Buying Your First Home.. What you Need to Know!!

Thinking of buying your first home?

With a good team (i.e. your REALTOR, lender, and settlement company) buying a home can be a fun, smooth and stress-free process. Here are some general steps for you to expect:
1. Initial meeting. We’ll meet to discuss your home ownership goals, the home buying process in detail, your timing, and your expectations. I am happy to give you a list of previous clients who have either bought or sold (or both) a home with me, and I encourage you to contact them. If you’d like to set up some time to get together please call me at 913-424-0427 or email at sarahboston@kw.com
2. Loan pre-approval. You should speak with a lender as soon as possible to discuss different loan options and get pre-qualified for a loan. That way, you know how much home you can purchase. It will also put you in a better position with a home seller when you’re ready to make an offer on a property.  Many lenders offer an online application that you can easily complete. I’m happy to recommend a lender but feel free to call and work with whomever you choose. When you’re ready to make an offer (more on that below) your lender will give you a property-specific pre-approval letter which will be included with your offer.
3. Home search. Once you speak with a lender and have a good idea of your price range we can begin looking at homes that meet your criteria. I encourage you to take notes and photos of each property. Many home buyer’s “desirable features” list changes as they begin looking at homes. Never feel rushed when searching for your next home. You’ll know the right home when you see it, whether that takes a week or several months. Go to www.sarahboston.kwrealty.com to search for homes with your specific criteria.
4. Making an offer. When we find that special property we’ll put together an offer to purchase the home. Offer terms include: purchase price, loan amount, earnest money amount, contingencies (i.e. home inspection, appraisal, financing, etc.), settlement date, and more. The offer will also include your pre-approval letter and a copy of your earnest money check.
5. Negotiation. I will submit your offer to the seller’s listing agent and negotiate, with your input, to get you the best deal. There may be several counteroffers between you and the seller before an agreement is reached.
6. Preparing for Settlement. Once there is a ratified contract we’ll work together to fulfill all the terms of the contract to reach an on-time settlement. We’ll be scheduling the home inspection and working with your lender to ensure the appraisal and financing steps proceed. If you buy a condo, you will also be reviewing condo docs. The settlement company will contact you for information to prepare the closing documents. You will want to obtain homeowner’s insurance and also set up your utilities.
7. Settlement. Settlement typically occurs at the office of the settlement company and takes about an hour.  The settlement closer will explain all the documents you’ll be signing to transfer ownership from the seller to you and close your loan.  Once all the papers are signed you’ll get the keys to your new home!
You never have a second chance to buy your first home. So make sure the experience is a good one. With a good team of professionals working on your behalf and the best information to make decisions that fit your specific situation, you’ll find the home process easy and stress-free. To be sure, just ask my clients.

Happy house hunting!