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 You’re ready to buy a home – Congratulations!

To kick off the next part of your home buying experience consider these important questions to guide your search:

• Will you work with a REALTOR®?
• How soon do you need to move? Are you currently in a lease contract?
• What type of home are you looking to buy?
• What is your price range?
• Have you talked to a lender yet and received a letter pre-approval?
• Which Houston neighborhood would you like to live in?
• What are your top 5 must haves? {choosing must haves in a home, what determines a must-have vs. a nice to have?}
• Are you also selling a property?

• Home Buyer Expenses
• Buyer Questionnaire
• Preferred Vendors

The next decision of the home buying process is to decide whether you will work with a REALTOR®. When you’re buying a home, things can feel like a whirlwind. An experienced REALTOR® can help navigate this process to make it as seamless as possible. By hiring a REALTOR®, you’re also ensuring that your voice is being heard and your best interests are being met.

As our client, we focus on choices that satisfy your needs, provide you with professional advice and insight, offer price counseling, and negotiate on your behalf. Most importantly, we guide you through every step of the buying process.

Take advantage of our proven track record! Our experienced team of REALTORS® only represents your best interests. We go the extra mile to ensure that you have the best experience possible.

• Customer Vs Client, What’s the Difference?
• 5 Reasons to Sign a Buyers Representation Agreement

If you choose to work with our team, expect an in-depth consultation session before we even start looking at homes. This one-on-one session establishes our relationship, sets expectations, and kicks off the search for your dream home. We ask that you are totally upfront and honest with your REALTOR® so as to establish a positive working relationship.

Also, come prepared with your home buying wants and desires.  This may include your pre-approval letter (if you have one already), price range, target neighborhoods, timeline, and must-haves for your home. This helps narrow the search and gets you closer to finding your perfect home.

• Schedule an Appointment
• Houston Neighborhoods
• Buyer Representation Agreement 

 Now it’s time to find your dream home! Our team works with you to narrow your home search and help you set up a search profile on HAR. This search alerts us all when something new comes on the market that fits your needs or if there’s been a price reduction.

During this part of your home buying journey, we also schedule time to look at homes. Prior to our first showing, we need to see a copy of your pre-approval letter. Also, we need to have a Buyer’s Representation Agreement in place. Communication is important during this process. We work closely with you to ensure we’re finding homes that fit with your needs and the available inventory.

• Mortgage Loan Checklist
• Houston Homebuying Trends

 Once you’ve found a home, we work closely with you to help you submit a written offer on the property. As our client, we draft a competitive offer based on market conditions and a comparative market analysis. This analysis gives you the average price ranges, comparable properties and appropriate negotiating strategies for that specific area. 

Depending on those market conditions, there may be several rounds of negotiations. This is an area where having an experienced local REALTOR® can be very valuable. Rest assured, we look out for your best interests during negotiations. This includes staying in touch with your lender or banker and counseling you on how to proceed.

• Negotiating Process

Once you and the seller agree on an offer, you begin the final steps towards legally owning your home. This part of the process includes an earnest money deposit as a sign of good intention that you are purchasing the property, an option fee check for the seller, a tax check and title search by the title company, and document preparation for closing.

Next, you need to schedule an inspection of the home. The inspection happens within the first 7-10 days of being under contract (your option period). Our team walks you through this process to ensure that nothing slips between the cracks from execution to closing.

• Shopping for Insurance

 At last, you’ve made it to the end of your home buying journey! There are a lot of moving pieces involved in the closing process – especially if you plan to finance. In which case, we work diligently with the lender and title company leading up to the closing day. On that final day, you secure a loan, provide documentation, and finally, sign on the dotted line. Our team works as your advocate so that we can ensure a smooth transition into your home.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

• Homestead Exemption
• Power Movers Flyer

 At last, you’ve made it to the end of your home buying journey! There are a lot of moving pieces involved in the closing process – especially if you plan to finance. In which case, we work diligently with the lender and title company leading up to the closing day. On that final day, you secure a loan, provide documentation, and finally, sign on the dotted line. Our team works as your advocate so that we can ensure a smooth transition into your home.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

• Home Maintenance Checklist