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From Curious to Confident: First-Time Buyer Roadmap
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Frequently Asked Questions
Call your buyer’s agent: the agent you are working with to find your home. It’s best that you
work with one real estate agent throughout your search because that person learns what you
like and dislike and will invest a lot of time vetting properties for you. That person also
represents your best interests only. When you call the agent advertising the home, you are
dealing with the seller’s agent, so, while they can assist you, you can't guarantee that they are
only trying to get the best price for the seller.
When you find the property you want to make an offer on, I will run a Comparative Market
Analysis (CMA) to help you determine a fair offer amount. I will also guide you through the
additional terms of the contract, such as the escrow amount, closing date, and any additional
terms you want to be added to the offer. I will write the offer on a contract form and submit it
to the seller’s agent.
You always have the right to back out of the purchase, but you may lose your escrow deposit.
If thecontract is contingent on a property inspection, you usually have the right to cancel for
any reason during the inspection period. Once the inspection period has passed, you cannot
back out and keep your deposit unless the seller agrees, or an additional term has not been
met.
If a seller receives multiple offers on their home, usually their agent will inform the buyer’s
thatmultiple offers have been received and the buyers have another opportunity to alter their
original offer to present their “highest and best” offer. Keep in mind that many factors may
influence the seller in addition to the offer price, such as the down payment amount, closing
date, and inspection terms.
The escrow money, escrow deposit, or good faith deposit is money that is offered with an
offer, or as soon as an offer is accepted, to show the seller that you are serious about moving
forward with the purchase of the home. Because you forfeit this deposit if you back out of the
purchase for any reason not allowed for in the contract, the larger the escrow deposit, the
more seriously your offer is taken.
The cost of the home inspection depends on the size of the house and additional inspections
requested, such as swimming pool, septic tank, termites, insurance four-point (HVAC, plumbing,
roof, and electrical,) wind mitigation, and radon. An average home inspection, without
additional inspections, is about $300.
If you have gone through the pre-approval process and have been forthcoming with all the
information requested by your lender, it’s unlikely you will be turned down, but it does happen.
Make sure you do not change jobs, purchase big-ticket items on credit, take out a car or boat
loan, or open any other new credit accounts while your mortgage is being processed. If your
loan does fall through, talk with your lender about changing to a different loan type.
When you have the keys! When you are financing your purchase, it takes four to six weeks for
your loan to be processed. Once the lender gives the all-clear, closing is scheduled. You will
sign your loan documents and both parties will sign documents transferring ownership to you.
Unless other arrangements have been agreed upon by both parties, the sellers should have
completely vacated the home when they sign the closing papers. You can have your belongings
ready to move, and a moving company scheduled before you go to closing. At closing, you will
receive the documentation you need to provide utility companies with proof of your new
residence.
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