3 Important People Who Help You Prepare for Buying a Home
There are so many different things to think about when you are thinking about purchasing a home. Since the summer is often a prime time for people to look into the buying and selling of homes, we thought that it would be helpful to share some tips for getting all your ducks in a row as you embark on the journey of buying real estate. It really comes down to these three relationships that makes the home buying process possible.
1. Secure Realtor
Finding a realtor that you can trust is a big job. It is important to find one that is familiar with the area that you want to move to. When they know the local area, they should know the real estate market well in that area. They will be able to speak into your decision-making when it comes to finding the right neighborhood and schools for your family. Having a knowledgeable and experienced realtor will give you a good idea of what kind of space you can expect with your given budget. Together with a good lender, they can help you to have realistic expectations of what you can actually afford.
2. Find a Lender
Once you have secured a reliable realtor, you will want to find a lender, if not before. Your lender is what gives you the ability to purchase a home, unless you are paying for it with cash. Often times you can inquire with your real estate agent since they often have relationships with various lenders. It’s not a bad idea to shop around and ask people what their experiences are with certain lenders. You want to build a good relationship with your lender, because you will be working with them for the long haul and if you find the right one, it could be well past the purchase of your home. Keep in mind that it isn't always just the rate because so many other factors come into play in the purchase of a home so don't get tied up with one rate and nothing else, look at the overall.
3. Locate an Inspector
When you find a house that you actually want to purchase, you will need to get it inspected. There is always a waiting period in between putting in an offer and the actual closing of the property. Getting the house inspected is going to reveal if the house has any issues that are not obvious. This gives you, the potential new owner, a chance to really get to know what you are purchasing and foresee any potential extra expenses. Once you have the home inspected, you will have the chance to continue moving forward with the purchasing of the home as is, negotiate the price and improvements with the buyer or pulling out of the deal altogether.
If you have never purchased a home before and don’t have any contacts of people you would like to work with in this process, you will want to start by finding just one of the above people. From there you may be able to tap into your inspector’s, realtor’s or lender's network to find the rest of your team. These professionals will help you make the most informed decision about purchasing a property, filling out paperwork and making it all happen.
Should you have any questions about the home inspection process, a sample inspection report to see all that is involved in the process and even what kind of home inspections we do in the Houston, Texas area, please contact us and we are happy to answer any questions you may have.
