The 6 Steps to Buying a Home

1. Financing

Finding a lender in one of the first, and most important steps, in the home buying process. By obtaining a pre-approval from your chosen lender, you will be empowered with the knowledge of what your budget truly is and your search will be that much more efficient from the start.

2. Finding a Property

It sounds obvious, but many buyers have yet to determine exactly what they want and where. Size, amenities, location, proximity to work, proximity to activities, school districts, all will factor into your search in one way or another. Knowing what you want will help us seek it out quickly.

3. Making a Successful Offer

Buyers often hear about a "competitive market," but what makes one offer more appealing than another? When making an offer, the purchase price, amount of hand money, inspection contingencies, and general terms all impact the offer to the seller. We will work together to compose an offer that stands out by itself, or in a situation with multiple offers.

4. Home Inspection

After having your offer accepted by the buyer, you will likely choose to order a home inspection. These inspections may include a total home, radon, pest (i.e. termites), or a camera sewer line inspection. This process is for your protection and will help accurately determine the physical condition of the home.

5. Negotiation

Negotiation happens throughout the entire process of buying a home. It can occur about the purchase price, financing, and often happens after the home inspection when a buyer will ask for specific repairs or financial concessions. I pride myself on communicating clearly, respectfully, and effectively on behalf of all my clients.

6. Closing Day (aka Settlement)

The big day! Closing is when all necessary paperwork is signed, when both parties pay settlement fees, and when the buyer becomes the owner of their new home. On this day, the keys are now yours and your new home is waiting for you. Although the settlement agent coordinates this transaction, I will be present to make sure all goes according to plan.

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Each real estate transaction is similar, but no two are ever exactly the same. Through serving my clients, I have observed that when using these specific steps as a general guide to the buying process, my clients found the most efficient path to finding and successfully closing on their new home.