Buying Your Home with Johnson & Wilson Real Estate Co.
Mark Twain once said, "Buy land; they're not making it anymore!" We completely agree with Mr. Twain's sentiment on buying a home and decided it would be nice to provide a road map on just how to get there. Here are seven steps that will make buying your home with Johnson & Wilson Real Estate Co. a breeze.
1. Buyer consultation with a Johnson & Wilson Real Estate Co. agent.
Give us a call to schedule a consultation with a Johnson & Wilson Realtor. This orientation meeting is designed to give you the knowledge and confidence to tackle buying comfortably with no surprises. When you meet with a Johnson & Wilson Real Estate Co. Realtor, you will work together to identify your goals, and the buying process will be thoroughly explained. In the meantime, set up a custom home search through our home finder under Search the MLS.
2. Obtain lender pre-approval.
Pre-approval for a home loan is obtained through a mortgage lender and involves an application process. If you are not already working with a mortgage lender, your Johnson & Wilson Real Estate Co. Realtor can provide you with a list of lenders who can help you. Lenders have made loan applications very easy to complete. In most cases you’ll have the choice of applying online, over the phone, or in person. Lenders will base your loan amount on your income, credit rating, debt load, money for down payment, etc. Once you’ve been pre-approved, your lender will issue you a pre-approval letter, letting sellers know that you are a qualified buyer.
3. Begin your home search, find your home, and make an offer.
Based on the criteria and goals identified during your buyer consultation, you and your Johnson & Wilson Real Estate Co. Realtor will set out to find the ideal property for you and ultimately present an offer to the seller. Offers are typically based on a comparative market analysis of similar homes in the area.
4. Plan for a few expenses before the closing.
When you submit an offer to purchase a home, you also submit an earnest money check. Once your offer is accepted and you move from contract to closing, there are a few expenses that you should be prepared to cover: a home inspection, appraisal, down payment, and closing costs. These expenses vary depending upon the purchase price of the home.
5. Schedule the home inspection.
Once your offer has been accepted, it is important to have the property inspected by a professional. The property inspector will provide you with a detailed report explaining the condition of the property. It may be necessary to conduct further negotiations after the inspection.
6. Obtain homeowners insurance and schedule utilities to be turned on.
As you move forward from contract to close, your Johnson & Wilson Real Estate Co. Realtor, lender, and the closing attorney office will be coordinating all remaining documents needed before closing. During this time you will obtain the appropriate insurance for your soon-to-be new home. There are several types of insurance and warranties that accompany the purchase of most homes. These are title insurance, homeowners insurance, and home warranties. As the closing date draws near, utilities such as electricity, gas, phone, internet, and cable need to be scheduled.
7. Attend the closing, get the keys, and move in!
The closing is typically held at the attorney’s office and normally takes less than an hour to complete. The closing attorney and your Johnson & Wilson Real Estate Co. agent will walk you through the settlement statement and other documents that require signatures. You will need to bring an official form of identification (driver’s license or passport), and the necessary cashiers’ check or money order. Once all funds have been received and processed, the home is yours.
