Buying your new home in Tamuning?

Purchasing a home is stressful for many people. However, with a little up-front planning, it's not all that difficult. I like to provide buyers with an overview of the entire deal so they'll understand exactly what to expect. Below are my nine steps to buying a home. When you're ready to get started, just contact me here or e-mail me at . I'm glad to answer any questions you have about this information.

Step 1 – Get ready to purchase a home
There are many things you'll want to do before you start searching for a home. When you start your search, you'll want to assemble an index of items you need, get a feeling for what school districts and neighborhoods you want to live in, and start planning your budget. A good principle to follow is that your mortgage payment should be no more than 30 percent of your net monthly income.

Step 2 – Connect with a real estate agent in Tamuning
That's where I come in. I'd like to schedule a time to meet with you and communicate with you regarding why you want to buy a home and get an idea of your upcoming plans. We'll discuss neighborhoods, schools in the Tamuning area, the mortgage and housing industries, and any additional economic factors that might affect your purchase today or in the future.

I'll also help you facilitate the loan process. There are some great mortgage professionals in Tamuning, and I work with a lot of them, so you can rest assured that you're in great hands. They will assist you in choosing which type of loan is best for you and help you get qualified.

Step 3 – Start looking
After we meet, I'll begin looking for available houses on the market that suit your needs. I'll get a sneak peek of many of the homes and remove the bad ones, and then we'll book appointments to tour the homes at a time that's convenient for you.

When we tour the houses, I'll show you the positive features, as well as bad ones. And I'll ask you to talk about things you like and dislike. Oftentimes, buyers change their list of must-haves as we tour houses and some items become far more necessary than others. If such is the case, I'll look through the listings one more time and narrow it down to the home you've been wishing for.

Step 4 – Comprehend the housing market
An agent's knowledge of the Tamuning home market is an imperative aspect in your house search. And I can assure you I'm mindful of all the neighborhoods and school districts, and I'll communicate which neighborhoods are "hot" and call for immediate action and some that are "cool" and allow for more consideration.

When we tour homes, I'll let you know when the list price has room for bargaining and when I trust the house is "priced to sell." When working with an agent, be on guard and make sure you ask lots of questions. Any real estate agent will claim to understand the housing market. If it appears they don't know everything, contact me at (671) 647-5577 or e-mail me at , and I'll be more than happy to answer your questions. My knowledge of the market will keep you a step ahead throughout the entire deal.

Step 5 – Find the home you've been waiting for
I'm positive we'll find your dream home in Tamuning. When that happens, I'll meticulously create your real estate purchase offer. The offer will be made to fit your needs and the home. We'll include several contingencies, such as getting financing, carrying out the inspection, and a clean title.

When submitting your offer, you'll want to present "earnest money." This is a cash deposit submitted to a seller to secure the offer to purchase the property and is usually applied to the closing costs. If the offer is accepted by the seller, we should close on the property about 30 to 60 days afterward. This allows sufficient time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate
Most contracts don't close on the initial offer – it's very common to receive a counter offer. But don't let this alarm you. We'll talk over whether or not to agree to the counter offer, submit our own counter offer, or decline the seller's offer and go on.

The state of the market determines how aggressively we negotiate the contract. In addition, we'll work within your financing budget. And at the end of the day, we'll assemble a deal that's best for you.

Step 7 – Obtain your loan
Once the deal is signed, you'll start working with your mortgage lender to close the loan. If you're pre-approved, this shouldn't take very long at all. However, you'll need to stay in close contact with your mortgage lender. And I'll handle all the property information your mortgage lender will need 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 loan application. The estimate depends on the loan amount. RESPA requirements mandate that it has to contain all closing costs and fall within a precise range of accuracy, and I'll study the estimate and let you know if everything looks permissible.

Then it's time to close on your house. This will likely take place at a title company or escrow office and will probably be a smooth and pleasant event.

Step 9 – Move in
Congratulations! It's time to move into your new home. Enjoy it. And if you have any questions, simply call me at (671) 647-5577 or e-mail me at .