I am looking to buy a 3BR house, and will be a first-time home buyer. I've not yet found a reliable realtor, and would love to get some good advice on getting started with this confusing process. Can anyone give me a basic outline of the steps I should take in going about the whole home-buying process? Thank you in advance!
2006-11-13 15:42:57 · 6 answers · asked by ABBMAMA 4 in Business & Finance ➔ Renting & Real Estate
1) Get pre-approved for a loan. Bring documentation of your income for the last year, your debts (credit card, car loan, student loans), and your last 3 month's bank statements to any lender for pre-approval. They will tell you how much home you can buy. Don't worry, you don't have to use them as a lender if you don't want to.
2) Pick a few neighborhoods with homes in your price range and drive around them looking for open houses or "for sale" signs.
3) Make appointments with real estate the agents who are selling those homes so that you can view them.
4) Pick your favorite agent based upon his/her knowledge and willingness to help you.
5)The agent will provide you with a list of all of the homes in your price range that meet your needs (i.e. 3 BR houses).
6) Work with the agent to view some of those homes.
7) Pick your favorite home and make an offer.
8) Work with a mortgage broker to find the best loan for you. You should probably start with the lender who pre-approved you.
9) Let the agent guide you through all of the paperwork.
2006-11-14 11:42:41 · answer #1 · answered by David 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Here is the best advice you will recieve.
Before you even step foot into a realtors office I would suggest you get approved for a mortgage. You can get an official approval, competitve rates and programs at my company site www.JustGetALoan.net. Getting approved does two major things for you: 1 it lets the realtor know they have a real client, I know it sounds lame but they will treat you 100% better when you have been approved. 2) Being approved gives you buying power. Imagine you were the seller if you wanted to sell your home for $300,000 and i walk up to you and said Ive been approved for $285,000 and can close within weeks they are more willing to take that official offer than trying to hold off for people who they do not know they can really buy the home. This creates a better situation for you becuase now you have equity or money in the home. If you would like further assistance feel free to contact me at 866 530 7300 ext 7305 or email me Jenold Freeman at jfreeman@justgetaloan.net
2006-11-14 17:52:17 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Get pre-approved FIRST. You will need this letter to submit with any offer you make on a home. You also want a good feel for what your payments are going to look like so you are comfortable with the sales price you end up getting. Your Loan Officer can also recommend a full time, experienced real estate agent if you don't have one.
2006-11-14 07:40:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Look at houses online, in the paper, or whatever. Set up a time to go look at them. Get approved for a home loan (usually no down payment for first time home owners). Make an offer on the home, if they counter offer, you can change your offer or reject it and move on. Then once an offer is agreed upon, you will have to sign a lot of paperwork. I suggest to get a house inspection prior to final agreements that way if anything is really bad, you can ask the owner to fix it before you buy it. Then, get home owner's insurance.
After all that, you will have the closing, sign papers and move in.
2006-11-13 23:50:40 · answer #4 · answered by kayle_rose 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I bought my first house a year ago. If you have a good credit history and has been working for a good time, and pay your taxes -- that's all you need. Look for a mortgage broker. He/she will check your credit and tell you how much you qualify for. From there on is "house shopping time " if you already don't have one. I went looking for house first. Had a few picks and after the broker talked to us, we decided which one was the best for us.
2006-11-13 23:51:09 · answer #5 · answered by Cister 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Very important step!!!!! Talk to people who's judgment you trust and ask them if they know a good Realtor who they would trust with their mom's house.
Don't go for.... "Hey, my brother's a Realtor" or "Well, isn't what's his name down the hall doing real estate on the side?"
Go for "You HAVE TO call my Realtor. He took such good care of us when we knew nothing about it, and he explained every step to us and showed us what to look out for and... and..... and......" That person was taken care of, and that's what you want to find.
2006-11-13 23:58:09 · answer #6 · answered by teran_realtor 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋