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!

The idea is simple: take the rapidly growing options in utility and home services and give movers one convenient source to get them all connected.

Allconnect makes this idea a reality for millions of customers each year. One call to Allconnect connects you with all the services you know and trust, simply, efficiently, ahead of time, so that you can focus on what's important when you move, enjoying your new home.

By partnering with hundreds of trusted brands and services nationwide, we can give you the pick of what your new neighborhood has to offer, save you time, and make your move easier, free of charge.

The National do not call registry gives you a choice about whether to receive telemarketing calls at home. Most telemarketers should not call your number once it has been on the registry for 31 days. You can register online at www.donotcall.gov or call toll-free, 1-888-382-1222 from the number you wish to register. Registration is free.

If they do, you can file a complaint at this Website. You can register your home or mobile phone for free. Your registration will be effective for five years.

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.

We encourage you to take advantage of our experience with these good people, so you don’t have to learn from our mistakes! Click here to go to our extensive list. When available, we have links directly to their websites or have provided you with email addresses. 

“We highly recommend Family Mortgage to all friends and family. We tell them about the high level of personal service. Our loan is explained to us in understandable terms. Working with Family Mortgage is the only time we’ve dealt with “loan officers” that are truly working on our side.” Erin Scalese

“Outstanding from start to finish!” Jerry McDonough

“It was the best experience with a mortgage company we have ever had.” Jerry and Cathy Brown

“I’m usually pretty cynical about things like this, but you proved that there are trustworthy people, even in the mortgage industry.” Richard Cave