Buying or selling a home?

Buying a home can be stressful for many people, but with a little up-front planning, it's not all that confusing. I like to supply buyers with a road map of the entire deal so they'll know exactly what they can expect. These are my nine steps to purchasing a home. When you're ready to get started, you can contact me here or e-mail me at . I'm happy to answer any questions you have regarding this information.

Step 1 – Get ready to purchase a home
Prior to beginning your home search, there are many things you'll want to take into account. When you begin your search, you'll probably want to form an outline of items you want, plan for what school districts you want to live in, and begin working on your budget. A good rule to adhere to is that your mortgage payment should be less than 30 percent of your monthly income.

Step 2 – Speak with a real estate agent in Fall River
This is where E Z Home Search Real Estate Inc. comes in. I'd love to set up a time to meet with you and speak with you regarding your real estate needs and get an idea of your future plans. We'll discuss everything from neighborhoods, school districts in the Fall River area, the mortgage industry, to any other economic factors that may affect your buying decision today or in the future.

I'll also help you facilitate the loan process. E Z Home Search Real Estate Inc. partners with some of Fall River's best mortgage professionals, so you'll be in great hands. They'll help you choose which kind of loan is best for you, as well as help you get qualified.

Step 3 – Start your home search
After our initial meeting, I'll start looking for houses on the market that meet your needs. I'll get a sneak peek of many of the houses and reject the bad ones, and then we'll set up appointments to tour the houses when it's most convenient for you.

As we view houses, I'll show you the positive features, as well as bad ones. I'll also ask you what things you like and dislike. It's common for buyers to update their must-have list as we tour homes and some features become far more important than others. If that's the situation, I'll go back through the listings another time and trim it down to the home you've been waiting for.

Step 4 – Get a grasp of the housing market
Your agent's understanding of the Fall River market is a necessary element in your home search. And I can assure you I'm acquainted with all the schools and neighborhoods, and I will alert you to which neighborhoods are "hot" and require immediate action and the ones that are "cool" and allow for more analysis.

When we view homes, I'll let you know when the asking price has room for bargaining and when I trust the house is "priced to sell." Be careful and be sure to ask a lot of questions, as every real estate agent will convince you they understand the market. If things don't add up, contact me at (508) 646-4777 or e-mail me at , and I'll be glad to answer any questions you might have. My market expertise will help you stay a step above the rest through the entire deal.

Step 5 – Find the house of your dreams
I'm positive we'll find your dream home in Fall River. When we do, I'll meticulously create your home purchase offer. The offer will be tailored to suit your needs and the home, including several contingencies, such as obtaining financing, completing the inspection, and a clean title.

When presenting your purchase offer, you'll want to present "earnest money." This is a cash deposit made to the seller to secure the offer to purchase the property and is usually applied to the cost of closing. If your offer is accepted, we should close on the home about 30 to 60 days afterward. This allows enough time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate
Unfortunately most contracts don't close on the initial offer, and it's extremely common to receive a counter offer. But don't let it intimidate you. We'll consider whether or not to consent to the counter offer, submit our own counter offer, or decline the seller's offer and move on.

How aggressively we negotiate the deal depends on market circumstances. In addition, we'll work within your financing limits. And when it's all said and done, we'll create a deal that is best for you.

Step 7 – Get financing
After we sign the final deal, you'll start working with your mortgage lender to close the loan. If you're pre-qualified, this won't take much time at all. But you should to keep in close contact with your lender. And I'll handle all the property information your lender needs to close the loan.

Step 8 – Close the deal
You'll get a Loan Estimate (LE) outlining your closing costs from your lender within three days of taking your application. The estimate rests on the loan amount. RESPA requirements mandate that it has to include all closing costs and be within a tight range of accuracy, and I'll examine the estimate and let you know if it all looks permissible.

Then we'll close on your home. This will most often take place at a title company or escrow office and will likely be a smooth and pleasant occasion.

Step 9 – Move in
Congratulations! It's time to move into your new home. Enjoy it. And if you have any questions, simply contact me at (508) 646-4777 or e-mail me at .

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