6 STEPS TO
buying a home: 1.
CHOOSE AN AGENT Select a trusted real estate agent to represent your interests and to help you navigate through this complex process. Ask family, friends, or co-workers who they have had a great experience with or interview someone that impresses you at an open house.
START THE LOAN PROCESS
2.
It’s important as a buyer you establish some kind of financing before you make any serious home offer. The “pre-approval” process allows lenders to take a look at your finances and credit history in order to make a general assumption about your loan amount. The pre-approval process is when a lender looks at all of your finances and determines the amount of money you can afford for a mortgage. In order to get pre-approved for a loan, you need to contact a lender. Your Skogman Realty agent can help you find a lender that you feel comfortable with, and that offers programs best-suited to your needs.
MAKE A WISH LIST & START YOUR SEARCH
3.
Consider your non-negotiable items on your wish list. What can’t you live without? Do you have to have 3 bedrooms? Do you need to be close to work and school? Do you have to have a pool? Write down your “must-haves” and your “would-be-nice” items and start searching with the help of your Skogman REALTOR®.
4.
MAKE AN OFFER & NEGOTIATE COUNTEROFFERS
5.
Once you have found the right home, your REALTOR® helps negotiate the terms of the sale, including price, possession date and any seller’s concessions, if applicable.
CONTRACT TO CLOSING There’s a lot that happens between an accepted offer and closing. Your real estate agent will help you navigate through this process. You’ll want to have inspections done on the home you’re buying. You’ll also need an appraisal and insurance.
FINAL WALK THROUGH & CLOSING
6.
Before closing, we’ll go through the home for a final walk through to make sure the home is still in the same condition it was in when we wrote the offer. Then it’s time for closing! Final mortgage documents are reviewed and signed. This takes approximately one hour. If you’re required to bring funds to closing, a certified check is required. Your photo ID is also required.
