The Home Buying Process

Welcome to our guide to the home buying process! As experienced real estate agents, we know that purchasing a home can feel overwhelming, but it’s also one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences in life. We’ve put together this guide to help you navigate the ins and outs of buying a home with ease and confidence.

So, whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or a seasoned pro, our guide is here to provide you with everything you need to know about the home buying process. From selecting the right real estate agent to securing financing and negotiating the best deal, we’ve got you covered. So sit back, relax, and let’s dive into the wonderful world of buying a home!

The Steps of Buying a Home

1. Getting Pre-Approved:

   The first step should be making sure you can obtain a loan (if needed), and how much you can qualify for. This will give you and me both the information needed to properly begin your search. You will need pay stubs, W2s, and bank statements. Knowing what you can afford is critical to a successful home shopping experience. Your lender should explain to you the total cost of purchasing a home including reviewing the various loan types, interest rates, and what the closing costs are expected to be.

2. Meet with a real estate professional:

   This can be done before step one, but in a perfect world you will be pre-approved first. This where you contact me and we discuss the type of home you’re looking for, including style, price, and location.

   • DID YOU KNOW: As the home buyer, my commission is almost always paid by the seller at closing out of the proceeds from the sale in almost all circumstances. This means my assistance and representation costs you nothing out of pocket!

3. Search for Homes:

   The fun part! If I have not already, I will be setting you up with my home search portal. This search portal will initially email you a list of all the homes available on the market today given your criteria. This portal will then send you follow up emails when any new homes come on the market. When you find a home that interests you, I will schedule all showings and contact the listing agent/s. This will help me discover any private details about the home, or inform me of any seller’s requests that can assist us with making a strong offer.

   • Advanced Search: I have tools and systems in place to ensure you see EVERY available home that meets your criteria that becomes available. This will include me searching for properties that are off-market, coming soon, new construction, or for-sale-by-owner (FSBO). I also get emails daily from the over 1,200 Brokers Guild Agents about new or upcoming listings.

4. Submit an Offer:

   I will prepare your offer based on the price and terms you choose. Through my experience and in speaking with the listing agent, I will advise you on what it takes to win an offer with this particular seller and insert clear and precise language to reflect that.

5. Negotiations:

   This is where the seller may want changes to the contract we wrote. For example, the seller may need a date changed to get an appraisal done, or they want new paint before closing. I will be guiding you through any and all negotiations and ONLY move forward with changes following your understanding and approval.

6. Under Contract or In Escrow:

   You and the seller have now agreed to the price and terms! You will need to submit the earnest money (deposit) at this time. This will effectively hold the home for you until closing and give the seller confidence you are not going to back out. While you can back out for many valid reasons throughout the transaction process, after this point you cannot just get cold feet and walk away without potentially losing this money.

7. 

   The Contract:

   This is when my job gets busy! The contract will provide us with a timeline to obtain financing, get the home inspected and appraised, gather title documentation, and review all HOA documents (if applicable). I will be making sure all of this gets done, and ON TIME for you, don’t worry! I will be informing you of all your rights and responsibilities related to the contract during every step. Once completed, I will assist in reviewing all appraisal and inspection reports. I will then request any repairs to be made and insert them in the contract. You will also review the final financing terms with your lender.

8. Preparing for Closing:

   Your lender will be finalizing your loan and the title company will ensure a clean title for your new home. I will be performing a walk though to ensure all requested repairs are done as specified in the contract. We will also arrange a day and time for the closing.

9. Closing:

   We will be performing a final walk though the day of closing. A title company or an attorney will typically act as an independent third party to facilitate the closing. This is the transfer of funds and ownership. YOU GET THE KEYS! CONGRATS!

We hope that our guide to the home buying process has been helpful and informative. Remember, the home buying process is a journey, not a sprint. So take your time, do your research, and lean on your real estate agent for guidance and support along the way. At the end of the day, there’s nothing quite like the feeling of walking through the front door of your very own home. So go ahead, start exploring the possibilities, and get ready to make your dream a reality.

Ready to Go House Hunting?

Are you tired of endlessly scrolling through online home listings only to find nothing that meets your needs? Let us help you find your dream home with ease. By setting up a personalized home search alert, you’ll receive real-time notifications of new properties that match your specific criteria. That means you’ll never miss out on a potential home again. So why not give it a try? Click the link below to get started on your personalized home search alert today!

→ Set Up Property Alerts