We want our buyers to be well informed of the process of buying real estate before they set out on the buying journey. Knowing is half the battle. Here are the typical steps to buying a home or property in Sunset Beach and Beyond
Get Pre-Qualified before looking at Homes for Sale
Before you get your hopes up on any particular home you will want to make sure you can afford the home. There is nothing more disappointing than finding the home of your dreams and not being able to afford it.
Knowing what you can afford ahead of time can alleviate many disappointing feelings later on. This can set a price range for you and narrow your searches to properties in your range. Sit down with a lender to go over all your finances and determine a good price point to start your search in.
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Enlist the Help of a Buyer’s Agent
This is vital in completing a real estate transaction with your best interest at heart. Having your own agent can ensure your agent is working only for you and not for any particular seller. You want your priorities taken into account, not the sellers. By allowing a buyer’s agent to negotiate on your behalf for your terms and your price you are sure to walk into the deal with confidence knowing a dedicated professional is on your side.
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Send in a Solid offer with a Decent Earnest Money Deposit
When offering on a particular home you want to let the sellers know you are serious in buying. Just as you don’t want a fake seller wasting your time in haggling over minor details, the same goes for the seller wanting a serious buyer. Having the pre-approval letter in hand when submitting the offer and a solid earnest money deposit shows the seller that you know how much you can afford and are sincere in buying their property.
More: 5 Ways to Get Your Offer Accepted
We help you submit a solid offer with all the details covered. Our buyers can assure their sellers that the deal will close on time with the right paperwork.
Related: 10 Simple Ways to Make Buying More Affordable
Get a Professional Home Inspection
Many times any buyer can enlist the help of anyone to walk through a property and decide whether anything needs repair but we strongly recommend a professional inspector that knows the homes in the area to perform the inspection. In the case that something is not noticed or checked can affect your investment.
Read More: What to Expect at the Inspection
Remember, this is one of the largest investments you can make and it really pays to have the most thorough inspection possible. Once inspected you are given three choices; you can walk away and terminate the deal, proceed as planned or negotiate for certain terms that you require for the satisfaction of the inspection addendum. This can be in the form of money back at closing, decreased purchase price or proper repairs for the items needed.
Obtain Homeowners Insurance
Whether you are buying for the first time or the last time you will need to inform your homeowner’s insurance of the transaction or find new homeowners insurance. You are welcome to shop whomever you choose for the rate you feel is adequate. Make sure to inform your escrow service of this so they can either prepare the proper documents or inform your insurance of payments that will need to be made.
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Prepare for Signing and Closing
When the escrow calls to sign the final closing documents you will have a chance to go over all the closing paperwork and ask your escrow agent anything that you are not clear on. Your agent is here to help throughout the process and if there is ever something you don’t understand, please feel free to ask. We want you to be informed and educated during the transaction when buying a home in Sunset Beach and Beyond.