Step-by-Step
A First-Time Buyer's Guide
Buying a home is one of the most exciting milestones of your life. To prepare yourself for this moment, you need to know what to expect during the process. Let our step-by-step guide help reduce the stress of buying a home and allow you to enjoy the journey as much as possible. We are here to help!
Step One
Research
Do you already know where you want to buy? If you want a condo, townhome, or single-family home? Which features do you like and dislike? What’s available on the market now? If you answered no to any of these questions, now is the time to start researching. In addition to looking for homes that interest you, also take note of any changes in asking prices. This could give you valuable insight into housing trends in specific neighborhoods and help you when the time comes to make an offer.
Step two
Get Pre-Approved
Let us be your guide towards your next transition! We help first-time buyers and sellers, those that are looking for either more space or to downsize, and people looking to expand their investment portfolio.
Step Three
Find The Right Home
This should be the most enjoyable step of the entire process (other than moving in!). We will help you navigate how to see and learn more about homes you’re interested in. Take notes about what you like and what you don’t like, and make sure to pay attention to details. Open and close doors and windows to consider noise factors, run faucets and flush toilets to check water pressure and look under the house! Don’t limit your inspection to the home itself though. Make sure to take time to explore the neighborhood and keep an eye on traffic at certain times of the day, the parking situation, and how close it is to necessities like schools and grocery stores.
Step Four
Due-Diligence
When you’ve toured a home you are interested in considering further the next step is to dive deep into the disclosures and reports provided. We will review everything available to understand the current condition of the home and what is an immediate need versus a future need. It is important to remember that most homes in our area are over 100 years old - so they almost always need something. We then consider the condition and recent comparable sales to establish a value range based on the current market.
Our Goal
To provide you with the most personalized service that is designed to help you buy your dream home
Step Five
Make an offer
Once we have determined the home you are interested in could be the perfect fit given the location, size, condition and value range, we work together to craft a compelling offer. We again look to the current market environment to narrow down the pricing range as well as determine details like the down payment amount and timeframe to close. We will be in close contact with your lender at this point to ensure everything is set from their end as well. We will all work as a team to help you negotiate if you receive a counteroffer and reach an agreement. If all parties agree this is the point the house will go into escrow.
Step Six
Go into Escrow
After your offer has been accepted we provide a ratified contract to the escrow company to get the next phase started. For you the buyer, this can mean depositing funds into escrow, working with your lender for an appraisal if you have a loan, choosing insurance, choosing how to hold title, and signing necessary transfer documents. For the seller, this can mean providing escrow with their loan payoff details if they still owe on the property and signing necessary transfer documents as well. The timelines in our area move quickly so we always keep you in the loop on important dates, including when everything is in place to close.
Final step
Congratulations!
After signing the final paperwork to complete the purchase, you are almost there! It may take a few days for your loan to be funded once the paperwork has been returned to the lender, but once that check is delivered to the seller, you get the keys and you’ll be all set to move into the home of your dreams. You are officially a new homeowner!
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Let us be your guide towards your next transition! We help first-time buyers and sellers, those that are looking for either more space or to downsize, and people looking to expand their investment portfolio.