Buying a home is one of the most exciting milestones in life. To prepare for this moment, you must know what to expect during the process. This step-by-step first-time buyer’s guide created by your agent will help reduce the stress of buying a home and help you enjoy the journey.
Look for an agent with experience, knowledge, strong communication skills, and a professional demeanor. They should have a deep understanding of the local market and be able to provide you with personalized guidance and support tailored to your unique needs and preferences. It's also important to find an agent you feel comfortable working with and who is committed to providing exceptional customer service. With the right agent by your side, you can find the home of your dreams with confidence and ease.
Finding the right buyer real estate agent is crucial to ensuring a smooth and successful home-buying experience.
As a buyer’s agent, staying on top of the paperwork is essential to ensure a smooth and timely transaction. I am highly organized and detail-oriented, and I pride myself on my ability to manage and track all necessary documents and deadlines
I am dedicated to representing interest of my client throughout the entire buying process, from property search to negotiation and closing.
I focus on finding affordable properties that meet my clients' needs and budget.
I am a skilled problem solver, able to anticipate and address any challenges that may arise during the buying process. I work tirelessly to find creative solutions that meet my clients' needs and achieve their real estate goals.
I am a neighborhood expert, knowledgeable about the local community, schools, amenities, and property values. I use this expertise to help my clients find the right neighborhood that meets their lifestyle and investment needs, while ensuring they get the best possible value for their money.
Mortgage lenders recommend you do not buy a home that is more than 3 to 5 times your annual household income. If you are not purchasing a home with cash, you will need a mortgage pre-approval provided by your mortgage lender. A lender will work with you to get a loan that meets your needs. Some buyers are concerned with keeping their monthly payments as low as possible, others want to make sure that their monthly payments never increase.
A mortgage requires a good credit score. You can improve your score by:
☑ Paying down credit card balances
☑ Continuing to make payments on time
☑ Avoid applying for a new credit card or car loan until you have been approved
☑ Avoid making big purchases until you have been approved
☑ If possible, avoid job changes until you have been approved
In order to make your dream of buying a home a reality, you will need to save cash for your down payment, earnest money, closing costs & home inspector.
☑ A Down Payment is typically between 3.5% & 20% of the purchase price
☑ Earnest Money is money you put down to show you’re serious about purchasing a home. It’s also known as a good faith deposit.
☑ Closing Costs for the buyer run between 2% & 5% of the loan amount
☑ A Home Inspection costs $300 to $500
Being pre-approved, unlike being pre- qualified, means you've actually been approved by a lender for a specific loan amount. You will need to provide documented financial information (income, statements, assets, debt & credit reports etc.) to be reviewed & verified by the lender.
TYPE OF LOAN | CREDIT SCORE | DOWN PAYMENT |
---|---|---|
VA LOAN | 620 | NO DOWN PAYMENT |
USDA LOAN | 620 | NO DOWN PAYMENT |
FHA LOAN | 580+ 500-579 |
3.5% 10% |
203K LOAN | 640 | 3.5% |
CONVENTIONAL 97 | 620 | 3% |
CONVENTIONAL LOAN | 640 | 5-20% |
Time to start shopping! We will take notes on all the homes we visit. It can be hard to remember all the details of each home, so take pictures or videos to help you remember each home, and review the notes you have written. Once we have found THE house for you, we will present an appropriate offer based on recent sales and current buyer activity in the area, as well as the value of the property in its current condition. Negotiations may take place after the offer is presented.
EVALUATE THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND SURROUNDING AREAS
Tip | 1...2...3! From the first house to the last, I encourage buyers to utilize the 1, 2, 3 method of ranking homes. The order will change as you tour and find your favorites but it helps make the process of elimination much easier! |
So you have found THE house! Congrats! In today’s market when the demand is higher than the amount of homes available it is important to act fast!
We will sit down and look at recent sales and current buyer activity in the area, as well as the value of the property in its present condition. Putting all this information together, we will determine the price that you would like to offer.
There are some components to an offer that makes it more appealing to the sellers.
My Goal Is to Provide You With the Most Personalized Service That Is Designed to Help You Buy Your Dream Home
During the inspection period, we will schedule a licensed home inspector to do a thorough inspection of the home. Once this is complete, the inspector will provide us with a detailed report. You can take the issues as-is or request the seller to address some or all of the findings. We will be mindful and reasonable on smaller items while being very cautious and vigilant of potentially significant issues.
Issues typically arise after the home inspection, and those issues tend to result in another round of negotiations for credits or fixes.
Your lender will arrange for a third party appraiser to provide an independent estimate of the value of the house you are buying. The appraisal lets all parties involved know that the price is fair. The loan file then moves on to the mortgage underwriter. If approved you will receive your final commitment letter that includes the final loan terms & percentage rates.
PROPERTY TITLE SEARCH | Ensures that the seller truly owns the property and that all existing liens, loans, or judgments are disclosed. |
HOME OWNERS INSURANCE | Insurance required for the new home before closing, protecting against risks like fire, storms, and flooding. |
Closing is when you sign ownership and insurance paperwork and you receive your new home’s keys! Typically, closing takes four to six weeks.
Lenders are required to provide you with a closing disclosure, at least three days before closing. This will show you what your final loan terms and closing costs will be. You will have three days to review the statement. This is done to ensure that there are no surprises at the closing table. If there is a significant discrepancy between the loan estimate and the closing disclosure, we must notify your lender and title company immediately.
We will do a final walk through the home within 24 hours of closing to check the property’s condition. This final inspection takes about an hour. We will make sure any repair work that the seller agreed to make has been done. We will be sure to:
Who will be there:
The closing typically happens at the title company. You will be signing lots of paperwork so get your writing hand warmed up! Some of the papers you will be signing include: the deed of trust, promissory note, and other documents.
During the pre-approval process, you will have discussed any estimated closing funds required depending on the loan type you choose. Prior to closing, the lender will provide you actual closing funds required.
✓ Government-issued photo ID
✓ Copy of the sales contract
✓ Homeowner’s insurance certificate
✓ Proof of funds to cover the remainder of the costs
Congratulations! It was a journey but you are now officially a homeowner!! Time to celebrate!
After signing the paperwork to purchase, you are now the owner of a new house. It may take a few days for your loan to be funded once the paperwork has been returned, but once that check is delivered to the seller, you’ll be all set to move into the home of your dreams.
Whether you’re buying or selling, I’m here to guide you through every step of the process. With personalized service and a deep understanding of the market, I’ll ensure your real estate experience is smooth and successful.