Buying or selling a home?

Buying a home intimidates a lot of people, but it's not all that complicated with some planning ahead of time. So they know exactly what they can expect, I will furnish buyers with a road map of the whole deal. These are my nine steps to buying a home. Should you have any questions about this information or if you're ready to get started, simply contact me here or e-mail me at .

Step 1 – Prepare to purchase a home
Prior to beginning your home search, there are plenty of things you should take into account. You'll probably want to form a list of must-have features, get an idea of what school districts and neighborhoods you'd like to live in, and start planning around your budget. Keeping your mortgage payment less than a third of your monthly income is a good principle to follow.

Step 2 – Speak with a real estate agent in Topton
This is where Nantahala Real Estate Company, INC can help. We can schedule a time to meet so we can talk about why you want to buy a home and get an idea of your future plans. We'll talk about the mortgage industry, other economic factors that could affect your buying decision today or in the future, as well as neighborhoods and school districts in the Topton area.

I'll also help you begin the loan process. I partner with some of Topton's best mortgage professionals, so you're in great hands. They'll assist you with figuring out which type of loan is best for you and help you get qualified.

Step 3 – Begin house hunting
After our first meeting, I'll begin looking for available houses on the market that are good for you. I'll preview most of the houses and remove the bad ones, and then we'll book appointments to tour the homes when it's most convenient for you.

When we tour houses, I'll call attention to good features and negative ones. And I'll ask you to tell us about things you like and dislike. For the most part, buyers revise their must-have list as we view houses and some features become far more substantial than others. If such is the case, I'll look through the listings once again and trim it down to the home you've been wishing for.

Step 4 – Understand the housing market
An agent's understanding of the Topton home market is an essential aspect in your home search. And I can assure you I'm familiar with all the neighborhoods and schools, and I'll communicate certain districts are "hot" and warrant immediate action and others that are "cold" and allow for thoughtful analysis.

As we tour homes, I'll let you know if the asking price has room for negotiation or if I believe the house is "priced to sell." Be on guard and make sure you ask plenty of questions, as any REALTOR in Topton will claim to truly understand the home market. If it seems like they don't know everything, call me at 8283213101 or e-mail me at , and I'd be glad to answer any questions you have. My knowledge of the market will help you stay a step ahead through the entire process.

Step 5 – Find the home of your dreams
We'll find the house of your dreams in Topton, and when that happens, I'll carefully create your real estate purchase offer. The offer will be tailored exactly to your needs and the home, including some contingencies, such as obtaining financing, finishing the home inspection, and a clean title.

When presenting your offer, you'll need to present "earnest money." This is a cash deposit given to the seller to secure the offer to purchase the property and is often applied to the cost of closing. If the offer is accepted by the seller, we should close about 30 to 60 days after. This allows necessary time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate the deal
A lot of deals don't close on the initial offer. It's widely common to receive a counter offer. But don't let it intimidate you. We'll talk over whether or not to consent to the counter offer, propose our own counter offer, or refuse the seller's offer and go on.

The state of the market will play a big part in how aggressively we negotiate the deal. We'll also work within your budget. And when it's all said and done, we'll put together a deal that's best for you.

Step 7 – Get your loan
Upon completing the contract, you'll begin working with your lender to close the loan. If you're already pre-qualified, this shouldn't take very long at all. However, you need to keep in close contact with your mortgage lender. And I'll manage all the property information your mortgage lender will need to close the loan.

Step 8 – Close the deal
You'll get a Loan Estimate (LE) of closing costs from your mortgage lender within three days of accepting your loan application. The estimate depends on the loan amount, and RESPA requirements mandate that it has to include all closing costs and fall within a narrow range of accuracy. I'll examine the estimate and let you know if it all looks adequate.

Then it's time to close on your house. This should happen at a title company or escrow office and will most likely be a smooth and easygoing occurrence.

Step 9 – Move in
Congratulations! It's time to move into your new home. Enjoy it. And if you need anything or have any questions, be sure to call me at 8283213101 or e-mail me at .