Buying or selling a home in Charlotte? South CLT Realty can help.
With a little planning ahead of time, purchasing a home isn't that hard, but the event is intimidating for many people.
I like to give buyers a road map of the whole deal so they'll know exactly what they can expect.
These are my nine steps to buying a home.
When you're ready to get started, simply contact me here or e-mail me at . I'm glad to answer any questions you have about this information.
Step 1 – Prepare to buy
There are a lot of things you need to take into account before beginning your home search.
When you begin your search, you'll probably want to assemble a list of features you want to have, plan for what neighborhoods and school districts you'd like to live in, and start planning your budget.
Keeping your mortgage payment around 1/3 of your monthly income is a good guideline to adhere to.
Step 2 – Get in touch with a real estate agent in Charlotte
This is where I come in.
I'd like to book a time to get together with you and talk about your real estate needs and get an idea of your plans for the future.
We'll discuss neighborhoods, schools in the Charlotte area, the mortgage industry, and any additional economic factors that could potentially affect your buying decision today or in the future.
In addition, I'll help you facilitate the loan process.
There are some very good mortgage professionals in Charlotte, and I partner with a lot of them, so you can rest assured that you're in great hands.
They will assist you in choosing which kind of loan is best for you and help you get approved.
Step 3 – Begin looking for a home
Following our initial meeting, I'll begin searching for available homes on the market that are great for you.
I'll get a sneak peek of most of the houses and eliminate the duds, and then we'll set up appointments to tour the homes when it's convenient for you.
When we tour homes, I'll show you the good features, as well as negative ones. I'll also ask you about things you like and dislike.
Oftentimes, buyers update their must-have list as we tour homes and some things become far more important than others.
If that's the situation, I'll look through all the listings once again and trim it down to the home of your dreams.
Step 4 – Comprehend the housing market
My knowledge of the Charlotte market is an essential aspect in your home search. I'm familiar with all the neighborhoods and school districts, and I can communicate which districts are "hot" and demand immediate action and some that are "cool" and allow for more analysis.
As we view houses, I'll be sure to tell you when the seller's asking price has room for bargaining and also when I trust the house is "priced to sell."
Be on guard and make sure you ask lots of questions, as every REALTOR will convince you they understand the housing market.
If it doesn't seem like they know everything, contact me at 7045531488 or e-mail me at , and I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have. My market knowledge will keep you a step ahead through the entire deal.
Step 5 – Find the home you've been looking for
I know we'll find the house of your dreams in Charlotte. When we do, I'll thoroughly create your real estate purchase offer. The offer will be tailored with your needs in mind and the home, including some contingencies. A few examples are obtaining financing, completing the inspection, and a clear title.
When submitting your purchase offer, you'll likely need to present "earnest money." This is a cash deposit given to the home seller to secure an offer to purchase the property. The amount is usually applied to the closing costs. If the offer is accepted by the seller, we should close within 30 to 60 days afterward. This allows necessary time for your mortgage financing.
Step 6 – Negotiate the deal
Unfortunately most contracts don't close on the initial offer – it's widely common to receive a counter offer. Don't let it alarm you. We'll talk about whether or not to consent to the counter offer, submit our own counter offer, or decline the seller's offer and go on.
Market conditions will play a large role in how aggressively we negotiate the deal.
In addition, we'll work within your financing budget. And when it's all said and done, we'll assemble a deal that is best for you.
Step 7 – Obtain your loan
Upon signing the deal, you'll begin working with your mortgage lender to close the loan.
If you're pre-approved, this won't take much time at all. However, you'll want to stay in close contact with your lender.
And I'll care for all the property information your mortgage lender needs to close the loan.
Step 8 – Close the deal
You'll get a Loan Estimate (LE) of your closing costs from your mortgage lender within three days of getting your application.
The estimate rests on the loan amount, and RESPA requirements dictate that it has to contain all closing costs and be within a strict 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 most often occur at a title company or escrow office and will most likely be a smooth and calm occurrence.
Step 9 – Move in
Congratulations! Now you can move into your new house. Enjoy it. And if you have any questions, make sure you contact me at 7045531488 or e-mail me at .