Step 1: Decide to Buy
The decision to purchase your first home is one of the biggest and best choices you could ever make.
After all, a home is the largest and most emotional investment most people will face in their lifetime. So, how do you know if it’s the right time for you to buy?
There is never a wrong time to buy the right home. The key is finding the right buy and taking the time to carefully evaluate your finances.
A home purchase is an important step that can provide many advantages.
Purchasing your own home is a great investment that can deliver several financial benefits; equity build up, value appreciation, automatic savings plan – not to mention a new sense of pride!
Start looking at your options today. You don’t have to know everything. Chris Eckert is ready to help you through every step of the process
Step 2: Hire Chris Eckert as your Agent
When you’re looking for a real estate professional to help you, know that above all else, good agents put their clients first. This is your dream, and your agent is your advocate to help you make your dream come true.
Buying a home can be a very emotion filled experience. It is a huge investment, and we always felt like Chris’ most important clients. He “gets it”, and I couldn’t be happier with his service or professionalism.
A great real estate agent will:
- Educate you about the current conditions of the market.
- Analyze what you want and what you need in your next home.
- Co-ordinate the work of other needed professionals throughout the process.
- Guide you to homes that fit your criteria and budget.
- Negotiate on your behalf to get you the best deal possible.
- Check and double-check paperwork and deadlines.
- Inform and discuss with you, suggest solutions to solve any problems that may arise.
Step 3: Secure Financing:
To make the financing process as painless as possible, I can introduce you to a preferred lender if you need one.
Your lender will work with you and me to make sure the financial aspect of your home purchase is stress-free.
What will the lender consultant do for you?
- Review your current financials.
- Discuss the options available to you during the home purchasing process.
- Guide you to an appropriate price point.
- Negotiate on your behalf to get you the best deal – price, interest rates, loan approval.
- Keep you informed and updated of the entire financial process throughout your purchase.
Step 4: Find Your Home
So you’ve met with your trusted Advisors and now you’re ready to begin your search.
But how or where do you start? There are a lot of homes out there, and diving in without a guide can become overwhelming and confusing.
I will help you more accurately pinpoint homes that fit your criteria.
The right home we find will meet all your important needs, and as many of your additional wants as possible.
Some questions you might ask yourself include:
- What amenities are crucial for you and your family?
- How much space do you need and why?
- Which is more critical: location or size?
- Would you be interested in a fixer-upper?
- How important is home value appreciation?
- Is neighborhood stability a priority?
- Is accessibility to main routes a priority?
- What features are not negotiable in your new property? You’ll learn as you look at homes, your priorities will probably adjust along the way.
Related: Tips For First Time Home Buyers
Step 5: Make an Offer
When you see that wonderful home, that one that’s really right for you, it’s exciting!
Your search is over you think to yourself. Now is where the expertise of your agent matters.
The pricing of your initial offer, the subsequent negotiations, the contingencies — all requires the expertise of an experienced strategist who knows the market better than anyone and knows how to get your offer accepted.
Once you’ve found a home you love, the next step is deciding on a price. It’s important to remember that a home is an investment. I will give you information on other properties in the neighborhood to help ensure you make an informed decision when it comes to price. Look to your agent to explain and guide you through the offer process.
Chris has incredible knowledge of the market, the process and the nuances of real estate negotiation. In less than a month, we were able to find and buy an AMAZING home for $150K BELOW asking price. In this market, that is unheard of.
Some things to consider when deciding on the best price point are:
- List price – Start with the price point that the home is listed at. I will give you a base when looking at the home’s value.
- Market Analysis – I will give you an idea of comparable home values in the neighborhood to help you decide if the price point is on par.
- Improvements – I will give you a list of improvements made to the home and help you determine its market value.
Step 6: Perform Due Diligence
I will provide you with improvements and challenges within your home. This way you’ll know what you are getting into before you complete the purchase.
Knowing what work has and has not been done to your home is important information to have in the buying process. While updates can increase your home value, damages can take money out of your pocket.
Your main concern is the possibility of structural damage, which can come from water, shifting ground or poor construction.
Very often a problem appears to be big but can be fixed with very little effort and not a huge budget.
Related: What you Need to Know About Fixed vs. Adjustable Rates
Step 7: Close
Once you’ve determined a price point you’re comfortable with, you’re in the “home” stretch!
But, in order to ensure that you don’t put the property purchase at risk, you have a couple of responsibilities that you’ll need to keep in mind:
- Staying in control of your credit and finances – Do not make any large purchases during this time. It’s important to keep your financials steady throughout the buying process. Talk to your financial consultant for guidance.
- Keeping in touch with your agent and financial consultant – It’s important to stay in constant communication with your agent and your lender during this process. Be sure to return all phone calls and complete paperwork promptly. Also, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Your team is there to help you!
Step 8: Protect Your Investment
Congratulations, and welcome home!
The home-buying process is complete, which means it’s time for your maintenance plan! It’s now your responsibility, and in your best financial interest, to protect your investment for years to come.
Performing routine maintenance on your home’s systems is always more affordable than having to fix big problems later. Be sure to watch for signs of leaks, damage, and wear. And remember, just because the sale is complete, your relationship with me doesn’t need to end!
After you buy, I can still help you – providing information on the real estate market, finding contractors and repair services, and even tracking your home’s current value.
Protect your Investment by ensuring that your home insurance coverage appropriately covers the correct value of your home especially after remodeling.
You can always call Roger Heighton at Farmers Insurance @ 650.692.1484 or email him at rheighton@farmersagent.com – he will be happy to answer any of your questions.
Home Sweet Home!
