Homebuying Process

Selecting your agent

Don’t try to go it alone. Buying a home is a huge undertaking, and you want a professional guiding you through the process and looking out for your best interests. Plus, with MLS listings the seller pays for it!

Financial preparation

Keep your credit clean, choose a loan officer and get pre-approved before you start looking. You’ll know exactly what you qualify for, and if you find a house you’re crazy about you won’t risk losing it because your financing isn’t in place. Once you are pre-approved, don’t make any major purchases or change jobs without talking to your loan officer, because it changes your financial situation and may impact your pre-approval.

Finding your dream home

Buying a home is one of the most significant events you will experience in a lifetime, a reflection of who you are, how you live and part of the fulfillment of your hopes and dreams. We’ll help you define your wants and needs, and patiently work with you to help you find the home that reflects your own unique sense of place.

Wherever you find a home that interests you... through our daily e-mails of new listings, in the paper or a magazine, driving by and seeing a sign, new construction complexes... we can help you buy them all and arrange for private showings. No need to wait for an open house to see the home that interests you!

Making an offer

When you find the home for you the next step is making an offer. Your written offer will include things such as how much you are willing to pay, how you plan to finance your purchase, when you want to close and take possession, and whether your offer is contingent on an inspection or the sale of another property. You will also submit an earnest money check of approximately 1-2% of the purchase price with your offer.

The sellers may counter your offer and negotiations sometimes go back and forth several times before coming to an agreement. If you do reach an agreement your earnest money check will be cashed and held in escrow for you until closing.

Inspection

If your offer is subject to an inspection, the inspection usually takes place within 3-5 business days of coming to an agreement. After the inspection you can either accept the property as is, request that the seller fix or give financial compensation for certain items, or cancel the purchase agreement and have your earnest money refunded.

Loan underwriting and closing

Many steps take place from purchase agreement to closing, including: the property is appraised, all conditions for loan approval must be met, you lock in your interest rate, the abstract and title work are completed, you secure a binder for the first year of property hazard insurance, you obtain your funds for closing.

While these steps are taking place, you will be planning and preparing your move in preparation for closing. You will do a final walk-through of your new home just before closing, then sign papers to transfer title at the closing, get the keys... and move in and enjoy your new home!