How to Prepare to Buy a Home.

For many people, buying a home is one of the biggest milestones in their life. It takes years of dreaming, planning, and preparing before the decision is made, the papers are signed, and the new house is officially their own!

However, like in most big life decisions, the steps to get from where you are to where you want to be can seem abstract and overwhelming. To help with that, I have assembled a few essential steps to take to best help you prepare to buy a home.

• Do some personal evaluation. The first place to start is by reflecting personally on your goals for buying a house. What is it that you hope to accomplish by becoming a homeowner? Is this the home you want to raise a family in, or is it a financial investment with the intention of reselling? What are the needs and desires you are looking for in a home and which ones are you most willing to compromise on?
• Set your budget. Once you have your big picture goals in mind, you’ll need to set a budget. The two biggest costs to consider are your mortgage and down payments, but don’t forget to add some cushion for other costs as well (think house maintenance, homeowner association fees, additional closing costs, etc). A good starting point is the 28/36 rule. This means that your mortgage should not cost you more than 28% of your gross monthly earnings, and no more than 36% of your gross monthly earnings should be spent on housing debts. Getting preapproved for your mortgage can help you narrow down this number even more and makes you more favorable to sellers as well. I work with some great local lenders and would love to connect you with them! Local lenders are so important to have in the market as they are personable and allow for comfortability through the process.
• Hire an agent. Once you have your “wish list” and budget set, you will want to secure a real estate agent to help you with the process of buying a home. Having an agent on your team ensures that you are seeing the homes in your preferred area that are within your budget and most suitable for your needs! I would LOVE to be that agent for you! I also make it my job to be your personal professional negotiator. I am committed to securing the best deal possible for you on the home of your dreams and will help you each step of the way as you “unlock new doors”.
• Let the house hunting begin! One of my favorite parts of the process as a realtor is the house hunting itself! Although looking through listings online is convenient, the best way to really get a feel for a property is to be there in person and walk through it. This is the time to see if you can envision yourself in a space, to see the neighborhood and setting it’s in, and to see the pros and cons of the house in person. Of course, I am with you every step of the way and I’m happy to answer questions and offer guidance as is helpful!
• Make an offer. This is where the negotiating, offers, and counteroffers take place. Especially in a hot housing market, this can be very time sensitive and can be a time full of adrenaline and excitement. Once again, this is why I love what I do: to guide you through the process and take some pressure off of you. I’d love to coach you along the way to ensure your offer stands out amongst the competing offers.
• Get a home inspection and appraisal. Once you have made your offer, the next step is to get a home inspection and appraisal. Both of these are excellent tools for negotiating with the seller, but also give you a better idea of the necessary repairs that may be in the future, and an unbiased evaluation of the home based on its size and condition. 
• Make it official. After all of this has taken place, it’s time to do the final walkthrough of the home and close the deal! Typically, three business days before your closing date, the lender will issue the buyer a closing disclosure document. This document will include the details of your mortgage loan, monthly payments, closing costs, and all loan terms. The official closing will be held with you, me, the seller and their agent, your loan officer, and the real estate attorneys. Lots of signature signing will ensue, so be sure to have a pen on hand!

Then the moving and beginning of a new chapter in your life begins! Of course, this is a general overview of the steps that are necessary to prepare you for buying a home, but each case is nuanced and specific to the buyer. If you are looking to purchase a home in the future and would like an agent to walk through the process with you and help you to unlock these new doors, it would be my pleasure to work with you!