Buying or selling a home or a property?
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For a lot of people, buying a home can be a stressful event. But with a bit of up-front planning, it isn't very complicated. I like to furnish buyers with a road map of the entire deal so they'll know exactly what to expect. Below are my nine steps to buying a home.
Step 1 – Get ready to buy
There are plenty of things you need to take into account before starting your home search. When you start your search, you'll want to create a checklist of features you need to have, plan for what neighborhoods and school districts you'd like to live in, and start planning around your budget. Keeping your mortgage payment less than 30 percent of your net monthly income is a good guideline to follow.
Step 2 – Communicate with a real estate agent in Florida
This is where I come in. We can book a time to get together so we can talk about why you want to buy a home and get an idea of your plans for the future. We'll talk about everything from neighborhoods, schools in the Homestead area, the mortgage and housing industries, to any other economic factors that could affect your buying decision today or in the future.
I'll also help you facilitate the loan process. There are some very good mortgage professionals in Florida, and I partner with a lot of them, so you can rest assured that you're in great hands. They will help you figure out which kind of loan is best for you, as well as help you get qualified.
Step 3 – Start your home search
Following our initial meeting, I'll begin searching for houses on the market that are a great fit for you. I'll preview most of the homes and remove the duds, and then we'll schedule appointments to tour the houses whenever it's most convenient for you.
 As we view homes, I'll show you the positive features and bad ones. And I'll ask you what things you like and don't like. As a rule, buyers update their wish list as we tour houses and some items become far more substantial than others. If such is the case, I'll search the listings again and narrow it down to the house you've been waiting for.
Step 4 – Know the housing market
My understanding of the real estate market is an indispensable asset in your search. I am informed of all the school districts and neighborhoods, and I'll communicate which neighborhoods are "hot" and require immediate action and others that are "cold" and allow for thoughtful consideration.
As we tour houses, I'll be sure to tell you when the list price has room for bargaining and also when I think the house is "priced to sell." Be careful and be sure to ask your agent lots of questions, as any real estate agent will tell you they truly understand the housing market. If things don't add up, just call me at 305-663-1690 or e-mail me at fernando@AMCIrealtors.com, and I'll be glad to answer your questions. My market knowledge will keep you a step above the rest through the entire deal.
Step 5 – Find the home you've been looking for
I'm positive we'll find the home of your dreams in Florida. When we do, I'll precisely develop your real estate purchase offer. The offer will be tailored with your needs in mind, including a lot of contingencies, such as acquiring financing, completing the inspection, and a clean title.
 When sending in your purchase offer, you'll likely want to submit "earnest money." This is a cash deposit made to a home seller to secure an offer to buy the property, and it's often put towards the cost of closing. If the offer is accepted, we should close within 30 to 60 days afterward. This allows sufficient time for your mortgage financing.
Step 6 – Negotiate
Most contracts aren't closed on the initial offer, and it's very common to receive a counter offer. But don't let this alarm you. We'll talk about whether or not to consent to the counter offer, present our own counter offer, or refuse the seller's offer and go on.
How aggressively we negotiate the deal depends on market circumstances. We'll also work within your financing constraints. And when it's all said and done, we'll assemble a contract that is best for you.
Step 7 – Obtain financing
Once the deal is finished, you'll begin working with your mortgage lender to close the loan. It won't take long at all if you've been pre-qualified, but you should to stay in close contact with your mortgage lender. And I'll care for all the property information your mortgage lender will need to close the loan.
Step 8 – Close the deal
You'll get a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) detailing closing costs from your lender within three days of getting your loan application. This estimate depends on the loan amount, and RESPA requirements mandate that it has to include all closing costs and fall within a close range of accuracy. I'll examine the estimate and let you know if everything looks okay.
Then we'll close on your house. This will probably take place at a title company or escrow office and will most likely be a smooth and relaxed occurrence.
Step 9 – Move in
You made it! It's time to move into your new house. Enjoy it. And if you need anything or have any questions, just call me at 305-663-1690 or 888-412-9177 or send me an e-mail.
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