AS BUYERS’ AGENTS

Buying a home is probably the biggest investment you will make, with long-term financial ramifications. It calls for informed decisions and good advice from a real estate professional. When buying a home, you can benefit from the knowledge and skill of a Real Estate Agent.

 

What can Real Estate Agents do to help you buy the right home for you?

 

 

They will help you determine how much home you can actually afford. Often, they can suggest additional ways to accrue the down payment and explain alternative financing methods. They can also introduce you to a mortgage counselor and arrange to have you "pre-approved" which can improve your negotiating position and enable you to achieve your home-buying objectives faster and with less stress.

 

Providing client level services, they can work for you as a buyer's agent and help negotiate the best price and terms for you. Or, they can serve as a seller's sub-agent (or disclosed dual agent), acting as a liaison between you and the seller to present offers and counteroffers until an agreement is reached.

 

They will help you work out a realistic idea of the home best suited to your needs; size, style, features, location, accessibility to schools, transportation, shopping, and other personal preferences.

 

They have access to a listing of all available homes in the multi-list system, can evaluate them in terms of your needs and affordability, and will not waste your time showing you unsuitable homes.

 

They can often suggest simple, imaginative changes that could make a home more suitable for you and improve its utility and value.

 

They can supply information on real estate values, taxes, utility costs, municipal services and facilities, and may be aware of proposed zoning changes that could affect your decision to buy.

 

Although the law does not normally require an attorney to review documents or oversee real estate closings, they can provide you with a list of law practitioners to choose from if you would like to use the services of an attorney.

 

They can help familiarize you with the closing process and they will obtain closing figures in advance of closing for your review.

They can provide you with a list of qualified home inspectors, pest inspectors, surveyors, and help to coordinate inspection appointments.

 

 

Top 10 Tips to Successful Home Buying

 

Tip #1: Research Is The Key To Discovery

Home sellers won't call you with an offer to buy a maintenance-free home with a wonderful mortgage. You have to find the gems yourself! Only by reading available materials, talking to friends and experts, and spending time looking at different homes, schools, and neighborhoods will you end up with your American dream. Avoid the nightmares by learning how best to buy and maintain a home.

 

Tip #2: Make A Plan And Get Pre-Qualified

Every important decision needs to be clearly thought out. Developing a home buying plan can help you focus on the important factors and organize the entire process. You may even want to use a binder with sections on house hunting, home financing, service providers, etc. Loan pre-qualifying helps you determine the home price you can afford and presents you as a genuine prospect to the seller. A lender typically uses the 28% formula (your monthly mortgage can't exceed 28% of your monthly income) in approving your loan. Planning your actions and getting pre-qualified will keep you out of panic mode and allow you to take advantage of opportunities. A thorough plan will save both time and money!

 

Tip #3: Value, Value, Value.

The days of 10-30% annual appreciation have passed. Homebuyers in the 1970's benefited tremendously from what seemed like ever appreciating home prices. Nowadays, you're looking at slow growth while guarding against the possibilities of falling prices, skyrocketing ARM rates and corporate layoffs that can dramatically affect your home values. The classic rule of buying the worst house in the best neighborhood still applies. If you buy with an eye towards improvement, you can customize the home to fit your needs. The saying, "make money buying a home, not selling one," should keep you focused on the long-term importance of the purchasing price.

 

Tip #4: Create A Top 10 List Of Amenities

When shopping for a home, list the features (fireplace, fenced-in yard, new appliances, etc.) that are most important to you in deciding on which home to buy. Establishing your criteria early on will save time, eliminate looking at inappropriate homes and may keep you from buying a home on a whim. As detailed in Tip #3, your top reason for buying a home should be the value you are getting. Some of your top 10 amenities should logically be sacrificed if an incredible value is available.

 

Tip #5: Fixed vs. Adjustable Rate Mortgages

Adjustable rate mortgages have an initial fixed rate, which is followed by a period of adjustment intervals during which the rate adjusts based on the performance of several key indexes. Typically the initial fixed rate on an ARM is slightly lower than the comparable rate of a fixed rate mortgage.

 

Fixed rate mortgages allow buyers to take out a long term loan without having to worry about changing interest rates or monthly payments. Most fixed rate loans are offered in either 15 or 30 year terms.

 

Most buyers will be well served by a fixed rate loan, but each situation is unique. While ARM loans have become less popular in recent years, they can still be a viable option for some buyers - especially those who plan on selling again in the short term.

 

Whichever loan you choose; make sure that you scrutinize all the closing costs. If you are required to have a mortgage escrow account and private mortgage insurance, make sure you understand the terms and cancellation procedures (your Real Estate Agent has publications to assist you). Also, make sure there are no prepayment penalties so that you can utilize an accelerated mortgage plan. A good mortgage reduction plan can save you tens of thousands in interest costs, and shorten your loan term, with only small extra principal payments. If you experience negative changes in your job, health, or marital status, you can revert to the standard payments in your mortgage contract.

 

Tip #6: Sign A Contract That Protects You

Make sure that the contract you put on a house allows you to arrange financing, inspect the home and negotiate any problems that you uncover. Ensuring that the contract you sign will minimize potential legal battles will let you swim in your new pool with your family and neighbors instead of with the sharks.

 

Tip #7: Put Yourself In The Seller's Shoes

You are about to make one of the most important decisions that will affect both your life and the life of the seller. If you take time to understand the reasons the seller bought the home, their reasons for selling, and the home improvements they have or have not made, you'll be in a better position to evaluate the home and negotiate a better deal. In the end, the home buying process excludes the professionals and comes down to the individuals buying and selling the home. A closer look at the seller may help you in deciding whether and for how much to buy a particular home.

 

Tip #8: Develop A Mortgage Shopping Chart

One of the biggest decisions to make before putting a contract on a home is how to finance the purchase. There are 10,000 lenders competing for your mortgage business. The days of simply walking into the community bank and negotiating with the loan department manager are over. Today, you can apply for a loan over the Internet or even use a mortgage broker to shop for your loan with hundreds of lenders. When choosing a lender, you want to avoid apples to oranges contrasts by comparing fixed rates to fixed rates, not fixed to ARM's. Create a chart that lists different types of loans, fees, and at least five mortgage providers (including a mortgage broker).

 

Tip #9: Get A Quality Home Inspection

Although it is hard to believe, more people pay for inspections before buying used cars than when making the biggest investment of their lives - their homes. Paying for a qualified home inspection before you buy a home isn't just spending "a little extra" for peace of mind, it's absolutely essential for anyone who doesn't want to spend thousands of dollars for repairs.

 

Tip#10: Peace Of Mind: Home Protection Plans

To protect both you as a buyer, as well as the seller, it is a good idea to purchase a home protection plan.  What exactly is it? A home warranty, or home protection plan, is a service contract, normally for one year, which protects homeowners against the cost of unexpected repairs or replacement of their major systems and appliances that break down due to normal wear and tear. A negotiable contract between the buyers and sellers which does not overlap or replace homeowner's insurance policy, this type of warranty can save the new homeowner lots of headaches, as well as put seller's fears to rest. The warranty covers mechanical breakdowns, while insurance typically repairs the related damage. For example: if a hot water heater burst and destroyed a wall in your home, the warranty would repair the water heater and your insurance would pay to fix the wall.

 

 

 

Working With Our Team Out Team is diversified in strengths and knowledge to make sure you receive the best service and maximize your investment. Yes, a home is an investment, finding a home for yourself and/or your family is an investment in your family and your future wealth. Please services that we provide and Interview us to see the difference. Mortgage Pr-Approval Mortgages The modern mortgage market offers a variety of mortgage loans catering to the needs of home buyers. The titles and details of these plans can become confusing, especially as new types are introduced continuously. You can make sense of these loan types, however, if you understand the basic principles that govern all mortgage loans. Again, you can look to your real estate professional for assistance. Basic Principles of all Mortgage Loans The home is used as security to back up the loan. A lender can force sale of the home if the borrower defaults by failing to make scheduled payments. The larger the loan compared to the value of the home, the more risky for the lender and often, the more expensive the loan will be. Interest earned by the lender always is equal to the periodic interest rate times the outstanding principle balance of the loan. The periodic interest rate is the annual interest rate divided by the number of payments in the year (usually one per month). The required payment usually is a bit larger than the interest due so that some of the loan principal is repaid with each payment. This process is called Amortization and is why most mortgage loans can be retired when all the monthly payments have been made. All mortgage loans have one of the following features: Fixed payment and fixed interest rate - fixed rate mortgages Fixed rate but variable payment - graduated payment mortgages Variable rate and variable payment - adjustable rate mortgages As you learn more about the types of financing available, you will notice that some loans appear to have more favorable terms. That may indicate that those loans are, indeed, bargains (and it does pay to shop around), but usually it means that those loans could have some feature that is less appealing to borrowers. For example, shorter-term loans often have slightly lower interest rates compared to longer-term loans. However, the monthly payment for the same amount of principal may be higher because of the shorter term. Variable rate loans usually have much lower interest rates to compensate for the risk the borrower accepts that interest rates will rise in the future. There is nothing worse than starting your home search before getting your mortgage pre-approval. You don't have to commit to the bank or the mortgage company. Pre-Approval is helpful to avoid future disappointment. DO NOT attempt to do this on your own, a professional mortgage banker is qualified to assess the situation and search all available loans. There are many programs to help first time home buyers and some are designed for type of profession or education. Click here to get pre-approved Finding a Home After you are pre-approved for a range of home prices and finding a Realtor you would like to work with, the Realtor will take the lead to direct you through the steps. Questions and deciding factors to consider * Define the time line that you would like to move. * Define the area, a neighborhood or a school district. (Remember a Realtor CAN NOT steer you to a neighborhood, you need to define the area or the school district yourself). * Do you want a Single Family Home or a Condominium? * Are you OK with paying HOA fees? * How many bedrooms and how many baths? * What is the size of the house? * How many stories? * Is a Basement a must and finished and/or walkout basement? * Are you commuting to work? what is acceptable time and distance? * Do you mind some handy work, or you need it ready to move in? The Purchase Process After finding a home, you need a Realtor that will walk you though and negotiate for your best interest. 1] Offer The first step is the Offer. There are several factors to conciser when making an offer. Reaching a good balance in the offer is an art. An experienced Realtor will know the right balance to reach. 1- Earnest Money. The amount of the earnest money is an indication for the seriousness of your offer. 2- Closing Date. Closing date must be a date that the seller can live with, inconvenient the seller, could cost you. 3- Closing cost assist. The seller in many cases will contribute to the buyer's closing cost. Just remember this would affect the seller bottom line, so the higher the closing assist, the higher the purchase price will be. 4- Days on the Market, days on the market is a factor to consider, but not a guarantee. 5- Home Warranty. Asking for the seller to pay for a home warranty, will give you a year to test all appliances and ensure that you will not have to come up with large amount of money right after purchasing your home. 6- Inception period and type of inspection. 2] Mortgage Application 3] Inspection 4] Appraisal 5] Before Closing 6] Closing 7] Possession & Move

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RE/MAX Victory

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Phone: +1 (937) 303-1888

Fax: +1 (937) 528-2151

Email: Jill@JillTeam.com

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Phone: +1 (937) 303-1888

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Working With Our Team Out Team is diversified in strengths and knowledge to make sure you receive the best service and maximize your investment. Yes, a home is an investment, finding a home for yourself and/or your family is an investment in your family and your future wealth. Please services that we provide and Interview us to see the difference. Mortgage Pr-Approval Mortgages The modern mortgage market offers a variety of mortgage loans catering to the needs of home buyers. The titles and details of these plans can become confusing, especially as new types are introduced continuously. You can make sense of these loan types, however, if you understand the basic principles that govern all mortgage loans. Again, you can look to your real estate professional for assistance. Basic Principles of all Mortgage Loans The home is used as security to back up the loan. A lender can force sale of the home if the borrower defaults by failing to make scheduled payments. The larger the loan compared to the value of the home, the more risky for the lender and often, the more expensive the loan will be. Interest earned by the lender always is equal to the periodic interest rate times the outstanding principle balance of the loan. The periodic interest rate is the annual interest rate divided by the number of payments in the year (usually one per month). The required payment usually is a bit larger than the interest due so that some of the loan principal is repaid with each payment. This process is called Amortization and is why most mortgage loans can be retired when all the monthly payments have been made. All mortgage loans have one of the following features: Fixed payment and fixed interest rate - fixed rate mortgages Fixed rate but variable payment - graduated payment mortgages Variable rate and variable payment - adjustable rate mortgages As you learn more about the types of financing available, you will notice that some loans appear to have more favorable terms. That may indicate that those loans are, indeed, bargains (and it does pay to shop around), but usually it means that those loans could have some feature that is less appealing to borrowers. For example, shorter-term loans often have slightly lower interest rates compared to longer-term loans. However, the monthly payment for the same amount of principal may be higher because of the shorter term. Variable rate loans usually have much lower interest rates to compensate for the risk the borrower accepts that interest rates will rise in the future. There is nothing worse than starting your home search before getting your mortgage pre-approval. You don't have to commit to the bank or the mortgage company. Pre-Approval is helpful to avoid future disappointment. DO NOT attempt to do this on your own, a professional mortgage banker is qualified to assess the situation and search all available loans. There are many programs to help first time home buyers and some are designed for type of profession or education. Click here to get pre-approved Finding a Home After you are pre-approved for a range of home prices and finding a Realtor you would like to work with, the Realtor will take the lead to direct you through the steps. Questions and deciding factors to consider * Define the time line that you would like to move. * Define the area, a neighborhood or a school district. (Remember a Realtor CAN NOT steer you to a neighborhood, you need to define the area or the school district yourself). * Do you want a Single Family Home or a Condominium? * Are you OK with paying HOA fees? * How many bedrooms and how many baths? * What is the size of the house? * How many stories? * Is a Basement a must and finished and/or walkout basement? * Are you commuting to work? what is acceptable time and distance? * Do you mind some handy work, or you need it ready to move in? The Purchase Process After finding a home, you need a Realtor that will walk you though and negotiate for your best interest. 1] Offer The first step is the Offer. There are several factors to conciser when making an offer. Reaching a good balance in the offer is an art. An experienced Realtor will know the right balance to reach. 1- Earnest Money. The amount of the earnest money is an indication for the seriousness of your offer. 2- Closing Date. Closing date must be a date that the seller can live with, inconvenient the seller, could cost you. 3- Closing cost assist. The seller in many cases will contribute to the buyer's closing cost. Just remember this would affect the seller bottom line, so the higher the closing assist, the higher the purchase price will be. 4- Days on the Market, days on the market is a factor to consider, but not a guarantee. 5- Home Warranty. Asking for the seller to pay for a home warranty, will give you a year to test all appliances and ensure that you will not have to come up with large amount of money right after purchasing your home. 6- Inception period and type of inspection. 2] Mortgage Application 3] Inspection 4] Appraisal 5] Before Closing 6] Closing 7] Possession & Move

Working With Our Team Out Team is diversified in strengths and knowledge to make sure you receive the best service and maximize your investment. Yes, a home is an investment, finding a home for yourself and/or your family is an investment in your family and your future wealth. Please services that we provide and Interview us to see the difference. Mortgage Pr-Approval Mortgages The modern mortgage market offers a variety of mortgage loans catering to the needs of home buyers. The titles and details of these plans can become confusing, especially as new types are introduced continuously. You can make sense of these loan types, however, if you understand the basic principles that govern all mortgage loans. Again, you can look to your real estate professional for assistance. Basic Principles of all Mortgage Loans The home is used as security to back up the loan. A lender can force sale of the home if the borrower defaults by failing to make scheduled payments. The larger the loan compared to the value of the home, the more risky for the lender and often, the more expensive the loan will be. Interest earned by the lender always is equal to the periodic interest rate times the outstanding principle balance of the loan. The periodic interest rate is the annual interest rate divided by the number of payments in the year (usually one per month). The required payment usually is a bit larger than the interest due so that some of the loan principal is repaid with each payment. This process is called Amortization and is why most mortgage loans can be retired when all the monthly payments have been made. All mortgage loans have one of the following features: Fixed payment and fixed interest rate - fixed rate mortgages Fixed rate but variable payment - graduated payment mortgages Variable rate and variable payment - adjustable rate mortgages As you learn more about the types of financing available, you will notice that some loans appear to have more favorable terms. That may indicate that those loans are, indeed, bargains (and it does pay to shop around), but usually it means that those loans could have some feature that is less appealing to borrowers. For example, shorter-term loans often have slightly lower interest rates compared to longer-term loans. However, the monthly payment for the same amount of principal may be higher because of the shorter term. Variable rate loans usually have much lower interest rates to compensate for the risk the borrower accepts that interest rates will rise in the future. There is nothing worse than starting your home search before getting your mortgage pre-approval. You don't have to commit to the bank or the mortgage company. Pre-Approval is helpful to avoid future disappointment. DO NOT attempt to do this on your own, a professional mortgage banker is qualified to assess the situation and search all available loans. There are many programs to help first time home buyers and some are designed for type of profession or education. Click here to get pre-approved Finding a Home After you are pre-approved for a range of home prices and finding a Realtor you would like to work with, the Realtor will take the lead to direct you through the steps. Questions and deciding factors to consider * Define the time line that you would like to move. * Define the area, a neighborhood or a school district. (Remember a Realtor CAN NOT steer you to a neighborhood, you need to define the area or the school district yourself). * Do you want a Single Family Home or a Condominium? * Are you OK with paying HOA fees? * How many bedrooms and how many baths? * What is the size of the house? * How many stories? * Is a Basement a must and finished and/or walkout basement? * Are you commuting to work? what is acceptable time and distance? * Do you mind some handy work, or you need it ready to move in? The Purchase Process After finding a home, you need a Realtor that will walk you though and negotiate for your best interest. 1] Offer The first step is the Offer. There are several factors to conciser when making an offer. Reaching a good balance in the offer is an art. An experienced Realtor will know the right balance to reach. 1- Earnest Money. The amount of the earnest money is an indication for the seriousness of your offer. 2- Closing Date. Closing date must be a date that the seller can live with, inconvenient the seller, could cost you. 3- Closing cost assist. The seller in many cases will contribute to the buyer's closing cost. Just remember this would affect the seller bottom line, so the higher the closing assist, the higher the purchase price will be. 4- Days on the Market, days on the market is a factor to consider, but not a guarantee. 5- Home Warranty. Asking for the seller to pay for a home warranty, will give you a year to test all appliances and ensure that you will not have to come up with large amount of money right after purchasing your home. 6- Inception period and type of inspection. 2] Mortgage Application 3] Inspection 4] Appraisal 5] Before Closing 6] Closing 7] Possession & Move

Working With Our Team Out Team is diversified in strengths and knowledge to make sure you receive the best service and maximize your investment. Yes, a home is an investment, finding a home for yourself and/or your family is an investment in your family and your future wealth. Please services that we provide and Interview us to see the difference. Mortgage Pr-Approval Mortgages The modern mortgage market offers a variety of mortgage loans catering to the needs of home buyers. The titles and details of these plans can become confusing, especially as new types are introduced continuously. You can make sense of these loan types, however, if you understand the basic principles that govern all mortgage loans. Again, you can look to your real estate professional for assistance. Basic Principles of all Mortgage Loans The home is used as security to back up the loan. A lender can force sale of the home if the borrower defaults by failing to make scheduled payments. The larger the loan compared to the value of the home, the more risky for the lender and often, the more expensive the loan will be. Interest earned by the lender always is equal to the periodic interest rate times the outstanding principle balance of the loan. The periodic interest rate is the annual interest rate divided by the number of payments in the year (usually one per month). The required payment usually is a bit larger than the interest due so that some of the loan principal is repaid with each payment. This process is called Amortization and is why most mortgage loans can be retired when all the monthly payments have been made. All mortgage loans have one of the following features: Fixed payment and fixed interest rate - fixed rate mortgages Fixed rate but variable payment - graduated payment mortgages Variable rate and variable payment - adjustable rate mortgages As you learn more about the types of financing available, you will notice that some loans appear to have more favorable terms. That may indicate that those loans are, indeed, bargains (and it does pay to shop around), but usually it means that those loans could have some feature that is less appealing to borrowers. For example, shorter-term loans often have slightly lower interest rates compared to longer-term loans. However, the monthly payment for the same amount of principal may be higher because of the shorter term. Variable rate loans usually have much lower interest rates to compensate for the risk the borrower accepts that interest rates will rise in the future. There is nothing worse than starting your home search before getting your mortgage pre-approval. You don't have to commit to the bank or the mortgage company. Pre-Approval is helpful to avoid future disappointment. DO NOT attempt to do this on your own, a professional mortgage banker is qualified to assess the situation and search all available loans. There are many programs to help first time home buyers and some are designed for type of profession or education. Click here to get pre-approved
Finding a Home After you are pre-approved for a range of home prices and finding a Realtor you would like to work with, the Realtor will take the lead to direct you through the steps. Questions and deciding factors to consider * Define the time line that you would like to move. * Define the area, a neighborhood or a school district. (Remember a Realtor CAN NOT steer you to a neighborhood, you need to define the area or the school district yourself). * Do you want a Single Family Home or a Condominium? * Are you OK with paying HOA fees? * How many bedrooms and how many baths? * What is the size of the house? * How many stories? * Is a Basement a must and finished and/or walkout basement? * Are you commuting to work? what is acceptable time and distance? * Do you mind some handy work, or you need it ready to move in? The Purchase Process After finding a home, you need a Realtor that will walk you though and negotiate for your best interest. 1] Offer The first step is the Offer. There are several factors to conciser when making an offer. Reaching a good balance in the offer is an art. An experienced Realtor will know the right balance to reach. 1- Earnest Money. The amount of the earnest money is an indication for the seriousness of your offer. 2- Closing Date. Closing date must be a date that the seller can live with, inconvenient the seller, could cost you. 3- Closing cost assist. The seller in many cases will contribute to the buyer's closing cost. Just remember this would affect the seller bottom line, so the higher the closing assist, the higher the purchase price will be. 4- Days on the Market, days on the market is a factor to consider, but not a guarantee. 5- Home Warranty. Asking for the seller to pay for a home warranty, will give you a year to test all appliances and ensure that you will not have to come up with large amount of money right after purchasing your home. 6- Inception period and type of inspection. 2] Mortgage Application 3] Inspection 4] Appraisal 5] Before Closing 6] Closing 7] Possession & Move

Working With Our Team Out Team is diversified in strengths and knowledge to make sure you receive the best service and maximize your investment. Yes, a home is an investment, finding a home for yourself and/or your family is an investment in your family and your future wealth. Please services that we provide and Interview us to see the difference. Mortgage Pr-Approval Mortgages The modern mortgage market offers a variety of mortgage loans catering to the needs of home buyers. The titles and details of these plans can become confusing, especially as new types are introduced continuously. You can make sense of these loan types, however, if you understand the basic principles that govern all mortgage loans. Again, you can look to your real estate professional for assistance. Basic Principles of all Mortgage Loans The home is used as security to back up the loan. A lender can force sale of the home if the borrower defaults by failing to make scheduled payments. The larger the loan compared to the value of the home, the more risky for the lender and often, the more expensive the loan will be. Interest earned by the lender always is equal to the periodic interest rate times the outstanding principle balance of the loan. The periodic interest rate is the annual interest rate divided by the number of payments in the year (usually one per month). The required payment usually is a bit larger than the interest due so that some of the loan principal is repaid with each payment. This process is called Amortization and is why most mortgage loans can be retired when all the monthly payments have been made. All mortgage loans have one of the following features: Fixed payment and fixed interest rate - fixed rate mortgages Fixed rate but variable payment - graduated payment mortgages Variable rate and variable payment - adjustable rate mortgages As you learn more about the types of financing available, you will notice that some loans appear to have more favorable terms. That may indicate that those loans are, indeed, bargains (and it does pay to shop around), but usually it means that those loans could have some feature that is less appealing to borrowers. For example, shorter-term loans often have slightly lower interest rates compared to longer-term loans. However, the monthly payment for the same amount of principal may be higher because of the shorter term. Variable rate loans usually have much lower interest rates to compensate for the risk the borrower accepts that interest rates will rise in the future. There is nothing worse than starting your home search before getting your mortgage pre-approval. You don't have to commit to the bank or the mortgage company. Pre-Approval is helpful to avoid future disappointment. DO NOT attempt to do this on your own, a professional mortgage banker is qualified to assess the situation and search all available loans. There are many programs to help first time home buyers and some are designed for type of profession or education. Click here to get pre-approved Finding a Home After you are pre-approved for a range of home prices and finding a Realtor you would like to work with, the Realtor will take the lead to direct you through the steps. Questions and deciding factors to consider * Define the time line that you would like to move. * Define the area, a neighborhood or a school district. (Remember a Realtor CAN NOT steer you to a neighborhood, you need to define the area or the school district yourself). * Do you want a Single Family Home or a Condominium? * Are you OK with paying HOA fees? * How many bedrooms and how many baths? * What is the size of the house? * How many stories? * Is a Basement a must and finished and/or walkout basement? * Are you commuting to work? what is acceptable time and distance? * Do you mind some handy work, or you need it ready to move in? The Purchase Process After finding a home, you need a Realtor that will walk you though and negotiate for your best interest. 1] Offer The first step is the Offer. There are several factors to conciser when making an offer. Reaching a good balance in the offer is an art. An experienced Realtor will know the right balance to reach. 1- Earnest Money. The amount of the earnest money is an indication for the seriousness of your offer. 2- Closing Date. Closing date must be a date that the seller can live with, inconvenient the seller, could cost you. 3- Closing cost assist. The seller in many cases will contribute to the buyer's closing cost. Just remember this would affect the seller bottom line, so the higher the closing assist, the higher the purchase price will be. 4- Days on the Market, days on the market is a factor to consider, but not a guarantee. 5- Home Warranty. Asking for the seller to pay for a home warranty, will give you a year to test all appliances and ensure that you will not have to come up with large amount of money right after purchasing your home. 6- Inception period and type of inspection. 2] Mortgage Application 3] Inspection 4] Appraisal 5] Before Closing 6] Closing 7] Possession & Move