Buying a home is one of the most exciting milestones of your life. To prepare yourself for this moment, you need to know what to expect during the process. This step-by-step first time buyer’s guide created by our team will help reduce the stress of buying a home and help you enjoy the journey as much as possible.
Do you already know where you want to buy? If you want a condo, townhome, or single-family home? Which features do you like and dislike? What’s available on the market now? If you answered no to any of these questions, now is the time to start researching. In addition to looking for homes that interest you, also take note of any changes in asking prices. This could give you valuable insight into housing trends in specific neighborhoods and help you when the time comes to make an offer.
Notice we said to decide on your budget—not determine how much the mortgage company will give you. In many cases, a mortgage company will pre-approve you for more than you’re comfortable spending, which is why you need to determine the monthly payment you feel comfortable with before talking to a lender. This likely includes doing a full household budget and taking into consideration what changes other than a mortgage payment will occur once you move into your new home. If you’ve lived in an apartment or with roommates, you may overlook new expenses like garbage, water, or HOA fees that could easily blow your budget.
Just because you think you can afford a certain payment every month doesn’t mean the mortgage company will agree. Just as they may approve you for too large of an amount, they may also approve you for a lesser amount or deny you a mortgage altogether. Lack of time at a job, insufficient credit, past bankruptcies, or other financial issues can cause major problems when trying to secure a mortgage. Before you get your heart set on a home, talk to a mortgage professional to find out what amount you can qualify for. This will also be an advantage when you make an offer on a home, as some sellers won’t entertain offers from those who aren’t already prequalified for a loan.
Can you shop for, look at, and ultimately make an offer on a home without a real estate agent? Technically yes, but why would you when it costs you nothing for agents like us to take much of the stress off your shoulders? Not only will we help identify properties you might be interested in, arrange showings, and ultimately handle the offer process, but we also have a knowledge of the market that you don’t possess. Finding the perfect home can be a daunting task, this is where our expertise and wealth of knowledge come into play. Let us show you around some homes that meet your dream home criteria so you can find the one that's right for you.
This should be the most enjoyable step of the entire process (other than moving in!). We will arrange showings of homes you’re interested in that are within your price range. Take notes about what you like and don’t like, and make sure to pay attention to details. Turn light switches on and off, open and close doors, and run the faucets in various rooms. Don’t limit your inspection to the home itself. Make sure to take time to explore the neighborhood and keep an eye on traffic at certain times of the day, the parking situation, and how close it is to necessities like schools and grocery stores.
Once you have selected the perfect home, work with your agent to craft a fair offer based on the value of comparable homes on the market. Depending on what the home is listed at and whether the current environment is a buyer’s or seller’s market, your offer may be below, at, or even above the asking price. We will be able to help you negotiate if you receive a counteroffer and reach an agreement. At this point, the house will go into escrow.
In most cases, your offer will be contingent on having the home inspected to ensure there is no major structural damage or large repairs needed. We can help you arrange this, and you can schedule it within days of making an offer. If there are no major issues, the process goes to step eight. If there is, you can renegotiate your offer based on what needs to be fixed, or you can withdraw it.
Now is the time to go back to the mortgage lender who pre-approved or pre-qualified you and choose your mortgage. You will be presented with various options based on your unique financial situation, including fixed-rate, variable-rate, 15-year, 30-year, or special programs such as VA loans or FHA loans. Work with your mortgage lender to select the option you feel the most comfortable with.
Your lender will have your new home appraised so they have their independent value of it. The appraisal is to ensure that all parties involved are paying a fair price for the house.
No one looks forward to all the paperwork involved in buying a home, but it’s a necessary part of the process. Fortunately, everything will be arranged by your lender and title company and, when you’re finished, you’ll know you are the legal owner of your new home.
After signing the final paperwork to complete the purchase, you are now the owner of a new house. It may take a few days for your loan to be funded once the paperwork has been returned to the lender, but once that check is delivered to the seller, you’ll be all set to move into the home of your dreams.
1. Schedule Time to Meet for a Strategy Session
2. Prepare Guide & Educational Presentation
3. Meet to Discuss Goals and Non-Negotiables
4. Explain Agent Relationships
5. Discuss Different Types Of Financing Options
6. Help Find A Mortgage Lender
7. Obtain Pre-Approval From Lender
8. Provide Resources to Research crime in neighborhoods, school ratings, etc.
9. Provide Overview Of Current Market Conditions
10. Explain Companies Value
11. Discuss Earnest Money Deposits
12. Explain Home Inspection Process
13. Educate About Local Neighborhoods
14. Discuss Foreclosures & Short Sales
15. Gather Needs and Wants of Next Home
16. Explain School Districts Effect On Home Value
17. Explain Recording Devices During Showings
18. Learn All Goals & Make A Plan
19. Create Internal File For Records
20. Send Homes Within Your Criteria
21. Start Showing Homes As Requested
22. Schedule & Organize All Showings
23. Gather Showing Instructions For Each Showing
24. Send Showing Schedule
25. Show Up Early and Prepare First Showing
26. Look For Possible Repair Issues While Showing
27. Gather Feedback After Each Showing
28. Update When New Homes Hit The Market
29. Share Knowledge & Insight About Homes
30. Guide Through Emotional Journey
31. Listen and Learn at Each Showing
32. Keep Records Of All Showings
33. Update Listing Agents With Feedback
34. Discuss Home Owners Associations
35. Estimate Expected Utility Usage Costs
36. Confirm Water Source and Status
37. Discuss Transferable Warranties
38. Explain The Property Appraisal Process
39. Discuss Multiple Offer Situations
40. Create Practice Offer To Help Prepare
41. Provide Updated Housing Market Data
42. Inform Showing Activity Weekly
43. Update on Any Price Drops
44. Discuss MLS Data at Showings
45. Find Right Home
46. Determine Property Inclusions & Exclusions
47. Prepare Sales Contract When Ready
48. Educate on Sales Contract Options
49. Determine Need for Lead-Based Paint Disclosure
50. Explain Home Warranty Options
51. Update Pre-Approval Letter With Each New Offer
52. Discuss Loan Objection Deadlines
53. Choose a Closing Date
54. Verify Listing Data is Correct
55. Review Comps To Determine Value
56. Prepare & Submit Offer To Listing Agent
57. Negotiate Offer With Listing Agent
58. Execute A Sales Contract & Disclosures
59. Once Under Contract, Send To Escrow Company
60. Coordinate Earnest Money Wire Transfer
61. Deliver Copies To Mortgage Lender
62. Obtain Copy Of Sellers Disclosures
63. Deliver Copies of Contract/Addendum
64. Obtain a Copy of HOA Bylaws
65. Keep Track of Copies for Office File
66. Coordinate Inspections
67. Meet Home Inspector at The Property
68. Review Home Inspection
69. Negotiate Inspection Objections
70. Get All Agreed Upon Repairs in Writing
71. Verify any Existing Lease Agreements
72. Check in With Lender To Verify Loan Status
73. Check On Appraisal Date
74. Negotiate Any Unsatisfactory Appraisals
75. Coordinate Closing Times & Location
76. Make Sure All Documents Are Fully Signed
77. Verify Escrow Company Has Everything Needed
78. Reminder to Schedule Utilities Transfer
79. Make Sure All Parties Are Notified Of Closing Time
80. Solve Any Title Problems Before Closing
81. Receive & Review Closing Documents
82. Review Closing Figures
83. Confirm Repairs Have Been Made By Sellers
84. Perform Final Walk Through
85. Resolve Any Last Minute Issues
86. Get CDA Signed By Brokerage
87. Attend Closing
88. Provide Home Warranty Paperwork
89. Facilitate Transfer Of keys and Accessories
90. Close Out File
What truly sets us apart from other agents? We have financial smarts, a design mindset, and 7+ years of big-corporate marketing expertise. Combined, We ensure a successful selling process, and a comfortable purchasing process, and remain a continual sounding board for our clients years after closing.
Currantly Home Team at Real Broker, CT
(203) 231-8018
[email protected]
Real Broker, CT | REB.0792171
(855) 450-0442
1000 Pearl St Hartford, CT 06103
