Steps to Buying a Home

Everyone dreams of owning their own home. Searching for the perfect home for your family can be a very exciting, yet anxiety-filled experience. However, if you know what to expect during the home buying process you will be more relaxed and comfortable knowing that we will be by your side every step of the way guiding you through it and looking out for your best interests. Below are the steps to selling to help you visualize what this process looks like. Don’t hesitate to call us if you have any questions and remember we will be there for you every step of the way!

STEP 1: DETERMINE HOW MUCH YOU CAN AFFORD

Before the house hunting process begins, it is important to know how much you can afford. Expenses to consider include the down payment, monthly expenses, property taxes, and any home insurance costs. These will all have to be considered before the home buying process begins as they are typically included in your new monthly payment. Since a person’s credit score determines their interest rate, knowing your score ahead of time can help you decide if now is a good time to buy or not. An individual’s debt-to-income ratio must also fall within acceptable limits of the home’s cost. Once you have determined these things, and if you feel that your budget has enough room to afford a new home, then it’s time to look for the right loan.

STEP 2: GET PRE-APPROVED

Different banks and companies will offer different loan origination fees and by shopping around you can oftentimes save yourself a lot of money. Get multiple quotes so you can make sure you get the best rate & terms. Be sure to also check your loan officer’s website for testimonials and information. A good loan officer will offer you many online resources and tools. Before you lock in your rate, be sure to check the daily rate with the rate your loan officer gives you to ensure you are getting the lowest rate possible. Interest rates will determine how much a mortgage will cost each month and come in fixed or adjustable terms. Mortgage lengths can range from 15 years to 30 years. The longer the repayment term, the lower the payments will be. However, the interest accrued will also be higher on a longer loan. Don’t forget to ask for a pre-approval letter so you can include this with any offers you make.

STEP 3: FIND A REALTOR®

Before you start your home search it is important to find a Buyer’s Agent that will be looking out for your best interests so you don’t fall into a money pit or end up paying too much for your new home. A good Buyer’s agent will help guide you through the home buying process and can also save you TONS of time and money on the road to your new home. Buyer’s agents are legally bound to help buyers, whereas listing agents—the real estate agent representing the home listing—have a fiduciary duty to the home seller. Your Buyer’s agent will also set up home tours, give you insight on any homes you like that you may not be aware of, have knowledge of upcoming listings not yet on the market, help you negotiate the best terms, protect your part in the deal and give you invaluable advice throughout the process.

STEP 4: START SEARCHING

Start your home search by using your agents website (like this one!) to search the MLS for homes. Agent’s have a direct line to the MLS so their websites often update with the newest properties faster than the ‘big name’ sites out there. It also has a My Listing Manager tool that keeps you both in the loop. You can start your search and begin saving your favorite properties to your account and even set up alerts to get new homes & price changes emailed to you. Your agent can then see the properties you have liked and can send potential new properties directly into your Listing Manager that they think you may be interested in. It’s a WIN-WIN!

STEP 5: MAKE AN OFFER & NEGOTIATE

There is an art to making an offer on a home. Your Buyer’s Agent will help you choose the right terms for your offer and will be watching for signs of problems in the home. Listen closely and be sure to ask questions. Be sure to ask for an inspection contingency so if there are major problems you can back out of the deal without losing your Earnest Money. A Home Warranty is also a valuable part of your contract and is a sign of good faith on the sellers part. You want to make sure all of your bases are covered. That’s where having a Buyer’s Agent is most valuable so your rights and interests are protected. With their experience on your side, they will be able to help you negotiate a lower price that sometimes includes concessions or closing costs. Their job is to protect YOU in the contract.

STEP 6: HOME INSPECTIONS & APPRAISAL

Once your offer has been accepted you will need a home appraisal. Banks require this so they can make sure the home is worth as much money as they are lending you. You may also need some inspections depending on your loan type. FHA & VA Loans have more requirements than Conventional loans. This is also the time to have a full home inspection even if it is not required. A home inspector will go through the home and specifically look for problems and provide you with a full report on everything they find. This will give you the opportunity to avoid major problems and back out of the sale or negotiate repairs without losing your earnest money.

STEP 7: ASK FOR REPAIRS OR DISCOUNTS

Once the inspections are done you will more than likely ask the seller to fix some of the issues you found. Keep in mind that they are only required to fix something if the loan terms require it. Be reasonable but firm in your requests. If your seller rejects your request then it is up to you to decide how to proceed.

STEP 8: FINAL WALK-THROUGH

The final walk-through is an important last step, even if you are positive you are going to go through with the sale. Walk through and check the agreed upon repairs, make sure everything is in working order and new issues have not popped up. This is your last opportunity to back out. If everything looks good then its time to go to closing!

STEP 9: CLOSING & ESCROW

Before the home is legally transferred to you, the closing process must occur. During this phase, you will sign all of the mortgage documents, pay closing costs, and sign various other legal documents. Your Buyer’s agent will be at the closing with you to help you through it all. Once all of the papers are signed and monies are transferred, the keys to your new home are yours! The only thing left to do is move into your humble abode. This may occur immediately after the closing or at the date set in the closing documents.

STEP 10: MOVE IN

Depending on how far you’re moving or how much stuff you have, you may require a moving company or a moving truck. Professional movers may seem pricey at first but when you look at the time and money to get similar results, you may re-consider. Call and set your moving date and start packing! Many places like U-HAUL sell moving boxes that are made to make your move easier. Label everything with what is inside it and what room it goes in. Recruit friends and family if needed.

Bonus Buyer Tips

SEE WHAT OUR CLIENTS ARE SAYING:

Michelle N.

I met Karen in the spring of 2017 after becoming disillusioned with the home buying process. I had been looking for a home for several months and only found duds. My lease was about to expire and I needed to either find a home or rent again. I called a listing, planning to be my own agent and Karen answered the telephone. She was personable and listened to my frustrations and told me she could help me to find a home and she did!. She was patient and looked for homes with features I was looking for. When she found me “THE ONE” she set set up a viewing the same day. Karen also went the extra mile in talking with the seller and agent on my behalf. When I needed a good lender due to concerns with my approved lender she recommended an excellent mortgage broker. Throughout this journey she went above and beyond to help me. She was always calming and professional even when I was becoming unglued. Any buyer would be blessed to work with her! Thank you Karen!

Jim S.

Sheila Lombardo was the epitome of what you’d expect from a home buying agent! She went out of her way day or night and spent countless time finding me the home I was looking for in a very competitive market! Sheila will not steer you in the wrong direction and tells you the full truth about any home you are seeking even if it means she wouldn’t be collecting a commission. I would strongly recommend using Metro Roberts and Sheila to anyone looking to buy or sell a home! You won’t ever regret it!

Nicole C.

As first time home buyers, finding the right person to work with is so important!  Jenna made the process so easy for us.  She always made herself available and helped us find exactly what we were looking for.  Jenna put us at ease, always helpful and professional.  I recommend her to anyone on the market looking for their dream home, she’s the one!

Mark and Cheryl S.

Jenna did a great job helping us buy our new house in the country.  She went above and beyond to take care of all of our needs.  She was the expert that we needed to interact with the sellers realtor, who was quite difficult at times.  Jenna knows the details of the real estate business well and used that to help us make decisions without pushing us and following up step by step.  Thank you so much.