Buying a home in Puyallup with FirstPoint Real Estate

Purchasing a home is intimidating for most people, but with a bit of planning ahead of time, it's not very hard. So they'll know exactly what they can expect, I'll give buyers an outline of the entire deal. Below are my nine steps to buying a home. Should you have any questions about any of this information or if you're prepared to get started, just contact me here or e-mail me at .

Step 1 – Prepare to purchase a home
Before you begin searching for a home, there are plenty of things you need to consider. You'll want to form an index of features you need to have, get a feel for what neighborhoods you want to live in, and start planning your budget. A good principle to go by is that your mortgage payment should be close to a third of your monthly income.

Step 2 – Speak with a real estate agent in Puyallup
This is where FirstPoint Real Estate can help. I'd love to book a time to get together with you and talk about your real estate needs and get an idea of your upcoming plans. We'll talk about the mortgage and housing industries, other economic factors that might affect your purchase today or in the future, as well as neighborhoods and schools in the Puyallup area.

In addition, I'll assist you in getting started on your loan. There are some great mortgage professionals in Puyallup, and I work with a lot of them, so you'll be in great hands. They can help you determine which type of loan is best for you, as well as help you get approved.

Step 3 – Begin house-hunting
After we meet for the first time, I'll begin finding houses on the market that are good for you. I'll get a sneak peek of most of the homes and reject 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 show you the positive features and bad ones. I'll even ask you to tell us about things you like and dislike. Usually, buyers change their list of must-haves as we tour houses and some features become far more crucial than others. If that happens, I'll search all the listings once more and trim it down to the house you've been wishing for.

Step 4 – Comprehend the housing market
An agent's knowledge of the Puyallup market is a crucial component in your home search. And I assure you I'm informed of all the neighborhoods and schools, and I will alert you to some neighborhoods are "hot" and demand prompt action and others that are "cool" and allow for cautiousness.

As we tour homes, I'll let you know if the asking price has room for negotiation or if I believe the house is "priced to sell." Be mindful and be sure to ask plenty of questions, as any real estate agent in Puyallup will claim to truly understand the housing market. If things don't add up, contact me at 253.299.2088 or e-mail me at , and I'll be more than happy to answer any questions you have. My market knowledge will keep you a step above the rest through the entire process.

Step 5 – Find the home you've been waiting for
I know we'll find the home of your dreams in the Puyallup area. When that happens, I'll thoroughly develop your real estate purchase offer. The offer will be tailored with your needs in mind and the home, including a lot of contingencies. A few examples are acquiring financing, finishing the inspection, and a clear title.

Upon turning in your offer, you'll want to present "earnest money." This is a cash deposit made to a seller to secure an offer to buy the property. The amount is most often put towards the closing costs. If the offer is accepted, we should close on the property about 30 to 60 days afterward. This allows plenty of time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate
Most deals aren't closed on the initial offer. It's very common to receive a counter offer. But don't let it discourage you. We'll talk about whether or not to agree to the counter offer, present our own counter offer, or refuse the seller's offer and go on.

The state of the market will play a part in how aggressively we negotiate the deal. In addition, we'll work within your financing budget. And when it's all said and done, we'll formulate a deal that works well for you.

Step 7 – Secure your loan
Once we sign the final deal, 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, but you 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
Your mortgage lender will provide you with a Loan Estimate (LE) outlining closing costs within three days of taking your loan application. You'll get a Loan Estimate (LE) outlining your closing costs from your lender within three days of taking your application. The estimate depends on the loan amount, and RESPA requirements dictate that it has to involve all closing costs and be within a precise range of accuracy. I'll analyze the estimate and let you know if everything looks good.

Then we'll close on your house. This will probably occur at a title company or escrow office and will most often be a smooth and calm occasion.

Step 9 – Move in
Congratulations! Now you can move into your new home. Enjoy it. And if you need anything or have any questions, simply call me at 253.299.2088 or e-mail me at .