Buying or selling a home?

For many people, purchasing a home is a stressful event. But with some up-front planning, it's not that complex. I like to provide buyers with an outline of the entire deal so they'll understand exactly what to expect. Here are my nine steps to buying a home. When you're ready to get started, simply contact me here or e-mail me at . I'm glad to address questions you have regarding this information.

Step 1 – Get ready to buy
There are a lot of things you should take into account before you start searching for a home. You'll want to assemble a checklist of items you need to have, get an idea of what neighborhoods and school districts you'd like to live in, and start planning around your budget. Ensuring your mortgage payment is less than or around a third of your monthly income is a good rule to follow.

Step 2 – Speak with a real estate agent
This is where FirstPoint Real Estate can help. I'd be happy to plan a time to meet with you and speak with you about why you want to buy a home and get an idea of your future plans. We'll talk about everything from neighborhoods, school districts in the Puyallup area, the mortgage industry, to any other economic factors that may potentially affect your purchase today or in the future.

I'll also help you start the loan process. I work with some of Puyallup's best mortgage professionals, so you can rest assured that you're in great hands. They'll assist you with choosing which type of loan is best for you and help you get approved.

Step 3 – Begin your search
After our initial meeting, I'll begin finding homes on the market that best suit you. I'll get a sneak peek of most of the homes and ignore the duds, and then we'll schedule appointments to tour the houses whenever it's convenient for you.

As we tour homes, I'll identify positive features, as well as negative ones. I'll also ask you to point out what things you like and dislike. It's pretty common for buyers to update their must-have list as we tour homes and some items become more important than others. If that's the situation, I'll go back through all the listings once again and narrow it down to the home you've been wishing for.

Step 4 – Comprehend the market
Your agent's awareness of the Puyallup housing market is a leading agent in your home search. And I assure you I'm acquainted with all the neighborhoods and school districts, and I'll communicate certain neighborhoods are "hot" and demand immediate action and others that are "cool" and allow for more analysis.

As we view homes, I'll make sure to communicate when the seller's list price has room for bargaining and also when I believe the house is "priced to sell." When working with an agent, be on guard and make sure you ask lots of questions, as every real estate agent will tell you they understand the home market. If things don't add up, contact me at 253.299.2088 or e-mail me at , and I'd be happy to answer any questions you have. My market expertise will help you stay a step ahead throughout the entire process.

Step 5 – Find your dream home
We'll find your dream home in Puyallup, and when we do, I'll thoroughly create your purchase offer. The offer will be tailored to suit your needs and the home, including some contingencies, such as acquiring financing, completing the home inspection, and a clean title.

Upon turning in your offer, you'll probably want to present "earnest money." This is a cash deposit made to the home seller to secure the offer to buy the property and is typically applied to the cost of closing. If the seller accepts your offer, we should close on the property within 30 to 60 days after. This allows sufficient time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate
Most deals aren't closed on the initial offer. It's really common to receive a counter offer. Don't let this discourage you. We'll talk about whether or not to take the counter offer, propose our own counter offer, or refuse the seller's offer and move on.

How aggressively we negotiate the contract depends on the state of the market. We'll also work within your financing limits. And at the end of the day, we'll formulate a deal that works well for you.

Step 7 – Secure your loan
Once we sign the final sales contract, you'll start working with your lender to close the loan. If you've been pre-approved, it shouldn't take long at all, but you'll need to stay in close contact with your lender. And I'll look after all the property information your lender will need to close the loan.

Step 8 – Close the deal
Your lender will supply you with a Loan Estimate (LE) detailing your closing costs within three days of accepting your application. You'll get a Loan Estimate (LE) detailing closing costs from your lender within three days of receiving your application. The estimate is based on the loan amount, and RESPA requirements mandate that it has to include all closing costs and fall within a precise range of accuracy. I'll review the estimate and let you know if it all looks permissible.

Then it's time to close on your house. This will most likely happen at a title company or escrow office and should be a smooth and comfortable 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, just contact me at 253.299.2088 or e-mail me at .