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Buying your new home or land/farms in Franklin County and the surrounding areas:
Purchasing a home is an intimidating event for most people. However, with some planning ahead of time, it isn't very difficult. I like to furnish buyers with an overview of the whole deal so they know exactly what they can expect. Here are my nine steps to buying a home.
Step 1 – Prepare to buy
Before you begin searching for a home, there are plenty of things you should contemplate. You'll want to create a checklist of features you need, get a feel for what neighborhoods you'd like to live in, and start planning around your budget. Keeping your mortgage payment around a third of your net monthly income is a good rule of thumb to adhere to.
Step 2 – Talk to a real estate agent
That's where I can help. I'd like to schedule a time to meet with you and speak with you about why you want to buy a home and get an idea of your future plans. We'll talk about neighborhoods, schools in the Washington area, the mortgage and housing industries, and any other economic factors that could affect your buying decision today or in the future.
I can also help you begin the loan process. There are some very good mortgage professionals in Washington, and I partner with a lot of them, so you can rest assured that you're in great hands. They will assist you in figuring out which type of loan is best for you and help you get approved.
Step 3 – Begin looking for a house
After we meet for the first time, I'll start looking for available houses on the market that are a great fit for you. I'll research most of the homes and ignore the bad ones, and then we'll schedule appointments to tour the homes when it's convenient for you.
 As we tour houses, I'll call attention to positive features, as well as negative ones. And I'll ask you about things you like and dislike. It's common for buyers to amend their must-have list as we view homes and some things become far more essential than others. If that's the situation, I'll go back through all the listings another time and trim it down to the house you've been waiting for.
Step 4 – Understand the market
My understanding of the Washington market is a fundamental benefit in your search. I'm familiar with all the school districts and neighborhoods, and I will let you know which neighborhoods are "hot" and call for prompt action and the ones that are "cool" and allow for thoughtful analysis.
When we view homes, I'll be sure to tell you if the asking price has room for bargaining or if I believe the home is "priced to sell." Every REALTOR® will claim to comprehend the market, but take notice, and be sure to ask your agent a lot of questions. If it appears they don't know everything, call me at 314 808-1712 or e-mail me at donna@joerlinggroup.com, and I'll be glad to answer any questions you may have. My market knowledge will keep you a step above the rest throughout the entire deal.
Step 5 – Find the house you've been looking for
I'm confident we'll find your dream home in Washington. When we do, I'll carefully develop your purchase offer. The offer will be tailored to suit your needs, including a lot of contingencies, such as getting financing, finishing the home inspection, and a clean title.
 When turning in your offer, you'll likely want to present "earnest money." This is a cash deposit made to the seller to secure the offer to buy the property, and it's often put towards the cost of closing. If the seller accepts the offer, we should close on the property within 30 to 60 days afterward. This allows sufficient time for your mortgage financing.
Step 6 – Negotiate the deal
A lot of contracts aren't closed on the first offer – it's extremely common to receive a counter offer. But don't let it alarm you. We'll discuss whether or not to accept the counter offer, present our own counter offer, or reject the seller's offer and move on.
Market conditions will play a part in how aggressively we negotiate the contract. We'll also work within your budget. And when it's all said and done, we'll formulate a contract that works well for you.
Step 7 – Secure a loan
After we sign the final deal, you'll begin working with your mortgage lender to close the loan. If you've been pre-approved, this won't take very long at all, but you'll want to keep in close contact with your mortgage lender. And I'll sort out all the property information your 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 mortgage lender within three days of accepting your loan application. The estimate rests on the loan amount, and RESPA requirements dictate that it has to involve all closing costs and be within a close range of accuracy. I'll study the estimate and let you know if everything looks adequate.
Then it's time to close on your home. This will most often take place at a title company or escrow office and will most often 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, just call me at 314 808-1712 or send me an e-mail.
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