Home Buying Guide
Buying a property may seem like an incredible challenge. However, the majority of this anxiety and confusion can be avoided by prioritizing certain preferences, carefully researching and communicating effectively with an experienced Real Estate Agent. Keep these seven steps in mind to make your property buying experience a successful one.
1. Evaluate
Congratulations on your decision to purchase a property! It is important to select a professional real estate agent to work with you before you begin searching, so that your agent can help you define what environment would best suit your desires and needs. The finer the details on your wish list, the more effective your search will be. To further define your needs, you may want to divide your lists into negotiable and non-negotiable items, so your agent can operate with some flexibility when scouting for homes on your behalf.
2. Get Pre-Approved
Now that you know what you want, you need to find out what you can afford. The best way to do this is to get pre-qualified or pre-approved for a home loan. Your real estate agent can refer you to a mortgage broker to begin the process. In most markets, pre-approved buyers are preferred by sellers over those who are pre-qualified. Your pre-approval status lets the seller know:
- You have gone through an extensive financial background check.
- A lender is willing to do business with you.
- The likelihood of unexpected obstacles regarding financing is minimal.
3. Begin your Search
Now you are ready to embark on your search for the perfect property — an endeavor that can prove overwhelming if not approached with some forethought. The most efficient route is to allow your real estate agent to do the initial scouting for you. Using your wish list as a guide, he or she will alert you of new and existing listings that have strong potential. If these listings pique your interest, your agent will arrange home tours at your convenience. Many agents send alerts via email — sometimes as often as daily, depending on the available inventory in your market. Let your agent know how you’d like to receive these alerts, whether by phone, email or fax.
You also can do some research on your own. Read local real estate publications, contact your local neighborhood associations, visit the local chamber of commerce, surf the Internet, or drive around your favorite neighborhoods.
4. Make an Offer
When you’re ready to make an offer on a property, your real estate agent will help you determine the offer price by reviewing recent sales of homes similar in size, quality and amenities. With your input, your agent will draft a written contract that outlines what needs to be done by both parties to execute the transaction. If the seller accepts the offer, the document becomes a binding agreement, so it is imperative that you carefully review it with your agent and speak up if anything is not clear to you. It’s important to note that if the seller changes any aspect of the offer, it is not a binding agreement until the buyer agrees to the seller’s changes.
5. Negotiate
Sometimes, you get lucky and the seller accepts your offer as is. However, in most instances, the seller will make a counteroffer. This is where your real estate agent’s experience in negotiations will be invaluable. Keep in mind almost everything is negotiable when you are buying a property. This can give you a great deal of leverage in the buying process — that is, if you have adequate information and you use it in an appropriate manner.
Some items you may negotiate:
- Price
- Financing
- Closing costs
- Move-in date
- Repairs
- Appliances and fixtures
- Landscaping
- Painting
Remain in close contact with your real estate agent so you can quickly review any changes from the seller. Remember: Bargaining is not a winner-take-all deal. It is a business process that involves compromise and mutual respect.
6. Prepare to Close
When an offer becomes a binding agreement, your real estate agent will help you tackle the checklist of action items that you, as the buyer, have agreed to perform prior to closing. Depending on how the responsibilities are divvied up in the agreement, this is typically when you will:
- Conduct an inspection.
- Get an appraisal and finalize your financing.
- Secure title insurance.
- Shop for a warranty.
Having these procedures done in a timely and professional manner is a must, as any delays could threaten a successful closing. A first-rate real estate agent should be able to serve as your “one-
stop shopping” referral source for service providers. Your agent also should serve as your advocate, helping to coordinate activities and making sure the vendors have access to the property to perform their jobs.
7. Close
Congratulations! The moment you’ve been anticipating has arrived. The closing is where ownership is legally transferred from the seller to the buyer. It is a formal meeting that most parties involved in the transaction will attend. Closing procedures usually are held at the title company’s or lawyer’s office. The closing officer will coordinate all the document signing and the collection and disbursement of funds.
In advance of your closing date (24 hours at minimum), your lender will send a final closing statement that outlines your closing costs, if applicable. Your real estate agent will review this document with you to ensure its accuracy, as well as help you gather any necessary documentation that you’ll need to bring to closing.