have the home thoroughly examined by a professional before you spend your hard-earned money buying it. It can be well worth it for both peace of mind and the potential cost of trouble avoided. You can choose your own inspector and your real estate agent should be able to recommend several well-qualifies home inspectors if you need assistance.

 

What can you expect from the inspection?

Your home inspector will climb atop the roof and crawl deep into the attic. Their job is to protect your investment and find any issues with the home, including:

•     The roof

•     Plumbing

•     Electrical components

•     Appliances

•     Heating and air conditioning systems

•     Ventilation

•     Windows

•     The fireplace and chimney

•     The foundation

After inspection, your home inspector will provide you with a detailed report on the overall condition of the house, including outlining any issues and necessary or recommended repairs.

Having a home inspection contingency in your purchase contract is important because if any major issues are noted in the inspection report, you can renegotiate the sales price, require the seller to make repairs, or back out of the offer altogether.

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FINAL WALK- THROUGH

You should do a final walkthrough in your new home before you close, even if you're 100% committed to the property. This time allows you to ensure that the seller has made any agreed upon repairs and has cleared out the property. You should also double-check the home's systems one last time to ensure they are in working order. If everything looks good, it's time for you to confidently move toward closing.

 

Congratulations, after the closing finishes, you're officially a homeowner.