Are you purchasing a home in Cary?
Buying a home can be stressful for many people. However, with a little up-front planning, it's not all that complex.
So they know exactly what they can expect, I'll supply buyers with an outline of the entire deal.
Here are my nine steps to buying a home.
When you're ready to get started, you can contact me here or e-mail me at . I'm glad to answer any questions you have about this information.
Step 1 – Prepare to buy a home
There are plenty of things you should consider before beginning your home search.
You'll probably want to put together a checklist of features you need to have, get a feel for what school districts you'd like to live in, and start planning around your budget.
Keeping your mortgage payment less than or around a third of your monthly income is a good rule of thumb to adhere to.
Step 2 – Contact a real estate agent
That's where I come in.
We can arrange a time to meet so we can talk about your real estate needs and get an idea of your plans for the future.
We'll discuss the mortgage and housing industries, other economic factors that may potentially affect your buying decision today or in the future, as well as neighborhoods and schools in the Cary area.
In addition, I'll help you facilitate the loan process.
RE/MAX Performance works with some of Cary's finest mortgage professionals, so you're in great hands.
They can help you choose which type of loan is best for you, as well as help you get approved.
Step 3 – Start looking for a home
After our initial meeting, I'll begin looking for available houses on the market that best suit you.
I'll preview many of the homes and throw out the duds, and then we'll schedule appointments to view the homes at a time that's convenient for you.
As we view houses, I'll point out good features, as well as bad ones. And I'll ask you to tell us about things you like and dislike.
Oftentimes, buyers revise their list of must-haves as we tour homes and some features become far more essential than others.
If that's the situation, I'll search the listings again and narrow it down to the home you've been wishing for.
Step 4 – Get a grasp of the housing market
Your agent's understanding of the Cary housing market is a leading agent in your home search. And I can assure you I'm mindful of all the neighborhoods and school districts, and I'll alert you to some areas are "hot" and require immediate action and some that are "cool" and allow for more analysis.
As we view homes, I'll let you know if the seller's asking price has room for negotiation or if I believe the home is "priced to sell."
Be mindful and make sure you ask your agent a lot of questions, as every real estate agent will convince you they understand the housing market.
If it seems like they don't know everything, contact me at (919) 924-4991 or e-mail me at , and I'd be happy to answer your questions. My market expertise will keep you a step above the rest through the entire deal.
Step 5 – Find your dream home
I'm certain we'll find the home of your dreams in Cary. When that happens, I'll thoroughly develop your purchase offer. The offer will be made to fit your needs and the home. We'll include many contingencies, such as getting financing, carrying out the inspection, and a clear title.
When sending in your purchase offer, you'll likely want to submit "earnest money." This is a cash deposit given to the seller to secure the offer to buy the property and is most often applied to the closing costs. If the offer is accepted by the seller, we should close on the property within 30 to 60 days afterward. This allows plenty of time for your mortgage financing.
Step 6 – Negotiate
Most deals don't close on the beginning offer. It's very common to receive a counter offer. Don't let this alarm you. We'll figure out whether or not to agree to the counter offer, submit our own counter offer, or refuse the seller's offer and go on.
Market circumstances determine how aggressively we negotiate the contract.
In addition, we'll work within your financing limits. And at the end of the day, we'll create a deal that works well for you.
Step 7 – Obtain financing
Once we sign the final contract, you'll start working with your mortgage lender to close the loan.
If you're already pre-qualified, this won't take much time at all. However, you should to keep in close contact with your mortgage lender.
And I'll care for all the property information your lender needs to close the loan.
Step 8 – Close the deal
You'll get a Loan Estimate (LE) detailing your closing costs from your lender within three days of taking your application.
This estimate depends on the loan amount, and RESPA requirements order that it has to include all closing costs and fall within a strict range of accuracy. I'll go over the estimate and let you know if it all looks all right.
Then we'll close on your home. This will probably take place at a title company or escrow office and will likely be a smooth and easygoing event.
Step 9 – Move in
Congratulations! Now you can move into your new house. Enjoy it. And if you need anything or have any questions, make sure you contact me at (919) 924-4991 or e-mail me at .