Home Buying Guide

Tips For Selecting A Realtor®

Your Real Estate Professional should be:

• Knowledgeable about the communities of interest to you.
• Aware of the complicated local and state requirements affecting your transaction.
• Effective in multi-party, face-to-face negotiations.
• Highly-trained, with access to programs for continued learning and additional certifications.
• Technology-focused.
• Supported by professional legal counsel.

Financing

• Determine the price range you can afford.
• Understand the types of loans you qualify for.
• Determine what your monthly payment will be.
• Estimate the down payment and closing costs.

Your Realtor will help you to select a mortgage lender. Once you have made your decision, these are the steps of the process:

Application - All pertinent documentation is obtained. Fees and down payments are discussed, and the borrower will receive a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) and a Truth-In-Lending statement (TIL), itemizing the rates and associated costs for the loan.

You will be asked to provide certain documents to your lender in order that your loan can be processed in a timely manner.

Loan Submission - Once all the necessary documentation is in, your completed file is submitted to a lender for approval.

Loan Approval (Underwriting) - Loan approval, or underwriting, generally takes 24 to 72 hours. All parties are notified of the approval and any loan conditions that must be received before the loan can close.

Closing - Once all parties have signed the loan documents, they are returned to the lender. If all the forms have been properly executed, the lender sends the loan funds by wire transfer. At this point, the borrower finishes the loan process and actually buys the house.

Finding and Choosing the Right Home

Based on criteria that you and your Realtor establish together, your Associate will help you find the perfect home. There are many factors to consider in selecting a property, including location, bedroom and bath count, schools and amenities.

Your Realtor will apply their extensive community knowledge and professional resources to research available properties, and show you the homes that best meet your needs. If you find a property that interests you through the Internet or your own research, let your Realtor know so that a showing can be arranged.

As you view different properties, your criteria may change. Open and direct communication with your Realtor is a key element of a successful property search.

Making an Offer

Once you have found the home that you wish to purchase, your Realtor will apply their professional training and do all the necessary research to help you structure an effective offer.

This is where your Realtor's negotiation skills come into play. When an offer is made, the seller will have the option of accepting, rejecting or counter-offering. Your Realtor will negotiate the best possible terms for you.

Your Realtor will draft the purchase agreement, advising you of protective contingencies, customary practices, and local regulations. Home warranty, title and escrow arrangements will be detailed in the offer. Although your Realtor will give you advice and information, it is your decision as to the exact price and terms that you wish to offer.

Managing the Escrow

When the purchase agreement is accepted and signed by all parties, your Realtor will transfer your file to a title company. Your earnest money will be deposited in the listing broker's bank trust account. At closing the title company will distribute all funds associated with your transaction including the amount being held in escrow in the listing broker's trust account.

Removing Contingencies

Prior to closing, all of the contingencies of the Purchase Agreement must be met. Your Realtor will coordinate this process. Typical contingencies include:

• Approval of the Seller's Property Disclosure Statement.
• Approval of the preliminary title report.
• Loan approval, including an appraisal of the property.
• Physical inspections of the property.
• Acquisition of homeowner's insurance.

When all of the conditions of the purchase agreement have been met, you will sign your loan documents and closing papers at the title company. You will deposit the balance of your down payment and closing costs to escrow and your lender will deposit the balance of the purchase price. The deed will then be recorded at the County Recorder's office and you will take ownership of your home.

Your Realtor is also a valuable source of helpful tips for planning and coordinating your move!

Real Estate Services