The Buying Process
Buying a home can be one of life’s most exciting experiences.
Today’s real estate market is very fast moving. It requires knowledge and expertise to be applied quickly in order to ensure that the buyer gets the most out of the transaction.
All it takes is a high quality real estate agent and a solid process. This is why having a qualified Realtor is so important. The process I walk my buyers through provides security and profitability to eliminate the stress that can accompany purchasing a home. These are the following steps you should take:
Home For Sale
Meet with Kim
In order to best serve the buyer it is important for the Realtor to have an accurate understanding of their goals, concerns, and how they prefer to communicate. Not all buyers are the same and the agent needs to be well informed. Here are a few things your Realtor should know:
- Motivation for buying a home
- The amount of monthly mortgage payment you’re comfortable with
- Essential features of your ideal home
- Optional preferences in a home
- Current knowledge of the cost involved in owning a home
- HOA requirements (if applicable)
- Is the home to be long-term or an investment?
Pre-Approval
By getting the buyer pre-approved for a loan they are able to understand what type of home they can afford. No one wants to fall in love with a home only to discover that they cannot afford it. This also gives potential sellers confidence that the transaction will go through should they accept an offer. Also, when it comes time to negotiate, the buyer will stand on more solid ground if they have been pre-approved for a loan. Last, closing is typically quicker if pre-approval has taken place.
Home Search
This is the exciting part! Given that the real estate agent has an acute awareness of what you are looking for in a home, the search process becomes accurate and enjoyable. Finding a home that meets your criteria avoids wasting time and eliminates unnecessary stress. By utilizing a qualified agent you can also save yourself the headache of chasing down properties you may find online that are no longer on the market.
Writing the Offer
Not sure how to do this one? No problem! That’s why you have a Realtor. It is the job of the agent to know what is to be included in an offer letter, essential verbiage to use, and how to gain leverage over other potential buyers. Leave this one to the pros and rest at ease that you are in good hands.
Inspection
It is critical that buyers hire an inspector to find out the true condition of the house. Here are a few things they will check:
- Roof
- Attic
- Foundation
- Plumbing
- Electrical
- Ventilation
- Structural elements
- Appliances
- Garage
A good Realtor will have a recommendation and be able to use their findings when it comes to negotiations.
Appraisal
An appraiser will perform an assessment of the house to determine its value. The lender will take this into consideration during the mortgage loan process. The market value of the home needs to be determined to ensure that the seller’s asking price is fair. Helping buyers through this step is essential during the buying process.
Closing
This last step of the buying process is the final performance of all agreements that were made with the seller and the lender for financing the home. There’s an exchange of documents that finalize the sale and closing costs need to be paid. As the buyer, you will receive the deed, title to the property, and other transfer documents. Having a trusted real estate agent by your side to walk you through this step is imperative to ensure that everything is processed correctly.
For all your buying needs, contact professional Realtor Kim Wirtz today!