First Time Home Buyer Tips
At My Real Estate Expert we specialize in helping first time home buyer in the purchase of their first home. This process can be stressful and overwhelming. That is why it is important to hire a realtor that is experienced and can walk you through the home buying process.
Here are some pointers that every First Time Home Buyer should follow.
• The first step in buying a home is getting pre-approval from a mortgage lender. At My Real Estate Expert securing a pre-approval letter is a standard requirement in almost all real estate transactions. The pre-approval letter will also inform the 1st time home buyer how much they can afford to spend on a new home.
• When you have your pre-approval letter in place, it is time to select a Realtor. Realtors are important in the home buying process. During the year, a realtor keeps up with the housing trend and is knowledgeable in the details of the home buying process. For a first time home buyer, they will make sure that you receive the benefits that go along with purchasing your first home. Once hired for the job, the REALTOR® will provide you with information detailing current market conditions; inform you about financing options, and will assist you with negotiations that might apply to a given situation.
• Once the first two steps are achieved you are ready to start searching for your new home. A new home buyer may want to visit the local communities in the areas that you are interested in, visit neighborhoods, talk to neighbors, and consider your needs for a home such as features and amenities that are important to you. When you are ready you can look up homes on sites such as Realtor.com, Har.com, Trulia.com, and various others. Along with your Realtor you can start the home search process.
• Once a home is found by the home buyer, a real estate agent can run a comparative market analysis (CMA) to help them decide on an opening offer price. Once the offer is accepted the client should be prepared to send an inspector to the property and request any Home Owners Association (HOA) documentation and any essential information.
• Once a contract has been executed the buyer’s lender will require that the property acquisition will include title insurance.
• Settlement and Closing are one step closer to becoming an official home owner. The closing is normally held at a title company; this is where the final paper work is signed by the Seller and Buyer to transfer real property to the buyer. The final closing cost is accepted at this time. The mortgage lender will require that the buyer secure Home Owners Insurance and sometimes Flood Insurance will be required where applicable.A Home warranty is also important to protect the new home buyer in case of a defect in mechanical, wiring or plumbing issues.
• You are now a new home owner. The keys will be presented to you at closing and you can now move in.
Written by: Veronica Weaver, Realtor
My Real Estate Expert
Tomball Real Estate Agents