Buying Your New Home

❶ PARTNER WITH AN AGENT

• Absorb their local insight

• Get to know neighborhood inventory levels

• See what’s about to hit the market Gain access to off-market properties

• Review market averages

• Complete needs assessment

❷ GET PRE-APPROVED FOR A LOAN

• Understand what you can afford

• Determine your monthly mortgage payment

• Understand your debt ratio

• Prepare for escrow

• Obtain a pre-approval letter

❸ FIND YOUR NEW HOME

• Compare home and neighborhood averages, then narrow down the neighborhoods you want to live in

• Favorite homes and save them to collections

• Nix homes that don’t meet the mark

• Schedule home tours and plan an itinerary with your agent

• Decide on your dream home

❹ MAKE YOUR OFFER & NEGOTIATE THE TERMS

• Review contract terms and time limit for offer

• Negotiate purchase price

• Choose a title company

• Shop home insurance options

• Prepare for the down payment, earnest money

• Choose a target closing date

• Sign the offer

• Deliver escrow check

• Stay in close contact with your agent

❺ UNDER CONTRACT

• Secure a home loan

• Acquire home insurance and send proof to your lender

• Request a list of what conveys with the property

• Schedule home inspection and negotiate repairs

• Acquire a property disclosure from the seller

• Order an appraisal

• Neutralize any contingencies. Input any contingencies that may be specific to your area

• Conduct a title search

• Choose your title company

• Schedule your closing

• Solidify both contract effective and allowable move-in dates

• Certify funds for closing

• Stay in close contact with your agent, lender, and title company

❻ BEFORE YOU CLOSE

• Transfer funds for closing

• Reserve a moving company and set a moving date

• Change your address through USPS, your bank, and other instances

• Set up your utilities to be activated or transferred

• Confirm that all contingencies are resolved

• Schedule the final property walk-through

• Designate a safe, dedicated space to save your final paperwork

• Stay in close contact with your agent, lender, and title company

❼ CLOSING DAY: WHAT TO BRING

Connect with your lender to wire down payment funds. You’ll need to cover the cost of closing and the down payment. Bring a printed confirmation of your wire transfer

• Government-issued Photo ID(s)

• Social Security numbers

• Home addresses from the las  t 10 years

• Proof of homeowner’s insurance

• Your copy of the contract

• Your checkbook

❽ CLOSING DAY

• Sign closing disclosure, promissory note, and all other documentation

• Title transfer

• Deed delivery

• Save your paperwork in your pre-designated spot

• Get your keys - congrats, it’s all yours!