BUYING A HOME

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Purchasing a home is one of the biggest decisions most people will make in their life. It
involves a long-term commitment financially and emotionally, but it can also be a very
exciting and rewarding experience.

When buying a new home, there are a few things to consider:

· What monthly payment can I afford?

· What am I looking for in a home?

· Should I work with a REALTOR®?

· Once I find a home to purchase, what do I need to do next?

· How much cash do I need at closing?

· How do I obtain a mortgage loan?

 

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Before You Begin Your Search

 

Before you actually begin the process of looking at homes, you should complete the
following:

Get Pre-Qualified: Unless you are able to pay cash for your home, most buyers will
need to go through the process of applying for a mortgage. By contacting a mortgage
loan specialist before you begin your search, you are able to determine the amount of
loan for which you qualify. Typically, a borrower is pre-qualified for a loan that amounts
to 28%, or less, of their gross monthly income. In addition, if you know the amount of
the monthly payment you would be comfortable paying, a mortgage specialist can
calculate the price range for your home search. Getting pre-qualified for a loan also
increases your chances of your offer being accepted. A seller is more likely to accept an
offer from a buyer who already has funding versus one who still needs to get a loan.

By going through the pre-qualification process, your mortgage specialist can provide
you with an estimate of how much cash you will need for the sales transaction. Cash is
needed for the down payment, earnest money, and closing costs of the transaction.

Make an Amenities List: Decide what features are most important to you in a home. By
establishing your criteria, you will save time shopping for homes that do not meet your
needs. Also, consider what locations you are interested in. When making an amenities
list, determine which criteria you absolutely cannot live without and which ones you are
willing to budge on.

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Some typical criteria may include:

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· Price range
· Neighborhood or subdivision
· School districts
· Proximity to work
· Proximity to shopping, restaurants, hospitals, etc.
· Number of Bedrooms
· Number of Bathrooms
· Storage space
· Garages
· Lot sizes
· Pools

 

Choose An Agent: Once you have decided on the price range and the features you are
interested in, your next step will be to decide whether you will search on your own or
use the services of a real estate agent. If you choose to use an agent, make sure you
enter into a Buyer’s Agency Agreement. This ensures that the agent will represent you,
as the buyer, and not represent the interests of the sellers.

Talk to friends and family for their referrals of agents they have worked with. Once you
have some names, interview several agents before making a final decision. Select a
REALTOR® that you trust and with whom you feel comfortable working.

Remember, there are no out-of- pocket fees that you pay to the buyer’s agent.
These costs are incurred by the seller. Your agent will research property listings for
potential matches to your criteria and schedule showings for you at a convenient time.
In addition, they will provide guidance to you during the contract negotiation phase of
the selling process. Many times, they will also coordinate and schedule the home
inspection, appraisal, and closing for you, as well as provide you with referrals for
mortgage lenders.

 

 

Beginning Your Search

Once you have selected an agent and determined what you are looking for in a home, it
is time to begin your active search for homes that interest you. Based on your criteria
that you provide your REALTOR®, he/she will be able to search their listing database
for homes that meet your needs.

While visiting properties that are on the market, compare homes. Every home is unique!
Even if every home you visit has all of the main criteria you are looking for, each will
have different characteristics. Bring your Amenities Checklist with you to all homes that
you visit. Check off which features each house has. Make notes on each home of what
you like and dislike.

 

Additional things to consider when touring homes:

· Cost of upkeep and utilities
· Amount of maintenance required
· Cost of updating or decorating
· Homeowner’s dues
· Traffic patterns in the neighborhood
Taking notes and using your checklist will help you later when you can sit down and
compare properties. By comparing notes, this will help to prevent you from making an
emotional and impulsive decision.

 

 

Making an Offer

Once you have found your dream home, it is time to prepare an offer to purchase. Your
buyer’s agent can provide guidance to you on the price you should offer to pay for the
property. Have your agent compare prices for similar homes that have sold in the area
recently. This will help you to determine a reasonable price to offer.

In addition to the selling price, the other items to include in the terms of the Offer to
Purchase include:
· The amount of earnest money (deposit) to offer.
· Concessions that you want the seller to make, such as a carpet or paint allowance, or
payment towards the closing costs.
· Home inspection contingencies.
· Financing contingencies.
· A clear definition as to what is to be included with the home, such as appliances or
window treatments.
· A closing date.

Don’t be surprised if your initial offer is not accepted. Your REALTOR® will represent
you in all contract negotiations until an agreement is reached between the seller and
you.

 

 

Closing the Deal

Once your offer has been accepted, it is time to work on the final details of purchasing
your home. There are several tasks that will need to be accomplished during this phase
of the sales transaction:

Home Inspection: Arrange to have a professional come out to inspect your home. They
are able to spot electrical, plumbing, and structural problems that may not be noticeable
to you at first glance. The home inspection is not required, but it is in your best interest

to have one done on the home so that you do not receive any surprises once you move
in. This is an expense incurred by the buyer.

You may also need to get a pest inspection on the property to make sure there is no
structural damage to the property caused by termites. Your REALTOR® can usually
make a recommendation of a reputable inspector.

Typically inspections are conducted during the “option period”. If any repairs are
requested your Realtor ® will prepare an amendment listing your request and present to
the sellers agent for their agreement.

Contact Your Lender: Once an offer has been accepted and your lender has received
an executed copy of the contract you may need to provide your mortgage specialist with
additional documents. Some of these may include but not limited to the following:

Items that you will need for your loan application include:

· W-2s and/or tax returns from the past 2 years.
· Proof of gross monthly income for the past 30 days.
· Proof of investment income, including rental incomes.
· A list of creditors, including account numbers, balances, and monthly payments.
· Two months worth of banking statements.
Appraisal: Your lender will schedule an appraisal on the property, this is a fee that the
buyer is responsible for as well. When the appraisal is received it will be determined if
any “lender required repairs” will be needed and if they house came in at the value of
the offer price.

The Final Walkthrough: Prior to closing, you should be given access to the house so
that you can walk through and give it a final inspection. This should be done as close to
the closing date as possible, preferably on the morning of the closing proceedings.
When you go to do your final walkthrough, your home inspector will NOT be with you. It
is your responsibility to inspect the home and ensure that everything meets your
approval.

 

Things to look for during your walkthrough:

· The seller has repaired items included on the purchase agreement.
· The house is in “as-was” condition (everything is in the same condition as it was when
you signed the purchase agreement).
· The house is vacant and clean. The home does not have to be spotless, but there
should be no remaining trash or junk left behind in the house or in the yard.
· Tenants have moved out prior to your closing unless you have agreed for them to stay.
Closing: Usually at the time an offer is accepted, or after you have a commitment from
your lender, a date and time will be arranged for your closing. A few days before, you
will be told the total dollar amount you will need to bring to closing by the closing

attorney. They will also provide you with any additional information you may need to
prepare yourself for the proceedings.
On the day of closing, remember to bring:
· A certified check for the total amount of your closing costs.
· A picture ID, such as a driver’s license.
· Your personal checkbook.
· Evidence of mortgage insurance (if this information has not already been requested).
During the closing, details of the sales contract will be explained to you. If everything
meets your approval, you will sign the contracts to finalize the deal.

 

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Congratulations!
You are now a new homeowner!!!!!!

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NOTE: Please keep in mind this is just a brief summary of the process, every
transaction is different and your transaction may include more (or even less) than the
scenario above.

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BUYING A HOME TAKES A VILLAGE OF PROFESSIONALS – A REALTOR® IS A
PROFESSIONAL THAT HAS RELATIONSHIPS WITH LENDERS, INSPECTORS,
APPRAISERS, SURVEYORS, AND MUCH MORE. THEY ALSO HAVE A MUCH LARGER
NETWORK TO FIND YOUR DREAM HOME - WHICH HELPS IN ACCOMPLISHING THE
GOAL OF BUYING YOUR HOME.
IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU WORK WITH A REALTOR SO THAT YOU GET THE BEST
VALUE FOR YOUR REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT.