Buyers
Checklist to home ownership
This list has been prepared to help make you comfortable with the home buying process. After all, this is an exciting time in your life, and we want to help you enjoy it. Read through the checklist, then call me for more information. Of course, purchase transactions can vary, but this "typical" list should help jumpstart your thinking.
1) Be sure you\'re ready to buy a home
2) Determine how much you can afford
3) Organize your personal information
4) Get pre-approved
5) Search for a home
6) Research areas and neighborhoods of interest
7) Visit selected homes
8) Make an offer on the home you want
Be sure you\'re ready to buy a home. Consider all costs involved, including taxes, homeowner\'s insurance, private mortgage insurance (PMI), and utilities. Consider the responsibilities of home ownership, from mowing the lawn to maintaining the roof.
Costs and approval process
Determine how much you can afford
Consider all costs involved, including upfront costs such as the down payment and closing costs.
Estimate the monthly mortgage payment.
Include in your estimates other costs such as taxes and maintenance, as well as insurance and any applicable association fees.
Tip: Use the mortgage calculator found under each home listing on this site to run the numbers.
Organize your personal information
Check your credit report to make sure that there are no errors.
Gather documents such as financial statements and tax forms.
Make sure to have the following information readily available: the name, address, and Social Security number of all applicants; contact information for your current landlord or mortgage company; a pay stub and employer information; the value of your assets; and the source of your down payment and closing costs.
A pre-approval will tell you how much home you can afford, give you the power to negotiate and even make an offer, and show sellers that you\'re a qualified buyer.
Home search
When ready to begin to search for a home, there are many tools available to you. Begin to search for properties online to get an idea of the homes that are available in your price range. Drive through areas that interest you to get a feel for different neighborhoods. Always reccomender to visiting your preferred neighborhoods at different times of the day and at different days of the week to observe patterns of noise and traffic.
Look for statistics on neighborhoods, schools, and other demographic information that is important in your search for a home. I will be glad to send you any other statistics, and school and tax information as needed.
Let the fun being...visit selected homes. Take your time as you carefully examine both the interior and exterior of each homes you consider. Compare the prices of similar homes in the surrounding area. I will be glad to supply with a list of with comparable properties (“comps”) which will help determine market value. If the market is competitive, be prepared to act fast.