Buying a home is one of the most exciting milestones of your life. To prepare yourself for this moment, you need to know what to expect during the process. This step-by-step first time buyer’s guide created by your agent will help reduce the stress of buying a home and help you enjoy the journey as much as possible.
Do you already know where you want to buy? If you want a condo, townhome, or single-family home? Which features do you like and dislike? What’s available on the market now? If you answered no to any of these questions, now is the time to start researching. In addition to looking for homes that interest you, also take note of any changes in asking prices. This could give you valuable insight into housing trends in specific neighborhoods and help you when the time comes to make an offer.
Notice I said to decide on your budget—not determine how much the mortgage company will give you. In many cases, a mortgage company will pre-approve you for more than you’re comfortable spending, which is why you need to determine the monthly payment you feel comfortable with before talking to a lender. This likely includes doing a full household budget and taking into consideration what changes other than a mortgage payment will occur once you move into your new home. If you've lived in an apartment or with roommates, you may overlook new expenses like HOA fees for condos that could easily blow your budget.
Just because you think you can afford a certain payment every month doesn’t mean the mortgage company will agree. Just as they may approve you for too large of an amount, they may also approve you for a lesser amount or deny you a mortgage altogether. Lack of time at a job, insufficient credit, past bankruptcies, or other financial issues can cause major problems when trying to secure a mortgage. Before you get your heart set on a home, talk to a mortgage professional to find out what amount you can qualify for. This will also be an advantage when you make an offer on a home, as some sellers won't entertain offers from those who aren't already at least prequalified and/or preapproved for a loan.
Can you shop for, look at, and ultimately make an offer on a home without a real estate agent? Technically yes, but why would you when it costs you nothing for an agent like me to take much of the stress off your shoulders? Not only will I help identify properties you might be interested in, arrange showings, and ultimately handle the offer process, but I also have a knowledge of the market that you don’t possess. Finding the perfect home can be a daunting task, this is where my expertise and wealth of knowledge come into play. Let me show you around some homes that meet your dream home criteria so you can find the one that's right for you.
This should be the most enjoyable step of the entire process (other than moving in of course!). I will arrange all of the showings of homes you're interested in that are within your price range and that fit your criteria. Moreover, I will take notes about what you like and don't like, and make sure to pay attention to details that might be problematic in the event that you have further interest in the home. Don't limit your inspection to the home itself. Make sure to take the time to explore the neighborhood and see what a day in the life could be; you're not only buying a home, you're buying into a community. Some things for buyers to consider are proximity to restaurants, shopping, schools, parks, grocery stores, public transportation, and nightlife.
Once you have selected the perfect home, work with your agent to craft a fair offer based on the value of comparable homes on the market. Depending on what the home is listed at and whether the current environment is a buyer’s or seller’s market, your offer may be below, at, or even above the asking price. I will be able to help you negotiate if you receive a counteroffer and reach an agreement. At this point, this house will go under contract.
In most cases, your offer will be contingent on having the home inspected to ensure there is no major structural damage or large repairs needed. In the event those issues are discovered, you can either back out of the deal or you can negotiate a credit demand that you'll receive at closing in order to address those issues. I'll give you a list of highly qualified inspectors, and you can schedule it within days of going under contract. Attorney review, which is a major component of this process, enables the buyer and/or seller to make modifications to the contract, which will be tailored to your needs ensuing the inspection. Similarly, to the inspection process, I have a multitude of attorney contacts in order to help you choose the best professional to help you throughout this process.
Now is the time to go back to the mortgage lender who pre-approved or pre-qualified you and choose your mortgage. You will be presented with various options based on your unique financial situation, including fixed-rate, variable-rate, 15-year, 30-year, or special programs such as VA loans or FHA loans. Work with your mortgage lender to select the option you feel the most comfortable with.
Your lender will have your new home appraised so they have their independent value of it. The appraisal is to ensure that all parties involved are paying a fair price for the house.
No one looks forward to all the paperwork involved in buying a home, but it’s a necessary part of the process. Fortunately, everything will be arranged by your lender and title company and, when you’re finished, you’ll know you are the legal owner of your new home.
After signing the final paperwork to complete the purchase, you are now the owner of a new house. It may take a few days for your loan to be funded once the paperwork has been returned to the lender, but once that check is delivered to the seller, you’ll be all set to move into the home of your dreams.
Whether you're looking to buy, sell, lease, or invest, Zachary is the broker for you. If you're interested in contacting Zachary for your next residential real estate endeavor(s), please reach out to him by phone or email. He looks forward to connecting with you!
