Congratulations on your decision to purchase a home. I just wanted to outline some of the steps involved in the purchase of your first home.

Location: This is so important – it determines the price. Try to narrow down your selection of cities to three or four. Looking at more than four cities can be very cumbersome and discouraging. Start Shopping: Start looking on your own. Look in newspapers, visit open houses, drive around neighborhoods, and search the internet. Multiple Listing Service: I can e mail you available home listings that match your criteria. This will narrow your search to the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and the price range YOU want. Just let me know when you are ready to start shopping for your home and we will go house hunting!

Writing the Offer: Once you find the home that suits your needs, a real property contract will be written and presented to the seller. A good faith deposit is usually required at this time. If the offer is not accepted, the deposit will be returned to you immediately. Escrow & Scheduling a Home Inspection: When you get an accepted offer, escrow is opened. It is strongly recommended that you schedule a physical inspection to be conducted on the property by a licensed professional. After the home inspection, we will request the necessary repairs, if any, to be completed. Appraisal: The bank will conduct an appraisal of the property to determine the value.

Loan Process: If the property is appraised at the offer amount, generally the loan will be approved and processed. Please be advised that obtaining a loan is also dependent on other criterias such as your personal credit history, source of income, etc. Speak with your Local Loan Officer or I can refer you to some reputable Loan Officers for more information.

Inspections & Transfer Disclosure Statements: While in escrow, I will assist you through the various inspections processes. We recommend a Professional Property inspection to determine the condition of the home, other inspections may include Termite, City, and Appraisal inspections. I will also assist you through the documentation process and explain any information pertaining to the property, as well as assist you in the procedures necessary to transfer real property, a business, or other assignable interests. Several disclosures must be approved and signed by you.

Close of Escrow: Escrow usually takes about 30-45 days. After the close of escrow, you will receive your keys and possession to the property subject to the agreed terms of the contract (i.e., signing loan documents, bringing remainder of your deposit, other fees, funding of the loan, recording of property deeds, etc.). I will assist you through these processes and help ensure all the items are promptly completed. Upon completion of the escrow procedures, you will have the keys to unlock you new home. J

Buying a home is a lengthy process. To ensure that you have the best representation, you’ll need an experienced and dedicated Realtorâ to assist you in finding the home of your dreams!

Please don’t hesitate to call me if you need additional information or would like to discuss any of the listings in detail. I would like to hear about how your home hunting is going so far.