Buyer’s Guide

Buying a home is one of the most exciting times of your life. Even if you have already bought your first home, there are many things that cannot be forgotten as your homework during the process. Use this list of action items below as a guide as you prepare.

Connect with a Mortgage Agent:
One of the first things to do is find out what you can afford. Connect with a reputable mortgage agent so that you can have your credit checked and get qualified for a loan amount. This process is very important as you will need to know what you can spend in relation to what properties you can consider buying.

Avoid Spending:
You will want to be saving your money for your down payment, but you also don’t want make any large purchases during this time as it can affect your loan qualification. A mortgage agent can also give you a good faith estimate for what your closing costs will be so that you can ensure that you have these funds available when that time comes.

Location:
Every area will vary in what it offers for schools, amenities and services so be sure you do your homework on all towns that you are considering. Identify things like ease of commute to work, cost of homes that suit your needs and tax rates. I can also be of assistance as you navigate through your options.

Home Inspection:
Hiring a professional home inspector is one of the best things money can buy. Once you have had an accepted offer, arrange for an inspection so that you can have an expert inform you of the true condition of the home. Only an expert professional can tell you valuable information about the home’s construction quality and any upcoming necessary repairs. This will help you budget for any possible work needed.

Enter Contract:
Once your inspection is complete and satisfactory, the next step is to enter contract. The signing of the Purchase and Sale Agreement of “P and S” will be your binding contract that identifies all agreed upon details including important dates like your closing. Be prepared to provide your down payment check to accompany the signing of this document.