Are You Ready to Buy Your Dream Home?

Choosing a Realtor® is your first step to ensuring that you get an experience with less stress, the best price, and completed in a timely manner. This will allow you to focus on your move, while we help you from start to finish and beyond. Use the list below as a guideline to assist you in the process of buying your dream home.

• Decide on your Wish List for your perfect home.
  • Click here for a few things to consider for your wish list.
• Figure out how you are paying for your new home and determine your budget.
  • If you are paying cash for your new home, GREAT!
  • If you are getting a Mortgage, an important step is to get pre-approved the Mortgage.
    • Click here to learn more about the Mortgage process.
  • Provide us with Proof of Funds and/or a Pre-approval Letter from your Mortgage Broker.
    • Let us know if you need a Mortgage Broker, and we can provide a few of our preferred vendors.
  • Discuss your search criteria/wish list with us.
    • Click here to learn more about how we can help find your dream home.

• Do not change jobs or make any large purchases or credit inquires that could affect your credit score or ability to obtain a mortgage until after closing.
• Review listings sent to you and reduce the list to just your favorites.
• Drive by your favorites to get a feel for the neighborhood. If you can, drive past at various times of the day.  You may hear/see things differently at different times.
• Provide us with a list of the properties you are most interested in and let us know when you are available to view them.

Discuss the contract terms with us and put in an offer.

• If the original offer is not accepted, discuss your options with us and negotiate the contract.
• Making An Offer: 5 Mistakes To Avoid

Upon acceptance, you will need to complete a few tasks relatively quickly (depending on how they are stipulated in your contract).

• Deposits:
  • 1^st Deposit will most likely be due upon acceptance or within a few days.
  • If a 2^nd deposit is in the contract, it may also be due shortly after the offer is accepted.
• Pick a Title Company, Insurance Company and Inspector.
  • Click here to learn more about the Title/Escrow/Closing Process.
  • Click here to learn more about the Insurance Process.
  • Click here to learn more about the Inspection Process.
  • We suggest picking them within 1 day and can provide a few of our preferred vendors if needed.
• If you are getting a Mortgage, complete Loan Application according to the timeframe stated in the contract (typically 5 days).
• If applicable, apply to the Homeowners or Condominium Association.

If you choose to have an Inspection, the timeframe to conduct the inspection is stated within the contract.

• Click here to learn more about Inspections.

If you are required to have an Appraisal for your Mortgage, you will want to coordinate with us and the Mortgage Broker to make sure the Appraisal is ordered/scheduled in a timely manner.

• Click here to learn more about Appraisals.

• If applicable, receive the Certificate of Approval from the Homeowners or Condominium Association, and forward it to us.
• Switch Ongoing Services for the day after Closing (Cleaning, Lawn, Pest Control, etc…).
• A Walk-through is typically scheduled within 24 hours prior to Closing (this is not a re-inspection).

• Turn on Electricity and Water.
• Change driver’s license or ID.
• Change Address with the Post Office & any companies sending you paper mail.
• File for the Homestead Exemption on your new home!
  • Click here to learn more about Homestead and Other Exemptions.
  • Click here to learn more about Portability and the potential tax savings.
• Check your home values regularly (at least yearly) if you have a mortgage with Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) to see if it can be removed.
  • Click here to learn more about Private Mortgage Insurance.