You’ve decided to purchase a home, but going from shopper to homeowner seems overwhelming. Don’t worry. Understanding the home buying process and realizing that you just need to take one step at a time helps simplify the whole experience. If you’re interested in buying a home, then here’s what you need to do.
Get Prequalified
The first step toward home ownership is understanding how much you can afford to spend. Don’t skip this important step. You don’t want to jump ahead and find the home of your dreams, only to realize that you’re unable to get financing for it. Meet with a banker or mortgage broker who will go over your finances and get you prequalified for a mortgage. Prequalification tells you how much the bank will lend you, so you can start shopping in your price range.
Find a Real Estate Agent
A good real estate agent is a must when you’re buying a home. Your agent will help you find homes that fit all your criteria and assist you in navigating the ins and outs of the home buying process. If you’re moving to a brand new area, then you need an agent who is very familiar with the neighborhoods and can tell you where to look.
Start Shopping
Now the fun begins. Shopping for a home can be overwhelming, so you want to keep careful notes and even take pictures of each property you visit. Don’t be afraid to take your time going through all the details of the home, and be sure to get a good feel for the neighborhood as well. Remember to only look at homes within your price range, or you run the risk of falling in love with a home you can’t afford.
Make an Offer
Found a house you’re ready to call home? Work with your agent to place an offer on the home. Your agent can look at recent sales and the value of comparable homes in the same neighborhood to help you come up with a fair price. The sellers can choose to accept your offer right away, or there may be some back and forth as you negotiate an amount. Once the seller accepts your offer, the home goes into escrow.
Schedule an Inspection
Once your offer is accepted, the first thing to do is arrange for a home inspection. Your agent can refer you to an inspector, but you may want to find one on your own to ensure they aren’t biased toward pushing the sale. The inspector will take a close look at all the major components of the house and then compile a report with all the details. Once you view the report, you can decide if you want to ask the seller to fix anything on the property before you go through with the sale. You have a chance to review any fixes during your final walk through.
Secure Financing
After your inspection is complete, you work with the bank or mortgage broker to secure financing for the home. The bank also schedules an appraisal to ensure the buying price closely matches the home’s value.
Final Closing
At the final closing, you are asked to sign a lot of paperwork. Your real estate agent or title agent will guide you through the signing process, explaining everything you need to do. You may also need to present a check for any down payment or closing costs. Once the paperwork is complete, the home is yours, and you’re ready to move in.Once you’ve found the home of your dreams, you need furniture to fill it. If you need temporary home furniture quickly, then check out the stylish, high-quality pieces available through CORT Furniture Rental. With CORT, you can instantly turn your new house into a welcoming home.
