Being pre-qualified or pre-approved by a lender before you start looking at homes can save you time and money.  When you call us to set up a counseling session, we can recommend a top lender for you to contact before our consultation.
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2.  Your consultation

We will go over the basics of buying a home and will provide you with lots of pertinent information about current market conditions.  Next, we will ask you many important questions to help us get a clear picture of your needs, wants, and desires.  This is a great time to ask us questions that you may have as well.  The consultation takes about 30 to 45 minutes. 
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3.  Choose your system

At your consultation, you’ll be asked to decide which system of finding a home you prefer.

• Window Shopping:  With this system, we provide you with all of the photos, addresses, and directions of those homes which match your criteria.  This way you can drive by the homes before you go inside of them.  Many people like this system because they get a feel for the house location and condition without us present.  When a home of interest is found, you contact us for a showing of the interior of the house.
• Agent Previewing:  This is a more traditional system of house hunting, and best for people who don’t live close to the area of interest and are too busy to window shop.  We will review all of the homes available to you based on your needs/wants and will narrow the selection down to no more than 7 “cream-of-the-crop” properties.  On a pre-determined day, we will go out together to find your home from the properties we have pre-selected.

At the end of our consultation, you sign an Exclusive Buyer Agency Agreement with us and the search is on!
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4.  Let’s look at some houses!

When we go out to see the homes you have selected (or that we have pre-selected), we will provide you with client copies of the listing sheets so you have all of the details of the home while we are viewing it.  It is a good idea to take notes on each home in case you forget something about it later.  Also, bring your checkbook in case you fall in love with a home while we’re out.
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5.  Draft your purchase agreement

Once we have found your dream home, we’ll go back to our office and complete a residential purchase agreement.  We will go over the entire contract in detail with you, as well as give you a sample copy at your consultation.  It is a good idea to become familiar with the contract ahead of time.
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6.  Write earnest money check

At this time, you will also submit an earnest money check to go with your offer.  This is usually written for an amount equal to at least 1% of the price of the home.  The offer is submitted to the seller of the home and we negotiate the sale on your behalf.  Once we have come to an agreement on terms, changes to the contract are initialed by both you and the seller, and the seller signs off on the contract.  By law, the listing agent must deposit your earnest money check safely into an escrow account within 24 hours of written contract acceptance.
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7.  Congrats! On to Home Inspection & Attorney Review..

This point is often the most difficult in the home buying process.  You will have 5 business days (defined as Mon-Fri, 8am-6pm, exluding federal holidays) after contract acceptance to: a.) get a home inspection done, and b.) have a real estate attorney review the contract.  A home inspection will cost anywhere between $250-$500, depending on the size of the home.  This will be another out-of-pocket expense for you.  We will provide you with recommendations at your initial consultation; however, feel free to choose whomever you want.  Once the home inspection report is received, you and your attorney can review it to determine if you’d like to make repair requests or credit requests to the seller.  Any sort of contract modification is also made during that time. 
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8.  Formalize your financing

Once all contract modifications/repairs/credits are negotiated with the seller, you will need to complete a formal loan application, if you haven’t already done so.  Expect to pay for an appraisal and credit report, which costs about $375.  Loan approval can take anywhere from 30-45 days.
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9.  Prepare to Move

Once your loan has gone through underwriting and is unconditionally approved, a closing date and time is scheduled.  Your closing will take place at a title company within proximity of your new home, at a title company of the seller attorney’s choice.   Your attorney will go over all of your loan documents with you before a closing statement (HUD) is drawn by the title company.  Clear title and deed will be given to you; Keys will be handed over, and you are free to move into your new home at your convenience!
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Remember: Please feel free to call us at any time during the process.  Although we work hard to make sure that you are informed, there may be information that needs further explanation.  We do our best to make sure that everything runs smoothly and to make it as easy and pleasant as possible.