Preparing
to buy

Real estate can look like an intimidating region to jump into, with so many various parts to consider. You must make sure you are at a section of your life where you can fully commit to this key life event in an established financial state.

FINANCES

On top of saving and potentially starting to earn extra cash, ensure that you check your credit score, which is essential to buying a home and qualifying for low interest rates. Asking for guidance from a lender will update you on your eligibility for a mortgage and if you need to think about using a down payment assistance program. Not only will you need cash reserves to purchase the property, but you will also need to prove to a lender that you can keep up with housing payments – so start lessening your spending and raising your saving as soon as possible!

GET EDUCATED

A good way to start increasing your knowledge is to attend a home-buying process class or seminar, often provided by lenders, agents, or local governments. To have a more hands on experience, you can begin scouting out different regions that can help you visually see your priorities on an area’s amenities. Once you have this narrowed down, visiting open houses will help you understand what you value most in a property and what you can afford.

Choose a real
Estate Agent

By going to open houses, will you get to see various properties and can meet the sellers’ real estate agents. Buying a home is no easy task, which means that you should make sure to entrust this to someone you know will maximize the very best of their abilities for you. This means you should talk to multiple agents before deciding who will be guiding you through your home-buying journey. Real estate agents can be found through varying ways besides open houses, such as through real estate brokerages, real estate signs around the community, searching online for a realtor, and recommendations from loved ones.

Time to go
Shopping

Narrowing down your choices for buying should be a much easier task with the help of your real estate agent. After narrowing down your preferred specifications (like pricing, size, and neighborhood), make sure to assess the real estate market value in the area. Choosing a property in an area with a strong school system is significant even if you do not have kids since it will increase the resale value of your home. Be careful of being too precise with your specific needs, allowing for a cushion in pricing and broadening your preferred location boundaries a little. Don’t be scared to ask as many questions as you can think of about properties you want to consider.

Escrow Inspections
and Appraisals

Don’t forget to save written records of all verbal agreements (such as counter-offers and addendums) and have them signed by both parties. The closing agent (either a title company or attorney) will hold the deposit in escrow and ensure there are no problems with the title and no limitations on the property that are not listed (such as building or parking restrictions). Try to speak to an attorney or tax advisor about each of the ways to hold title, as each can have different legal, estate, and tax implications.

After the seller accepts your offer, a licensed property inspector must inspect the property within the agreed upon timeframe. This can result in either a request for renegotiation from the buyer or a successful close. Remember to keep in close communication with your lender to know when more documents are necessary for your loan application. The property will then be evaluated by a licensed appraiser to decide the value by a lending institution, via a third party, to confirm their investment in your property is acceptable. This is based on combining square footage, recent sales of similar properties, building costs, operating income, and more.

Moving In

Prior to moving in, don’t forget to inquire about property insurance – especially if you’re obtaining a loan. The loan’s value will be dependent on the lending institution and the property’s purchase price, but don’t be afraid to browse around to possibly save a good amount of money. You can also save money by considering a slightly higher deductible to lower your premium, asking your insurance agent about discounts, and insuring just your house – not the land under it.

To make your moving-in process easier, make sure you tackle projects such as carpeting and repainting before any furniture could get in the way. Deciding garage and closet storage systems beforehand will help you avoid having to move your belongings around more than necessary. Putting aside an easy access first week kit and an unpacking tool kit, as well as having spare keys cut, will prevent stressing over disorganization during the chaos. Throughout this process, remember to update all your accounts, banks, providers, and loved ones with your new address. Finally, remember to be excited for this new life journey!