The Home Search and Making an Offer

Once you’ve set your budget and obtained a pre-approval letter, we’ll collaborate on narrowing down your search to best fit your needs and lifestyle. Keep in mind things like commuting to work or having a home office, the type of property you're looking for, any must-have features or criteria, and neighborhood amenities you’ll enjoy. I’ll pull active and coming-soon listings from the MLS (multiple listing service) and set up in-person tours for your favorite homes. I may have off-market opportunities or upcoming listings that may fit your needs as well. You’ll likely have found some homes online with a list of favorites you’re interested in. Pass these along to me so I can make sure they’re added to the tour. When you’ve identified the right home, I’ll walk you through the intricacies of crafting a strong offer to be a front runner in a competitive market.

The Home Inspection

Once your offer is accepted, your mortgage broker with get the loan process started and we’ll schedule a home inspection. During a standard home inspection, a qualified inspector will thoroughly examine the major components of the house to assess its condition. Every home inspector has a different process but typically, the they’ll start by examining the exterior of the house, including the roof, siding, windows, doors, and foundation. They'll look for any signs of damage, deterioration, or potential issues that could affect the structural integrity of the home. Next, the inspector will move inside the house and inspect each room, including the walls, ceilings, floors, and fixtures. They'll check for things like water damage, mold, cracks, and other visible defects. We’ll discuss additional inspections/tests that may pertain to that particular house, such as radon testing, an oil tank search and sewer scope. Your inspection period is an important time to ask questions and obtain as much information about the property as possible. We’ll discuss the results and if needed, negotiate with the seller regarding any repairs that need attention.

Overall, the goal of a home inspection is to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the condition of the property so you can make an informed decision about whether to proceed with the purchase. It's an important step in the home-buying process to ensure you're investing in a safe and sound property.

Closing

The closing process is the final step in purchasing a home, and it's where all the necessary paperwork is signed, and ownership of the property officially transfers from the seller to the buyer. Here's what typically happens:

Before closing, you'll receive a closing disclosure, which outlines the final terms of your loan, including the interest rate, monthly payments, and closing costs. You'll also receive a settlement statement, which details all the fees and expenses associated with the transaction.

You'll meet with your escrow officer from the title company to sign all the necessary paperwork. This includes the mortgage documents and any other legal forms required to complete the transaction.

Once all the paperwork has been signed and the closing funds have been disbursed, the title company will record the deed and mortgage documents with the appropriate county. This officially transfers ownership of the property from the seller to you, and the transaction is complete. The keys to the property will be handed over to you, and you'll officially become the new owner of the home.