Buyer's Guide

Tips for Home Buyers

Although buyers now begin the home searching online, it's vital that you find a real estate professional who understands your goals and needs. As a Century21 Town & Country licensed real estate agent, I am ready and qualified to guide you through the entire process. In the long run, it will save you time and money.

1. Get Preapproved

It is important for you to get preapproved through a mortgage lender. You'll find out what you can afford and what programs your credit allows you to qualify for. Also, a preapproval puts you in a stronger negotiating position with a seller.

2. Find a House

After getting your preapproval, the next thing to do is start looking at homes as soon as possible. It's very common for home buyers to miss out on the first home they wish to purchase because they don't act quickly enough. By the time they've made their decision, they may find that someone else has already purchased the house. Also, it is important to remember that your preapproval letter is only good for 90 days. If it takes you longer than that to find a house, you'll need to get your preapproval letter renewed.

3. Make a good offer.

Once you do find a home you want, it's time to put in an offer. As your Real Estate Agent, I will provide you with relevant information that will help you decide the approximate value of the property in the current market condition, and together we will determine the appropriate offer price. Remember that your offer is very unlikely to be the only one on the table. We will work on this together to ensure that your offer it’s appealing to the seller. If the house is within your price range and meets everything on your wish list, it’s not worth the risk of losing it. Don’t lose a property over a couple thousand; it’s not worth it.

4. Get a Home Inspection

Once your offer is accepted, one of the things you want to consider is to get a home inspection. You will hire a professional who will come out and ensure that there are not any major issues with the house. During the inspection it’s a good idea to ask questions and learn as much as you can. You’re paying for the inspection out-of-pocket, so make sure to get your money’s worth.

5. Time to Close

And finally, it’s time to secure homeowners insurance and time to close. There are some small things to keep in mind, after closing, like changing the locks and sending out new address notifications.