When you work with me, real estate is really easy.
Should I Buy?
8 Steps to Buying a Home
Step 1: Decide To Buy
The decision to purchase your first home is one of the biggest and best choices you could ever make. After all, a home is the largest - and most emotional - investment most people will face in their lifetime. So, how do you know if it's the right time for you to buy? There is never a wrong time to buy the right home. The key is finding the right buy and taking the time to carefully evaluate your finances.
A home purchase is an important step that can provide many advantages. Purchasing your own home is a great investment that can deliver several financial benefits - equity build up, value appreciation, automatic savings plan - not to mention a new sense of pride!
Start looking at your options today. You don't have to know everything. I'm ready to help you through every step of the process.
Step 2: Hire Your Agent
When you're looking for a real estate professional to help you, know that above all else, good agents put their clients first. This is your dream, and your agent is your advocate to help you make your dream come true.
A great real estate agent will:
Educate you about the current conditions of the market.
Analyze what you want and what you need in your next home.
Guide you to homes that fit your criteria and budget.
Negotiate on your behalf to get you the best deal possible.
Co-ordinate the work of other needed professionals throughout the process.
Check and double-check paperwork and deadlines.
Inform and discuss with you, and suggest solutions to solve any problems that may arise.
Step 3: Secure Financing
To make the financing process as painless as possible, ask your agent to introduce you to mortgage lenders, banker, and brokers that they've worked successfully with in the past. This professional will work with you and your agent to make sure the financial aspect of your home purchase is stress free.
What will they do for you?
Review your current financials.
Discuss the options available to you during the home purchasing process.
Guide you to an appropriate price point.
Negotiate on your behalf to get you the best deal - price, interest rates, loan approval.
Keep you informed and updated of the entire financial process throughout your purchase.
Step 4: Find Your Home
So you've met with your trusted advisers, and now you're ready to begin your search. How or where do you start? There are a lot of homes out there, and diving in without a guide can become overwhelming and confusing. Your Keller Williams agent will help you more accurately pinpoint homes that fit your criteria. The right home will meet all your important needs, and as many of your wants as possible.
Some questions you might ask yourself include:
What amenities are crucial for you and your family?
How much space do you need and why?
Which is more critical: location or size?
Would you be interested in a fixer-upper?
How important is home value appreciation?
Is neighborhood stability a priority?
Is accessibility to main routes a priority?
What features are not negotiable in your new property?
You'll learn as you look at homes, that your priorities will probably change along the way.
Step 5: Make An Offer
Once you've found a home you love, the next step is deciding on a price. It's important to remember that a home is an investment. Your agent can give you information on other properties in the neighborhood to help you make an informed decision when it comes to price. Look to your agent to explain and guide you through the offer process.
Some things to consider when deciding on the best price point are:
List Price - Start with the price point that the home is listed at. This will give you a base when looking at the home's value.
Market Analysis - Your agent will give you an idea of comparable home values in the neighborhood to help you decide if the price point is on par.
Improvements - Your agent can give you a list of improvements (when available) and help you determine its market value.
Compare - Remember to also compare what you have seen to the home you are wanting to make an offer on.
Step 6: Perform Due Diligence
Unlike most major purchases, once you buy a home, you can’t return it if something breaks or doesn’t quite work like it’s supposed to. That’s why property inspections and home owner’s insurance are so important.
The property inspection should you choose to have one, can expose issues a home might hide so you know exactly what you’re getting into before you sign your closing papers.
Your major concern is structural damage.
Don’t sweat the small stuff. Things that are easily fixed can be overlooked.
If you have a big problem show up in your inspection report, you should bring in a qualified professional. If the worst-case scenario turns out to be true, you might want to walk away from the purchase.
There are also home warranty programs that can be purchased
A home owner’s insurance policy protects you in two ways:
Against loss or damage to the property itself
Liability, in case someone sustains an injury while on your property
Step 7: Close
You're in the 'home' stretch! But, in order to ensure that you don't put the property purchase at risk, you have a couple responsibilities that you'll need to keep in mind:
Staying in control of your credit and finances - Do not make any large purchases during this time. It's important to keep your financials steady throughout the buying process. Talk to your financial consultant for guidance.
Keeping in touch with your agent and financial consultant - It's important to stay in constant communication with your Keller Williams agent and financial guide during this process. Be sure to return all phone calls and complete paperwork promptly. Also, don't be afraid to ask questions. Your team is there to help you!
Step 8: Protect Your Investment
Congratulations, and welcome home! The home-buying process is complete, which means it's time for your maintenance plan! It's now your responsibility, and in your best financial interest, to protect your investment for years to come. Performing routine maintenance on your home's systems is always more affordable than having to fix big problems later. Be sure to watch for signs of leaks, damage and wear.
And remember, just because the sale is complete, your relationship with me doesn't need to end! After you buy, I can still help you - providing information on the real estate market, finding contractors and repair services, and even tracking your home's current value.
Happy home-owning!