Contacting a Realtor is the first, and often the most difficult, step buyers take in their search for a home.  Realtors can be Buyer's Agents (agents representing the buyer) or Seller's Agents (agents representing the seller) or Dual Agents (Agents representing both buyer and seller in a transaction), make sure you know who represents you.  Realtors are required to disclose whom they represent up front.  

Steps to Homeownership

Step 1:  Attain a Realtor
  Call around for a Realtor with experience and who is dedicated to the profession. Ask them to represent you. If it's their career they will be more knowledgeable and be current on the latest technology, laws and procedure and will have plenty of time for you and your search. Provide your Realtor with list of "Must Have" and "Would Like" features for your home search.

Step 2:  Contact a Lender
   The Realtor can usually help you with an approximate amount of $home$ you can afford and financing options. A lender will be able to you in writing and may know about some creative financing if you need it. You'll also need to prepare documents for the lender's ' WE HAVE TO HAVE ' list.

Step 3:  Find your Home
   Based on the letter of pre-approval and your list of needs and wants you provide your Realtor, the Realtor is now ready to FIND A HOME for you. With your input the search is narrowed down to approximately 5 houses and a tour of those homes is set up. Ask plenty of questions. Take plenty of notes at each home, because after the tour details of each home are sometimes hard to remember. 

Step 4:  Write a Contract
   After you have selected your home, your Realtor will do a Market Analysis of the homes in the area to see what others like your selection have sold for. Once it is determined that the List Price is at market value, a contract, or sometimes called an "offer", is made. A down payment of 1-5% of the sale price is required at this time. The Realtor will then present the contract to the Seller or Seller's Agent and wait for acceptance or rejection.  If accepted you will then go to Step 5. If rejected, the "offer" was not be acceptable to the seller and you can always change the terms and re-offer the contract to them.

Step 5:  FROM CONTRACT TO CLOSING  
   Click above for a list of steps that will take place from the accepted contract until closing (homeownership). 

You're done!  But WHO PAYS FOR WHAT?
Click above and get a general list of expenses for both buyer and seller. 

   If you need further information or would like to start the process towards Homeownership, E-MAIL me and I will be glad to set up a no-obligation meeting for us to get acquainted and answer any questions you may have. I will also bring/mail you a Homeownership Guide to help you with the "Steps To Homeownership" (with samples of documents). I look forward
to serving you!