Buying or selling a home?

Buying a home is intimidating for many people. However, with some up-front planning, it isn't all that difficult. So you'll understand exactly what to expect, I like to provide my buyers with a road map of the whole deal. Here are my nine steps to purchasing a home.

Step 1 – Get ready to purchase a home
Prior to beginning your home search, there are a lot of things you should contemplate. It's likely that you'll want to form a checklist of features you need to have, get a plan of what neighborhoods and school districts you want to live in, and start planning around your budget. Ensuring your mortgage payment is around 1/3 of your monthly income is a good rule of thumb to adhere to.

Step 2 – Speak with a real estate agent
This is where I come in. I'd like to arrange a time to meet with you and speak with you regarding why you want to buy a home and get an idea of your upcoming plans. We'll discuss the mortgage and housing industries, other economic factors that could potentially affect your purchase today or in the future, as well as neighborhoods and school districts in the Fall River area.

I'll also help you start the loan process. There are some great mortgage professionals in Fall River, and I partner with a lot of them, so you'll be in great hands. They will help you determine which kind of loan is best for you, as well as help you get qualified.

Step 3 – Start house hunting
After our first meeting, I'll begin finding available houses on the market that are good for you. I'll get a sneak peek of many of the homes and eliminate the duds, and then we'll schedule appointments to view the homes whenever it's convenient for you.

As we view the houses, I'll show you the positive features, as well as negative ones. I'll also ask you to point out what things you like and don't like. It's pretty common for buyers to change their list of must-haves as we tour homes and some features become far more necessary than others. If that's the situation, I'll look through the listings one more time and narrow it down to the house you've been wishing for.

Step 4 – Get a grasp of the market
Your agent's understanding of the Fall River housing market is a necessary factor in your home search. And I assure you I'm informed of all the neighborhoods and school districts, and I can communicate what districts are "hot" and call for immediate action and the ones that are "cold" and allow for thoughtful consideration.

When we view houses, I'll be sure to tell you when the seller's list price has room for negotiation and when I trust the house is "priced to sell." When working with an agent, be on guard and be sure to ask a lot of questions. Any REALTOR^® will convince you they truly know the market. If it doesn't seem like they know everything, contact me at 5086464777 or e-mail me at chris@ezhomesearch.net, and I'll be more than happy to answer any questions you might have. My knowledge of the market will keep you a step above the rest through the entire process.

Step 5 – Find the house you've been looking for
I'm certain we'll find the house of your dreams in the Fall River area. When we do, I'll thoroughly create your purchase offer. The offer will be tailored exactly to your needs, including many contingencies. A few examples are acquiring financing, completing the home inspection, and a clean title.

When we submit your offer, you'll probably need to present "earnest money." This is a cash deposit submitted to a home seller to secure an offer to buy the property, and it's often applied to the closing costs. If the seller accepts your offer, we should close on the home about 30 to 60 days afterward. This allows enough time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate the deal
Most contracts aren't closed on the initial offer. It's very common to receive a counter offer. But don't let this discourage you. We'll talk about whether or not to agree to the counter offer, propose our own counter offer, or reject the seller's offer and move on.

Market circumstances determine how aggressively we negotiate the contract. In addition, we'll work within your financing constraints. And at the end of the day, we'll formulate a contract that's best for you.

Step 7 – Obtain your loan
Upon completion of the deal, you'll start working with your lender to close the loan. If you're already pre-approved, it shouldn't take very long at all. But you'll need to stay in close contact with your lender. And I'll deal with all the property information your lender will need to close the loan.>

Step 8 – Close the deal
Your lender will give you a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) detailing closing costs within three days of taking your application. This estimate is formed from the loan amount, and RESPA requirements order that it has to involve all closing costs and fall within a narrow range of accuracy. I'll study the estimate and let you know if it all looks all right.

Then we'll close on your house. This will most likely happen at a title company or escrow office and will probably be a smooth and comfortable event.

Step 9 – Move in
Success! Now you can move into your new house. Enjoy it. And if you have any questions, just contact me at 5086464777 or send me an e-mail.