Let’s begin your home-buying process so that you can understand how easy and hassle-free I will make it for you. Follow my step-by-step guide to help you write your happily ever after.
Are you ready to write your happily ever after? Preparing to buy a home can be both exciting and terrifying at the same time. You may want to first make a list or brainstorm about the features and amenities that you find most appealing. Fortunately, as your Storybook Realtor, I will lead you in the right direction toward finding the home of your dreams. It would also be helpful if you ask yourself the following questions:
Before you choose a real estate agent, it’s important to do your homework on the individual you are deciding on. Feel free to ask me the following questions:
It’s important as a buyer that you establish some kind of financing before you make any serious home offer. The pre-approval process allows lenders to take a look at your finances and credit history in order to make a general assumption about your loan amount.
The pre-approval process is when a lender looks at all of your finances and determines the amount of money you can afford for a mortgage. In order to get pre-approved for a home loan, you need to contact a lender. As your Storybook Realtor, I can help you find a lender that you feel comfortable with, and that offers programs best suited to your needs.
Now it’s time to start the exciting search for a new home! Searching for a home has become easier than years ago. We now have the Internet as a powerful home-finding tool, as well as the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) and print advertising. You may want to narrow down your search by asking yourself the following questions:
Beginning the search for your new home can be a great feeling. It’s important that you directly communicate what your desires in a home are to me. You may want to begin by making a list of the features and benefits that are most important in your pursuit of finding a home. These could be the following:
Looking for a home in an area where you feel comfortable is key. If appropriate, I will look for homes in the specific areas you have designated.
Selecting a home should be relatively easy once a home falls somewhere in your criteria and the property is desirable for purchase. You’ll want to inform me what you like about the house and make a list of your likes and dislikes with the property. Though you will most likely have done this already in a general sense, it’s important to do it again for specific homes you have any interest in. There are three steps in selecting a home:
This is all a part of the negotiation process. Communicating about the house and how it makes you feel is important when making this decision. It’s also important to be realistic when it comes to how much you can afford when selecting your new home.
Doing your homework about home loans will save you both time and money. There are thousands of loans out there to choose from, but it’s important to keep in mind several key factors that will help you along the way:
Receiving a loan requires the completion of a loan application and specific financial documents including pay stubs, rental checks, and/or tax returns. You can receive a loan from a number of different financial institutions, including—commercial banks, credit unions, mortgage bankers, mortgage brokers, savings and loan associations, mutual savings banks and insurance companies.
Insuring your home is like making an investment in your future. You work hard to have a home; homeowners insurance protects you from someone or something taking it all away. There are many different forms of insurance:
The home closing process is always changing. It is even referred to as settlement or escrow in different parts of the country.
Home closings usually take about 45-60 days to complete. This mainly depends on the buyer’s financing availability, successful home inspection completion, and various lender conditions (ex. title search, title insurance, termite inspections, surveys, and appraisals).
The closing process is the transfer of the title of the property from the buyer to the seller. The buyer will receive the keys to the home or the deed to the land, while the seller receives payment for the property. All legal papers are filed with the local record office.
It’s important as the buyer will take a final walk-through of the property to make sure the property’s condition has not changed. It is equally important for both the buyer and seller to make sure the paperwork they are signing reflects the agreement of the original sale.
You’ve unpacked your boxes and arranged your furniture, and the moving process is over. What’s next? There is always an adjustment period when you move. It’s important to understand that what you may be feeling is completely normal! Below is a list of a few things that may help:
