STEPS FOR FIRST-TIME BUYERS

The decision to purchase your first home is one of the biggest and  best choices you could ever make. After all, a home is the largest – and  most emotional – investment most people will face in their lifetime.
So, how do you know if it’s the right time for you to buy?

There  is never a wrong time to buy the right home. The key is finding  the right buy and taking the time to carefully evaluate your finances.   A home purchase is an important step that can provide many  advantages. Purchasing your own home is a great investment that can  deliver several financial benefits – equity build up, value  appreciation, automatic savings plan – not to mention a new sense of  pride!

When you’re looking for a real estate professional to help you, know  that above all else, good agents put their clients first. This is your  dream, and your agent is your advocate to help you make your dream come  true.

A great real estate agent will:
1. Educate you about the current conditions of the market.
2. Analyze what you want and what you need in your next home.
3. Coordinate the work of other needed professionals throughout the process.
4. Guide you to homes that fit your criteria and budget.
5. Negotiate on your behalf to get you the best deal possible.
6. Check and double-check paperwork and deadlines.
7. Inform and discuss with you, and suggest solutions to solve any problems that may arise.

Start looking at your options today. You don’t have to know everything.  We are here and ready to help you through  every step of the process.

To make the financing process as painless as possible, ask your agent  to introduce you to the preferred financing consultant. This  professional will work with you and your agent to make sure the  financial aspect of your home purchase is stress free.

What will the consultant do for you?
1. Review your current financials.
2. Discuss the options available to you during the home purchasing process.
3. Guide you to an appropriate price point.
4. Negotiate on your behalf to get you the best deal – price, interest rates, loan approval.
5. Keep you informed and updated of the entire financial process throughout your purchase.

Now  you’re ready to begin your search. But how and where do you start?  There are a lot of homes out there, and diving in without a guide can  become overwhelming and confusing. We will give you access to resources  and walk you through finding homes you like and showing them to you. The  right home will meet all your important needs, and as many of your  additional wants as possible.

To best prepare to start your search, here are some questions you might ask yourself:
1. What amenities are crucial for you and your family?
2. How much space do you need and why?
3. Which is more critical: location or size?
4. Would you be interested in a fixer-upper?
5. How important is home value appreciation?
6. Is neighborhood stability a priority?
7. Is accessibility to main routes a priority?
8. What features are not negotiable in your new property?

You’ll learn as you look at homes, your priorities will probably adjust along the way.

Once  you’ve found a home you love, the next step is deciding on a  price. It’s important to remember that a home is an investment. Your  agent can give you information on other properties in the neighborhood  to help you ensure you make an informed decision when it comes to price.  

Some things to consider when deciding on the best price point are:
1. List price – Start with the price point that the home is listed at. This will give you a base when looking at the home’s value.
2. Market Analysis – Your agent will give you an idea of comparable  home values in the neighborhood to help you decide if the price point is on par.
3. Improvements – Your agent can give you a list of improvements made to the home and help you determine its market value.

We  will help you ask important questions regarding improvements and  challenges within your home. This way you’ll know what you are getting  into before you complete the purchase.  Knowing what work has and has  not been done to your home is important information to have in the  buying process. While updates can increase your home value, damages can  take money out of your pocket. Taking the time to do proper and  appropriate research and evaluation will help you feel confident in your  purchase. 

Once  all is to your liking, we will  assist in the closing process. In order to ensure that you don’t put  your home purchase at risk, you have a couple of responsibilities that  you’ll need to keep in mind:

1. Staying in control of  your credit and finances – Do not make any large purchases during this  time. It’s important to keep your financials steady throughout the  buying process. Talk to your financial consultant for guidance.
2. Keeping  in touch with your agent and financial consultant – It’s important to  stay in constant communication with your  agent and financial guide during this process. Be sure to return all  phone calls and complete paperwork promptly. Also, don’t be afraid to  ask questions. We are all here to help you and celebrate with you!

Once you close on your property, you'll want to protect your investment.   Performing routine maintenance on your  home’s systems is always more affordable than having to fix big problems  later. Be sure to watch for signs of leaks, damage and wear.
And remember, we are still here to help after you purchase!   We can provide information on the real estate  market, finding contractors and repair services, and even tracking your  home’s current value.

Schedule a meeting today with one of our First-Time Buyer specialists to have
any additional questions answered.