Everything you need to know about the process of buying a new home.
Buying a home is one of the most exciting and scary moments of your life. To prepare yourself for this moment, you need to know exactly what to expect during the process. This step-by-step process will help reduce the stress of buying a home and help you enjoy the journey.
Do you already know where you want to buy? Do you want a condo, townhouse, or single-family home? What are your “Must Haves”, “Should Haves” and “Dream Items”? Creating this list will help to formulate the things that are most important in your next home and will also help you realize those things that might not be as important as you might have initially thought.
One of the most important parts of buying a home is making sure you can get a loan in the amount that you need. No seller will accept an offer without a Pre-Approval letter. (Better yet, a Certified Pre-Approval letter!) Speaking with a seasoned loan officer at the beginning of the process can be helpful for a number of reasons:
Obtaining a mortgage can be a very important part of the home buying process. While some Minnesota buyers may look at it as a daunting task, with a little guidance and the right loan officer this process can be made much more understandable and stress-free.
I know some excellent mortgage brokers! Please ask me.
This is the most enjoyable and fun part of the entire process, other than the day that you moved in. I’ll arrange showings of homes you’re interested in based on your criteria. This is a chance to share feedback on what you like and don’t like. You’ll have a chance to turn light switches on and off, open and close doors and envision yourself in the home. Make sure to take time to explore the neighborhood and how close it is to necessities like schools, grocery stores, restaurants, etc.
Once you’ve selected the perfect home, work with your agent to craft a fair offer based on the value of comparable homes on the market. Depending on what the home is listed for and whether the current environment is a buyer’s or seller’s market, your offer may be below, at or even above asking price. My job is to help you negotiate to ensure you get the best deal possible. If your offer is accepted, the house will go into escrow.
My goal is to provide you with the most personalized service that is designed to help you buy your dream home
In most cases, your offer will be contingent on having the home inspected to ensure there is no major structural damage or large repairs needed. I will help you arrange this, and you can schedule it within days of making an offer. If there are no major issues, the process moves to Step 5. If there is an issue, you can renegotiate your offer based on what needs to be fixed or you can walk away from the offer altogether.
Your lender will have your new house appraised. The appraisal is conducted to ensure that all parties involved are paying a fair price for the house.
As anticipation builds for your move into your new house, I’ll work with your lender and title company to get all the paperwork wrapped and ready for signing.
You’ve signed all the final paperwork. You’re officially and legally the owner of a new house. It’s time to move into the home of your dreams.
