The Home Buying Process: Part 1
Today we’re starting the first installment of a three-part series designed to help you understand the home buying process more clearly.
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Buying a home is a multi-step process, so today, we’re rolling out the first installment of a three-part series about the home buying process. We’ll kick things off by discussing the first two things you need to do when looking for a home.The first two items go hand-in-hand, the very first of which is finding a strong real estate agent. You want to meet them so they can go over everything they can do for you and help you understand the details of the process. They’ll also do a thorough analysis of your needs for your next home.A good agent provides guidance because whether you’re buying your first home or you haven’t bought one in years, it’s good to work with someone who does this every single day for a living.Of course, they also help you find the right house. They set up certain search criteria to let you know when a home comes on the market that matches what you’re looking for. If you have your desired area in mind, a good agent can also look out for pre-market properties for you. We might even be able to find off-market properties, where the seller may have been months away from listing.A good agent can also help you find new construction and for sale by owner homes. Agents work with new construction buyers and builders all the time, so we know the process well. It’s important to have representation when buying a new build because despite how nice the sales reps are, many people forget that they’re working on behalf of the builder’s best interests, not yours.Knowing your budget is another huge part of finding your next home, so you also need to talk to a lender and get pre-qualified for a mortgage. They will typically have a short phone call to get a sense of your budget and how they can help. You might also fill out an online application and submit some documents like pay stubs or tax returns. Like real estate agents, you can compare lenders. We’re always happy to refer a greater lender to you as well.Once your agent knows what you’re looking for and how much money you’re qualified to spend, then we can start looking for homes. Stay tuned for the next portion of our series when we address that step.In the meantime, give us a call or send us an email if you have any questions. We’d be happy to help.