Are you buying a new home in Tamuning?

With some up-front planning, buying a home isn't very complicated, but the event intimidates many people. So they know exactly what to expect, I will supply buyers with an outline of the entire deal. These are my nine steps to buying a home. When you're ready to get started, you can contact me here or e-mail me at . I'm glad to answer questions you have about this information.

Step 1 – Get ready to purchase
There are many things you'll want to contemplate before commencing your home search. You'll want to make a list of features you need to have, get a feeling for what school districts you want to live in, and start working on your budget. Ensuring your mortgage payment is no more than 30 percent of your net monthly income is a good principle to follow.

Step 2 – Connect with a real estate agent in Tamuning
This is where Latte Stone Properties, LLC comes in. I'd be more than happy to arrange a time to get together with you and speak with you regarding your real estate needs 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 could affect your purchase today or in the future.

I'll also help you begin the loan process. I work with some of Tamuning's best mortgage professionals, so you'll be in great hands. They can assist you in deciding which type of loan is best for you and help you get approved.

Step 3 – Begin looking for a house
After our first meeting, I'll begin finding available homes on the market that suit your needs. I'll preview many of the houses and remove the bad ones, and then we'll schedule appointments to tour the homes whenever it's convenient for you.

When we tour houses, I'll point out good features, as well as bad ones. I'll even ask you what things you like and dislike. It's widely common for buyers to update their must-have list as we view houses and some things become more important than others. If that's the case, I'll go back through the listings another time and trim it down to the home you've been dreaming about.

Step 4 – Understand the housing market
Your agent's awareness of the Tamuning market is a necessary aspect in your house search. And I assure you I'm acquainted with all the school districts and neighborhoods, and I'll alert you to what 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 if the seller's asking price has room for negotiation or if I believe the home is "priced to sell." Trust your instincts and make sure you ask your agent a lot of questions, as any REALTOR will convince you they comprehend the housing market. If it seems like they don't know everything, just call me at (671) 647-5577 or e-mail me at , and I'd be more than happy to answer any questions you might have. My knowledge of the market will help you stay 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 house in Tamuning. When that happens, I'll meticulously develop your real estate purchase offer. The offer will be tailored to suit your needs and the home, including a lot of contingencies, such as acquiring financing, finishing the inspection, and a clean title.

Upon turning in your purchase offer, you'll likely need to submit "earnest money." This is a cash deposit submitted to a home seller to secure the offer to purchase the property and is most often put towards the cost of closing. If the seller accepts the offer, we should close on the property within 30 to 60 days after. This allows sufficient time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate
Unfortunately most contracts aren't closed on the beginning offer, and it's pretty common to receive a counter offer. But don't let it discourage you. We'll discuss whether or not to agree to the counter offer, submit our own counter offer, or decline the seller's offer and go on.

How aggressively we negotiate the deal depends on the state of the market. We'll also work within your financing limits. And when it's all said and done, we'll put together a contract that works well for you.

Step 7 – Get financing
Upon completion of the deal, you'll start working with your mortgage lender to close the loan. This shouldn't be a long process at all if you've been pre-approved, but you'll need to stay in close contact with your lender. And I'll deal with all the property information your lender will need to close the loan.

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

Then we'll close on your home. This will most likely happen at a title company or escrow office and will likely be a smooth and pleasant affair.

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