Purchasing a new home in Dunedin

Purchasing a home is intimidating for many people, but it isn't that confusing with some up-front planning. I like to provide buyers with an overview of the whole deal so they understand exactly what to expect. Here are my nine steps to purchasing a home. When you're ready to get started, just contact me here or e-mail me at . I'm happy to address questions you have about this information.

Step 1 – Get ready to buy
There are plenty of things you'll want to do before beginning your home search. When you start your search, you'll probably want to make a list of features you need, plan for what neighborhoods you'd like to live in, and begin planning around your budget. Ensuring your mortgage payment is less than or close to a third of your monthly income is a good guideline to follow.

Step 2 – Speak with a real estate agent in Dunedin
This is where I can help. I'd love to book a time to meet with you and speak with you regarding why you want to buy a home and get an idea of your plans for the future. We'll discuss neighborhoods, school districts in the Dunedin area, the mortgage industry, and any additional economic factors that might 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 Dunedin , and I work with a lot of them, so you're in great hands. They will assist you in figuring out which type of loan is best for you and help you get qualified.

Step 3 – Start looking
After our first meeting, I'll start finding available homes on the market that are great for you. I'll preview most of the homes and eliminate the duds, and then we'll book appointments to tour the homes whenever it's convenient for you.

When we view homes, I'll show you the good features, as well as bad ones. And I'll ask you to talk about things you like and dislike. It's common for buyers to change their must-have list as we view homes and some items become far more essential than others. If that happens, I'll search all the listings once again and narrow it down to the home of your dreams.

Step 4 – Understand the market
Your agent's knowledge of the Dunedin housing market is a necessary component in your home search. And I can assure you I'm familiar with all the neighborhoods and school districts, and I can alert you to certain areas are "hot" and require prompt action and the ones that are "cold" and allow for thoughtful examination.

As we view houses, I'll make sure to communicate if the list price has room for negotiation or if I believe the house is "priced to sell." When working with an agent, be careful and be sure to ask lots of questions. Any real estate agent in Dunedin will tell you they comprehend the housing market. If things don't add up, call me at (727) 455-5510 or e-mail me at , and I'll be happy to answer any questions you may have. My knowledge of the market will help you stay a step above the rest through the entire deal.

Step 5 – Find the home of your dreams
I'm certain we'll find your dream home in the Dunedin area. When we do, I'll precisely develop your purchase offer. The offer will be tailored with your needs in mind and the home, including many contingencies. A few examples are acquiring financing, completing the inspection, and a clean title.

Upon submitting your purchase offer, most likely you'll need to submit "earnest money." This is a cash deposit submitted to a home seller to secure an offer to buy the property, and it's usually put towards the cost of closing. If your offer is accepted, we should close within 30 to 60 days afterward. This allows sufficient time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate
Most contracts don't close on the first offer. It's pretty common to receive a counter offer. Don't let it discourage you. We'll talk about whether or not to agree to the counter offer, submit our own counter offer, or refuse the seller's offer and move on.

The state of the market will play a vital role in how aggressively we negotiate the contract. In addition, we'll work within your financing limits. And at the end of the day, we'll formulate a deal that works well for you.

Step 7 – Obtain your loan
Upon completion of the contract, you'll start working with your lender to close the loan. If you've been pre-qualified, this shouldn't take long at all, but you'll need 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 Loan Estimate (LE) of closing costs from your lender within three days of taking your application. This estimate depends on the loan amount. RESPA requirements order that it has to involve all closing costs and be within a strict range of accuracy, and I'll examine the estimate and let you know if everything looks okay.

Then we'll close on your house. This should happen at a title company or escrow office and should be a smooth and pleasant affair.

Step 9 – Move in
Congratulations! It's time to move into your new house. Enjoy it. And if you need anything, simply contact me at (727) 455-5510 or e-mail me at .