These articles are specifically designed to help home buyers through each step of the buying process.
Click on the links below to view, save and print the articles.
- How High Tech is Your Home?
- 5 Property Tax Questions You Need to Ask
- 10 Questions to Ask the Condo Board
- Your Property Wish List
- Tips for Finding the Perfect Neighborhood
- Tips for Buying in a Tight Market
- Pros and Cons of Going Condo
- 10 Questions to Ask Home Inspectors
- What a Home Inspection Should Cover
- Making an Offer on a Short Sale? What You Need to Know
- 8 Tips to Guide for Your Home Search
- Specialty Mortgages: Risks and Rewards
- Loan Types to Consider
- 6 Creative Ways to Afford a Home
- Lender Checklist: What You Need for a Mortgage
- Get Your Finances in Order: To-Do List
- Budget Basics Worksheet
- What You Can Do to Improve Your Credit
- 5 Factors That Decide Your Credit Score
- How Big of a Mortgage Can I Afford?
- 5 Things to Know About Homeowner’s Insurance
- Tips for Lowering Homeowner’s Insurance Costs
- What’s a Home Warranty?
- What Not to Overlook on a Final Walk-through
- Common Closing Costs for Buyers
- 10 Tips for Moving With Pets
- Closing Documents You Should Keep
- 17 Tips for Packing Like a Pro
- 5 Things to Know About Title Insurance
Buying a home can be an overwhelming process. From financing to negotiating to closing, there are a lot of moving pieces that can leave home buyers bewildered.
A real estate agent can help guide you through each step of the buying process, offering sound advice along the way. By working with a professional agent who knows the ins and outs of the real estate industry, you’ll not only end up with a great home, but you’ll also walk away with a great experience.
Here are some of the key areas that an agent can help you with:
Getting pre-approved by a lender
By providing your real estate agent with some basic information about your income, savings, and debt, he or she can assist you in getting pre-approved by a reputable lender. The lender will then go over your financing options, what monthly payment amount you can afford, and what you can expect for down payment requirements and closing costs.
Choosing a home
For most buyers, choosing a home is an emotional process. An agent can assist you in this process by offering objective information about each property you look at. From local community information like schools and zoning to home-specific details like condition and amenities, an agent can help you find exactly what you’re looking for.
Making an offer
Once you’ve found the home of your dreams, an agent will research recent comparable sales of similar homes in the area to help determine a fair selling price. Based on those comparable sales, as well as other factors like inspections and repairs, an agent will then help you structure an offer and negotiate to get the very best deal possible.
Closing
Closing, or settlement, can be a complicated process. In some areas, the escrow or title company handles the closing process, while in other areas an attorney handles it. Regardless of where you’re buying, a real estate agent can help ensure that everything goes smoothly.