Buyer's Guide

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.

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 prequalified for a loan.

This should be the most enjoyable step of the entire process (other than moving in!). I will arrange showings of homes you’re interested in that are within your price range. Take notes about what you like and don’t like, and make sure to pay attention to details. Turn light switches on and off, open and close doors, and run the faucets in various rooms. Don’t limit your inspection to the home itself. Make sure to take time to explore the neighborhood and keep an eye on traffic at certain times of the day, the parking situation, and how close it is to necessities like schools and grocery stores.

Home inspections are always recommended but not required when purchasing a home. In our area, you can expect to pay between $350-$500 for a home inspection. It is important to remember that no home is perfect and all homes have flaws. The home inspection is to make you aware of the flaws of the home you are buying and make sure there are no issues so major that it would change your mind about buying the home. Repairs can be requested after the inspection but the seller is never required to make any repairs. Depending on how the inspection goes, I can help guide you on future decisions or more negotiating that may need to take place to make sure you are comfortable and happy with moving forward. If there are no major issues, then we wait for the appraisal and keep planning for closing day.

Make sure you have your closing date on your calendar and you have requested off work if needed. You will be required to be present at closing. You can expect your closing to take up to an hour. After you leave the closing attorney's office, the attorney will record the new deed at the courthouse to change the home over to your name. Once this is done, keys will be released to you and you are ready to move into your new home!