1. Define your needs.
Congratulations on your decision
to purchase a new home! It is important to select a professional real estate agent to work with you before you begin house
hunting, so that your agent can help you define what kind of home and neighborhood would best suit your desires and needs.
The finer the details on your wish list, the more effective your home 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 preapproved.
Now that you know
what you want in a home and neighborhood, you need to find out what you can afford. The best way to do this is to get prequalification
or preapproval for a home loan. Your real estate agent can refer you to a mortgage broker to begin the process. In most markets,
preapproved buyers are preferred by sellers over those who are prequalified. Your preapproved 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. Let the house hunting begin!
Now you are ready to embark on your home search
— 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. While these methods certainly
can lead to your dream home, it’s important to note that 82 percent of home sales are the result of agent connections.*
That means it’s more likely your agent will find your dream home through being in the real estate business than you
driving around on the weekends.
* National Association of REALTORS®
4. Make
an offer.
When you’re ready to make an offer on a home, 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.
Strike a deal.
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 house. 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 for the closing.
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 a home inspection.
· Get an
appraisal and finalize your financing.
· Secure title insurance.
· Shop for a home 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 the deal.
Congratulations! The moment you’ve been anticipating has arrived. The closing is where home 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.
