Buying or selling a home in Tamuning?

Buying a home is a stressful event for many people, but with a little up-front planning, it's not too complex. So they'll know exactly what they can expect, I like to provide buyers with an outline of the entire deal. These are my nine steps to purchasing a home. When you're ready to get started, simply contact me here or e-mail me at . I'm glad to address any questions you have regarding this information.

Step 1 – Get ready to purchase
Before you begin your home search, there are several things you should do. You'll most likely want to create an outline of items you want, get an idea of what neighborhoods and school districts you'd like to live in, and begin planning your budget. Ensuring your mortgage payment is less than 1/3 of your monthly income is a good rule to go by.

Step 2 – Speak with a real estate agent
This is where Latte Stone Properties, LLC comes in. I'd be more than happy to book a time to get together with you and talk about why you want to buy a home and get an idea of your plans for the future. We'll talk about neighborhoods, schools in the Tamuning area, the mortgage industry, and any additional economic factors that could potentially affect your buying decision today or in the future.

I'll also assist you in getting started on your loan. I work with some of the finest mortgage professionals in Tamuning, so you can rest assured that you're in great hands. They can help you choose which type of loan is best for you, as well as help you get approved.

Step 3 – Start looking
After our initial meeting, I'll start looking for houses on the market that suit your needs. I'll research most of the homes and ignore the bad ones, and then we'll schedule appointments to tour the houses whenever it's convenient for you.

As we tour homes, I'll show you the good features, as well as bad ones. I'll even ask you what things you like and dislike. It's common for buyers to revise their must-have list as we view houses and some items become more important than others. If that's the case, I'll search the listings again and trim it down to the house of your dreams.

Step 4 – Comprehend the market
An agent's knowledge of the Tamuning home market is a crucial element in your house search. And I can assure you I'm conscious of all the schools and neighborhoods, and I'll alert you to certain areas are "hot" and require prompt action and some that are "cool" and allow for thoughtful analysis.

When we view houses, I'll let you know when the list price has room for bargaining and when I think the house is "priced to sell." When working with an agent, be careful and be sure to ask a lot of questions. Every real estate agent will convince you they know the home market. If things don't add up, contact me at (671) 647-5577 or e-mail me at , and I'd be happy to answer your questions. My understanding of the market will keep you a step above the rest throughout the entire process.

Step 5 – Find the house you've been waiting for
I'm sure we'll find the house of your dreams in Tamuning. When that happens, I'll thoroughly create your home purchase offer. The offer will be made to fit your needs and the home. We'll include many contingencies, such as obtaining financing, finishing the inspection, and a clean title.

When we turn in your offer, you'll need to present "earnest money." This is a cash deposit given to a home seller to secure an offer to buy the property, and it's most often applied to the closing costs. If your offer is accepted by the seller, we should close about 30 to 60 days afterward. This allows necessary time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate
Unfortunately most deals aren't closed on the initial offer. It's extremely common to receive a counter offer. But don't let it alarm you. We'll discuss whether or not to take the counter offer, propose our own counter offer, or reject the seller's offer and move on.

How aggressively we negotiate the contract depends on market conditions. In addition, we'll work within your budget. And when it's all said and done, we'll create a contract that works well for you.

Step 7 – Secure your loan
Once the deal is finished, you'll begin working with your mortgage lender to close the loan. This shouldn't be a long process at all if you've been pre-qualified, but you should to keep in close contact with your lender. And I'll care for all the property information your lender needs to close the loan.

Step 8 – Close the deal
You'll get a Loan Estimate (LE) detailing closing costs from your mortgage lender within three days of getting your application. The estimate is based on the loan amount. RESPA requirements order that it has to include all closing costs and fall within a strict range of accuracy, and I'll analyze the estimate and let you know if everything looks all right.

Then it's time to close on your house. This should occur at a title company or escrow office and will probably be a smooth and relaxing event.

Step 9 – Move in
Congratulations! Now you can move into your new home. Enjoy it. And if you need anything, make sure you contact me at (671) 647-5577 or e-mail me at .