BUYER RESOURCES
LET'S KEEP THIS SIMPLE
My job is to help make this process as simple and smooth as possible for you. I don’t want to just put houses in front of you, I want to facilitate the entire home buying experience.
From choosing a lender to choosing a neighborhood, I will walk you through the steps as you navigate the nuances of home buying. There is a lot to think through when choosing your next home—schools, healthcare, weather patterns, trail systems—you name it! I’ll make sure these things aren’t overlooked as we start the search.
The home search. This is the most exciting part of the process. I’ll provide you access to every housing option on the market that meets your wants and needs. By leveraging my relationships in the community with lenders, realtors, builders, and friends you can rest assured you’ll have top-tier resources and support until the keys are in your hand.
8 SIMPLE STEPS TO BUYING A HOME
01
Get Your Finances in Order
Run a credit report to see how you’ve managed your finances. The credit report plays an important role in the loan approval process. You are entitled to one free credit report a year. Having a higher credit score will give you access to a better loan—typically that’s a score anywhere above 600.
02
Familiarize yourself with the Mortgage Industry
This includes educating yourself about the different types of loans that are available and determining what lender you’d like to go with. When heading into this process, the more you know about the mortgage industry the better. Finding the right loan and lender is crucial to your home buying process. There are a variety of loans out there so it’s important to know what type of loans you can qualify for. It’s always a good idea to understand the loan process before talking to a lender, there are many educational resources available online.
03
Get Pre-Approved for a Loan
Getting pre-approved for a loan determines how much house you can afford. This is very helpful when starting to look at the market. Also, it’s great to have a pre-approval letter when putting in an offer.
04
Find a Realtor
You want to work with someone you trust. Ideally, that person is a realtor and not just a real estate agent, because realtors are held to a higher standard. You want to work with a realtor who knows the market and has local connections.
05
Figure out what you want and Start Searching
Knowing the difference between your wants and needs will make your home search easier. There are a variety of online home search platforms, but ultimately your realtor will send you the most current listings that match your needs.
06
Make an Offer
Once you find the right home, it’s time to put in an offer. During this time you will work closely with your realtor to craft a competitive offer.
07
Home Inspections and Other Tests
It is critical to decide which inspections and tests you want to perform. Talk with your real estate agent or another advisor to find out when inspections should be handled. It’s important to stay on top of all critical dates and deadlines so that the contract doesn’t fall through. Make sure you understand the contingencies available to you and events that can allow you to legally back out of the deal, if necessary, without losing your earnest money.
08
You are on Your Way to Closing
Once all deadlines are met you are on your way to closing, also called settlement. This is the transfer of ownership of the property.
BOTTOM LINE
Expect the unexpected and you may encounter issues. These steps are a general home buying guide. Never hesitate to ask questions. Ask as many questions as necessary to help you understand the entire home buying process. Have questions? Let me know.