Buying a house is a huge achievement in anyone’s life. For most adults, being able to buy a house is a personal achievement. Prospect of buying a house can be very exciting and daunting at the same time. There can be many roadblocks along the buying process, if not done properly.
Here are some of the steps you can follow if you are buying a house for the first time or planning to buy one:
Step 1: Do Your Research And Check Your Affordability
Search and sort through property listings online before embarking on your home buying journey.Start reading newspapers, magazines and websites that have real estate listings. Also make a note of the homes you are interested in and see how long they stay on the market.
You should also consult with your bank or use an online mortgage calculator to estimate how much you can afford by considering all the different different variables (i.e income, down-payment, savings, etc)
This will help you save time and set some financial goals in advance. This will get you an idea of what kind of house you want to buy. Consult with a bank or use an online mortgage calculator to estimate how much you can afford by considering all the different variables i.e. income, down-payment, savings, etc.
Step 2: Get Pre-Qualified And Pre-Approved
By this time as you have estimated how much you can afford, it will help you determine what type of loan you want to pursue if your savings are not enough. Work with your lender, find a suitable loan plan and secure your rate while you find your dream home. You can use this time to apply for a mortgage loan and get pre-qualified and pre-approved for the loan.
Step 3: Hire An Estate Agent
Work with your estate agent and they can advise you through different phases of the process, provide insights into the market and do the negotiations for you. Their wealth of knowledge of the home buying process, negotiating skills, and familiarity with the area you want to live in can be extremely valuable.
Surprisingly it doesn’t cost you anything to use an agent, they are compensated from the sale of the house. The commission paid by the seller of the house.
Step 4: Shop For Your Home and Make an Offer
Whe touring homes in your price range. It will be helpful to take notes and utilize checklist on all the homes you visit. During the home buying process, you will see a ton of homes. It can be difficult to remember everything about them, so you might want to take pictures or video to help you remember each home. Check out the details below when viewing each home:
Test the plumbing by running the sober to see how long it takes to get hot and the strength of the water pressure.
Open and close doors and windows to make sure they are working properly.
Also consider making notes of things such as :
• The condition of other homes on the block, are they well maintained?
• How busy is the area and is there a lot of traffic?
•Will you have enough street parking for your family and visitors
•How convenient is the location of the property to the places that interest you the most?
( Schools, shopping centers, restaurants, parks and public transportation)
Do your due diligence to find the right home and work with your real estate agent to negotiate
a fair offer based on the value of comparable homes in the same neighborhood. After you and the seller reach agreement on a price, the property will then go into escrow. Which is the phase where all of the
remaining steps in the buying process is completed.
Step 5: Do Some Inspection And Close The Deal
Schedule an inspection from professionally certified and licensed Home inspector Columbia SC.
Having a home inspection helps you know what you are getting yourself into and you are protected in case anything problematic is reported. The inspection might show some problems that need work and shave some cash off the deal to your favor.
Once every contingency is covered, complete the paperwork. Once the seller receives the check and respective papers are signed the house will officially be yours.
Being patient through all of this process is key because the excitement of buying a house can make anyone a little anxious and it is a time taking process. On average, finding a house and closing the deal on it can take up to two to three months. Get a peace of mind and protect your investment with a home inspection by requesting a home inspection from S&J Home Inspection LLC.
