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Use the Buyers Checklist as a convenient way to keep track of all the things you must do to complete the process of buying your home. In addition, we will provide you with all of the information you need to change over your utilities as you go through the loan process with us. Click here for a pdf
Preparing to Buy
__ Determine that buying is the right decision
__ Understand the requirements for buying
__ Order the only free credit reports on line at annualcreditreport.com to review credit
history
__ Resolve credit issues if necessary
__ Assemble the money you will need into one place
__ Get pre-approved for mortgage through familyga.com or another source
__ Decide to work with real estate agent or by yourself
Finding a New Home
__ Research neighborhoods
__ Drive around the interesting areas
__ Test commute by driving it
__ Talk with local merchants and neighbors about the area
__ Assess the schools with Thompson Evans Realty or another source
__ Decide on neighborhoods to concentrate on
Understand the market
__ Read the Real Estate section of the paper for info
__ Visit open houses and talk with sellers and agents about the market
__ Psychologically prepare to move quickly, get pre-approved for your mortgage
Start to Shop
__ Make a list of amenities desired in a new home
__ Rank the amenities by most desired
__ See properties, both FSBO and those listed with agents
__ Assess each property against your list
__ Decide on a house that's right and prepare to make an offer
Writing the Offer
__ Obtain contract forms from your agent or another source
__ Know the typical elements of an offer and contract
__ Hire a real estate attorney to handle the contract if desired
__ Decide on an offer price
__ Compare the house to other houses on the market
__ Decide on the inspections you want to have and how you want to handle it if they
are not
satisfactory
__ Give the seller or agent a check for the earnest money deposit and make it clear in the
offer when and where the check is to be deposited
__ Decide whether you want the seller to contribute to your closing costs
__ Decide on timeframes for inspections, financing and settlement
Negotiating the Offer
__ Offer is presented for consideration
__ Verify to seller that you are pre-approved to purchase (get pre-approved at familyga.com)
__ Receive seller's response and respond
__ Accepted? Move on to Handling the Details
__ Declined? Walk away or re-offer
__ Counter-offer? Assess
__ Price is acceptable or counter-offer price is decided upon -
__ Make sure you still qualify at the new price - do you have enough cash and income?
__ Timeframes for inspections, financing and settlement acceptable or alternatives decided on
counter offer
__ Inspection, closing cost contribution and other contingencies are acceptable or alternatives
decided on for counter-offer
__ Earnest money deposit is acceptable or alternative decided on for counter offer
__ Accept counter offer, reject counter offer or prepare counter-offer in response to contract
__ Put time-frame in counter offer for seller's response
Handling the Details
__ Home inspection completed
__ Home inspection issues resolved if necessary
__ Radon inspection completed
__ Radon inspection issues resolved if necessary
__ Other inspections completed
__ Roof inspection
__ Electrical inspection
__ Other _____________________
__ Inspections followed up on
__ Inspection issues resolved if necessary
__ Property disclosures delivered, or condo documents if appropriate
__ Property disclosures approved
__ Appraisal completed
__ Appraisal issues resolved if necessary
__ Mortgage is approved
__ Deposit earnest money with escrow agent
__ Provide necessary documents to escrow agent
__ Survey is completed if necessary
__ Termite inspection
__ Termite inspection completed
__ Termite inspection issues resolved if necessary
__ Obtain Homeowners insurance
__ Pay for one year in advance
__ Provide paid receipt and insurance binder to lender
__ Repairs required by contract or inspections completed
__ Settlement/Closing date and time scheduled
__ Final walk-through completed with seller
__ Satisfied with walk-through?
__ Issues with walk-through resolved if necessary
Settlement/Closing
__ Review documents 24 -48 hours in advance
__ Resolve issues with documents if necessary
__ Make sure all lender's requirements have been met
__ Determine exact amount of money necessary for settlement
__ Obtain certified check for settlement
__ Settle!
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Over the last 9 years, our team members have had the opportunity to deal with thousands of homeowners. Through our customers and our own personal experience, we have forged relationships with a wide variety of professionals that can assist you throughout the home buying process and way beyond.