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Eight Steps to Buying Your Home

1. Decide to buy.

Although there are many good reasons for you to buy a home, wealth building ranks among the top of the list. We call home ownership the best “accidental investment” most people ever make. But, we believe when it is done right, home ownership becomes an “intentional investment” that lays the foundation for a life of financial security and personal choice. There are solid financial reasons to support your decision to buy a home, and, among these, equity buildup, value appreciation, and tax benefits stand out.

Base your decision to buy on facts, not fears.

1. If you are paying rent, you very likely can afford to buy

2. There is never a wrong time to buy the right home. All you need to do in the short run is find a good buy and make sure you have the financial ability to hold it for the long run

3. The lack of a substantial down payment doesn’t prevent you from making your first home purchase

4. A less-than-perfect credit score won’t necessarily stop you from buying a home

5. The best way to get closer to buying your ultimate dream home is to buy your first home now

6. Buying a home doesn’t have to be complicated – there are many professionals who will help you along the way

2. Hire your agent.

The typical real estate transaction involves at least two dozen separate individuals – insurance assessors, mortgage brokers and underwriters, inspectors, appraisers, escrow officers, buyer’s agents, seller’s agents, bankers, title researchers, and a number of other individuals whose actions and decisions have to be orchestrated in order to perform in harmony and get a home sale closed. It is the responsibility of your real estate agent to expertly coordinate all the professionals involved in your home purchase and to act as the advocate for you and your interests throughout.

Seven main roles of your real estate agent

A Buyer’s Real Estate Agent:

1. Educates you about your market.

2. Analyzes your wants and needs.

3. Guides you to homes that fit your criteria.

4. Coordinates the work of other needed professionals.

5. Negotiates on your behalf.

6. Checks and double-checks paperwork and deadlines.

7. Solves any problems that may arise.

 

Eight important questions to ask your agent

Qualifications are important. However, finding a solid, professional agent means getting beyond the resume, and into what makes an agent effective. Use the following questions as your starting point in hiring your licensed, professional real estate agent:

1. Why did you become a real estate agent?

2. Why should I work with you?

3. What do you do better than other real estate agents?

4. What process will you use to help me find the right home for my particular wants and needs?

5. What are the most common things that go wrong in a transaction and how would you handle them?

6. What are some mistakes that you think people make when buying their first home?

7. What other professionals do you suggest we work with and what are their credentials?

8. Can you provide me with references or testimonials from past clients?

3. Secure financing.

While you may find the thought of home ownership thrilling, the thought of taking on a mortgage may be downright chilling. Many first-time buyers start out confused about the process or nervous about making such a large financial commitment.

From start to finish, you will follow a six-step, easy-to-understand process to securing the financing for your first home.

Six steps to Financing a Home

1. Choose a loan officer (or mortgage specialist).

2. Make a loan application and get preapproved.

3. Determine what you want to pay and select a loan option.

4. Submit to the lender an accepted purchase offer contract.

5. Get an appraisal and title commitment.

6. Obtain funding at closing.

4. Find your home.

You may think that shopping for homes starts with jumping in the car and driving all over town. And it’s true that hopping in the car to go look is probably the most exciting part of the home-buying process. However, driving around is fun for only so long – if weeks go by without finding what you’re looking for, the fun can fade pretty fast. That’s why we say that looking for your home begins with carefully assessing your values, wants, and needs, both for the short and long terms.

Questions to ask yourself

1. What do I want my home to be close to?

2. How much space do I need and why?

3. Which is more critical: location or size?

4. Would I be interested in a fixer-upper?

5. How important is home value appreciation?

6. Is neighborhood stability and priority?

7. Would I be interested in a condo?

8. Would I be interested in new home construction?

9. What features and amenities do I want? Which do I really need?

We will post the final four steps to “Buying Your Home” in our next blog-post.   In the meantime, please contact us with any questions.