Buying Check List
1. Speak to your lender and get pre-approved for your loan BEFORE you go shopping. This is your first reality check. Ask your lender to send you a pre-approval letter. This letter will accompany your offer. It tells the seller that you are credit-worthy to purchase his property for the approved amount.
Before you contact your lender, be sure that your finances are in order, running your own credit report and working with the reporting service to remove any negative items that may be affecting your credit scores. If you are receiving a financial gift from your parents or another source, deposit those funds in the bank at least 30 days before you apply for your loan.
2. Find a great Realtor. Ask your friends for referrals or search the Realtors working in the neighborhoods that are of interest to you. You want someone who is knowedgable and available to answer your questions...there will be many. A great Realtor is patient and understands that the home buying process is stressful. For most of you, there will be good and bad days throughout this process. A great Realtor will be resiliant and know how to get you through the highs and lows of home buying. It's a whole lot more than finding the right house in the right neighborhood at the right price. You need a professional to guide you.
3. Embrace the technology. You can preview hundreds of houses without leaving your home. This will help you focus your search and become aware of what your budget will buy in the locations you prefer. Another reality check.
4. When you are ready, Go. When you have your loan pre-approved, engaged a Realtor, and shopped for properties online, you are ready to look at properties.
5. Visit open houses. This is a wonderful way to help focus your search. Tell the agent at the property that you already have a Realtor helping you, and just look around. If you fall in love with the property and want to write an offer, call your Realtor and tell them you are ready to write an offer.
6. At this point you should have the full attention of your Realtor. She knows you have done all the necessary steps to get ready for your purchase and are seriously ready to move forward. Schedule some tours with your Realtor so you can see the properties first hand and have your professional there to guide you, assess the property with you, and discuss your options with you.
7. When you are ready, make the offer. By this time you Realtor is there to guide you every step of the way. When your offer is accepted, let your Realtor take over.
She will take care of the details from that point forward, or she will tell you what you need to do on a daily basis (I call this your "homework"). This is all too complex and varied to go into here....but that is why you have a great Realtor working for you. Remember, at this point you have a signed contract with another party, you must "perform" to the terms of that contract, by the dates specified.
8. Congratulations, you have made it to settlement! Remember to thank your Realtor.
She has done a great deal of work behind the scenes. Getting from your first conversation with your Realtor to settlement on your new home is a long and complex process. A great Realtor makes it look easy. Believe me, it is not.
9. Enjoy your new home.
10. Now's your opportunity to refer your friends to your great Realtor. Thank you!
Before you contact your lender, be sure that your finances are in order, running your own credit report and working with the reporting service to remove any negative items that may be affecting your credit scores. If you are receiving a financial gift from your parents or another source, deposit those funds in the bank at least 30 days before you apply for your loan.
2. Find a great Realtor. Ask your friends for referrals or search the Realtors working in the neighborhoods that are of interest to you. You want someone who is knowedgable and available to answer your questions...there will be many. A great Realtor is patient and understands that the home buying process is stressful. For most of you, there will be good and bad days throughout this process. A great Realtor will be resiliant and know how to get you through the highs and lows of home buying. It's a whole lot more than finding the right house in the right neighborhood at the right price. You need a professional to guide you.
3. Embrace the technology. You can preview hundreds of houses without leaving your home. This will help you focus your search and become aware of what your budget will buy in the locations you prefer. Another reality check.
4. When you are ready, Go. When you have your loan pre-approved, engaged a Realtor, and shopped for properties online, you are ready to look at properties.
5. Visit open houses. This is a wonderful way to help focus your search. Tell the agent at the property that you already have a Realtor helping you, and just look around. If you fall in love with the property and want to write an offer, call your Realtor and tell them you are ready to write an offer.
6. At this point you should have the full attention of your Realtor. She knows you have done all the necessary steps to get ready for your purchase and are seriously ready to move forward. Schedule some tours with your Realtor so you can see the properties first hand and have your professional there to guide you, assess the property with you, and discuss your options with you.
7. When you are ready, make the offer. By this time you Realtor is there to guide you every step of the way. When your offer is accepted, let your Realtor take over.
She will take care of the details from that point forward, or she will tell you what you need to do on a daily basis (I call this your "homework"). This is all too complex and varied to go into here....but that is why you have a great Realtor working for you. Remember, at this point you have a signed contract with another party, you must "perform" to the terms of that contract, by the dates specified.
8. Congratulations, you have made it to settlement! Remember to thank your Realtor.
She has done a great deal of work behind the scenes. Getting from your first conversation with your Realtor to settlement on your new home is a long and complex process. A great Realtor makes it look easy. Believe me, it is not.
9. Enjoy your new home.
10. Now's your opportunity to refer your friends to your great Realtor. Thank you!
posted by Felicia Stidham Real Estate, LLC at 4:41 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home