9 Steps to Owning a Home

Are you planning on purchasing a home? Buying a home can be an intimidating event for many people. However, with a little planning ahead of time, it isn't too complicated. We like to supply buyers with an overview of the entire process so they know exactly what to expect. These are our nine steps to purchasing a home.

When you're ready to get started, you can call or e-mail with any initial questions or concerns. We're here to help!

Step 1 – Get ready to purchase:

There are several things you should do before you look for a home. You'll most likely want to create a checklist of features you need, get a feeling for what school districts you'd like to live in, and start working on your budget. Keeping your mortgage payment less than 1/3 of your monthly income is a good rule to follow.

Step 2 – Contact a licensed and experienced Real Estate Agent: 

This is where we come in. We can set up a time to get together to discuss why you want to buy a home and get an idea of your future plans. We'll discuss the mortgage industry, other economic factors that could potentially affect your buying decision today or in the future, as well as neighborhoods and school districts in your target area.

We can also assist you in getting started on your loan. There are some great mortgage professionals in Central Florida, and we partner with a lot of them, so you'll be in great hands. They will help you figure out which kind of loan is best for you, as well as help you get pre-approved.

Step 3 – Begin house hunting:

After our initial meeting, we'll start looking for available homes on the market that best suit you. We'll research most of the houses and eliminate the bad ones, and then we'll book appointments to tour the houses when it's convenient for you.

As we tour the houses, we'll point out positive features, as well as negative ones. We'll also ask you about things you like and dislike. It's pretty common for buyers to change their must-have list as we view houses and some things become more substantial than others. If that's the situation, we'll search all the listings again and narrow it down to the house you've been wishing for.

Step 4 – Get a grasp of the market:

Our awareness of the local home market is an essential resource in your search. We're familiar with all the neighborhoods and schools, and we can alert you to certain areas that are "hot" and call for prompt action and the rest that are "cold" and allow for more examination.

When we view houses and through extensive research, we'll let you know when the seller's list price has room for negotiation and also when we trust the house is "priced to sell." When working with an agent, be on guard and be sure to ask lots of questions. All Realtors® are not created equal and some will try to convince you they know the housing market. If it seems like they don't know everything or do not appear to be looking out for YOUR best interests, contact us and we'd be more than happy to answer any questions you have. Our understanding of the market will keep you a step above the rest through the entire deal.

Step 5 – Find the home you've been waiting for:

We're confident we'll find the right house to suit your needs and budget. When that happens, we'll precisely create your home purchase offer. The offer will be tailored exactly to your needs, including some contingencies. A few examples are obtaining financing, completing the inspection, and obtaining a clear title to the property.

Let Rock Springs Realty guide you through finding your perfect home. Upon submitting your purchase offer, you'll probably need to submit an "earnest money deposit," also known as an escrow deposit. This is a cash deposit submitted to a home seller or closing agent to secure the offer to buy the property, and it's applied to the cost of closing. If the seller accepts your offer, we could expect to close on the property within about 45 to 60 days. This allows plenty of time for your mortgage financing to be completed.

Step 6 – Negotiate:

Most contracts don't close on the initial offer. It's widely common to receive a counter offer. Don't let this alarm you. We'll discuss whether or not to take the counter offer, submit our own counter offer, or decline the seller's offer and move on.

Market conditions will play a role in how aggressively we negotiate the deal. We'll also work within your financing limits. And at the end of the day, we'll compose a deal that is best for you.

Step 7 – Obtain financing:

After we sign the final contract, you'll start working with your lender to close the loan. It won't take long at all if you're already pre-approved, but you should to stay in close contact with your lender. And we'll care for all the property information your lender will need to close the loan.

Step 8 – Close the deal: 

Your mortgage lender will furnish you with a Loan Estimate (LE) outlining the loan and closing costs shortly after taking your application. This estimate rests on the loan amount. RESPA requirements order that it has to include all closing costs and fall within a tight range of accuracy, and we're here to help you review and understand all costs associated with your loan.

Then we'll close on your house. This will probably occur at a title company or attorney's office and will likely be a smooth and hassle-free occurrence.

Step 9 – Move in:

Congratulations! It's time to move into your new home.

If you have any questions, be sure to contact us at (877) 333-2811 or send an e-mail joe@rockspringsrealty.com so we can help you get started with the process.