Buyer's Guide

Notice I said to decide on your budget—not determine how much the mortgage company will give you. In many cases, a mortgage company will pre-approve you for more than you’re comfortable spending, which is why you need to determine the monthly payment you feel comfortable with before talking to a lender. This likely includes doing a full household budget and taking into consideration what changes other than a mortgage payment will occur once you move into your new home. Consider the money you will be using for a down payment and your home purchase expenses. Then factor in regular expenses for utilities which could include new expenses like garbage, water, sewer or HOA fees depending on the type of home and location you select as well as a budget for regular home maintenance.

Buying a home is the biggest financial purchase most people make and having a seasoned knowledgeable professional to help you navigate the process takes the stress out of the process. The seller will have a real estate agent representing and negotiating for them and working to get them the absolute best deal. The buyers seeking that home will also have an agent working on their behalf. Do you want to navigate this process alone without someone helping you from start to finish? Having a Buyer’s Agent ensures you have someone on your side to help you identify properties, schedule private showings, tour homes with you to provide insight on each home, explain the market and ultimately handle the offer and contract process for you. Real estate is a relationship business and we have completed decades of successful transactions for our clients. We have worked with many of the local agents to a successful closing which is extremely helpful in getting another one of our offers accepted for our clients. Who you work with matters.

Finding the perfect home can be a daunting task, this is where my expertise and wealth of knowledge come into play. Let me help make your real estate dream a reality. 

Once you have selected the perfect home, we will together to craft a competitive offer. We will review the comparable homes on the market and those recently sold. The offer includes important dates and terms surrounding inspections, appraisal and closing and who you are working with in the transaction to complete your deal such as your Lender, Attorney, and Real Estate Agent. We will discuss how to make the offer more competitive in the event you are competing for the home and help you negotiate if you receive a counteroffer and reach an agreement. At this point, the house will go into Attorney Review. The attorneys will work through a refining the terms of your contract, and establish any changes. Once Attorney Review is complete you will deliver your deposit of good faith and we are now Under Contract.

Now is the time to go back to the mortgage lender who pre-approved or pre-qualified you and choose your mortgage product. You will be presented with various options based on your unique financial situation, including fixed-rate, variable-rate, 15-year, 30-year, or special programs such as VA loans or FHA loans. Work with your mortgage lender to determine your best option and rate for you. They can explain details like points and your rate lock and how that can your closing timeline. You will need to be working to meet the contract deadline for your final loan approval.

No one looks forward to all the paperwork involved in buying a home, but it’s a necessary part of the process. Fortunately, everything will be arranged by your lender and title company and, when you’re finished, you’ll know you are the legal owner of your new home.