Deciding to purchase is a huge step forward on your homeownership journey. There are so many great reasons to own a home: having your own space to create the ideal environment for you, tax benefits, and, of course, a place to make lasting memories. But some buyers get confused about just where to start, so we’ve broken down the process for you to make it easy.
1. Talk To An Associate.
Real estate professionals are trained on the market and have an in-depth understanding of values and sales activity in various neighborhoods and areas. Talking with them first will give you access to great advice that could help pave a quicker and much smoother path to homeownership. Let them know the areas you are interested in and what your needs are, and they will let you know what you can expect to pay.
2. Talk To A Mortgage Broker.
After knowing what areas you are interested in and what the values are in the area, it’s time to speak with a Mortgage Broker to get pre-qualified. They will ask you some questions about your finances, run your credit, and come up with a determination as to how much you can afford. This process generally takes less than a day, and in most cases, you can have a pre-qualification in just a couple of hours. Once you have your pre-qualification in-hand, it’s time to go back to your Associate and share with them what you can afford.
3. Time To See Some Homes!
Your Associate will be able to run a search based on your criteria and find the best potential properties. If you happen to come across a home you’d like to see on a third-party site, such as Zillow.com or Realtor.com, run it by your Associate to make sure the property is still offered for sale. If it is, they’ll handle the details of scheduling a showing.
4. Found A Home You Like? Make An Offer.
Once you’ve found a home that you’d like to purchase, let your Associate know so they can look at recent sales in the area. With this sales data, you and your Associate can then determine what you’d like to offer. If your offer is accepted, congratulations! You’ve taken another massive step toward homeownership! Your Associate will then guide you through the transaction process.
If you are thinking about purchasing a home, register on this site and connect with a Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices EWM Realty Associate who can get you the answers and the results you need. We also encourage you to browse our easy-to-use site and use it as your primary home search tool. Once linked to your Associate, they have access to all the homes you mark as “favorite,” which will help them schedule showings and assist you more efficiently.
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You make a great point about checking the value of the neighborhood. I need to buy a new home in Florida for my job. I’ll have to hire a realtor to find a quiet, safe neighborhood for me.