Buying a home in Puyallup with FirstPoint Real Estate

Buying a home is intimidating for many people, but with a little up-front planning, it isn't too confusing. So they'll understand exactly what to expect, I'll give buyers an outline of the whole deal. These 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 happy to address any questions you have regarding this information.

Step 1 – Prepare to purchase
There are a lot of things you need to take into account before beginning your home search. When you start your search, you'll want to form an outline of features you want, get a feeling for what school districts you'd like to live in, and begin planning your budget. Keeping your mortgage payment around a third of your monthly income is a good rule of thumb to go by.

Step 2 – Connect with a real estate agent in Puyallup
That's where I can help. I'd love to arrange a time to meet with you and communicate with you regarding your real estate needs and get an idea of your upcoming plans. We'll talk about everything from neighborhoods, schools in the Puyallup area, the mortgage industry, to any other economic factors that may affect your purchase today or in the future.

I'll also assist you with getting started on your loan. FirstPoint Real Estate works with some of the best mortgage professionals in Puyallup, so you can rest assured that you're in great hands. They will help you choose 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 searching for homes on the market that are good for you. I'll research most of the homes and ignore the bad ones, and then we'll schedule appointments to view the houses whenever it's most convenient for you.

As we view the houses, I'll call attention to good features and negative ones. I'll even ask you to point out what things you like and dislike. As a rule, buyers update their list of must-haves as we tour homes and some items become far more crucial than others. If that's the situation, I'll look through all the listings again and trim it down to the house of your dreams.

Step 4 – Get a grasp of the market
My understanding of the Puyallup housing market is an imperative agent in your home search. I'm mindful of all the neighborhoods and school districts, and I will let you know which neighborhoods are "hot" and call for immediate action and some that are "cool" and allow for careful examination.

When we view houses, I'll let you know if the seller's asking price has room for bargaining or if I believe the home is "priced to sell." When working with an agent, be careful and make sure you ask a lot of questions, as any real estate agent will claim to comprehend the home market. If things don't add up, just call me at 253.299.2088 or e-mail me at , and I'll be glad to answer any questions you may have. My understanding of the market will keep you a step above the rest through the entire deal.

Step 5 – Find the home you've been waiting for
We'll find the home of your dreams in Puyallup, and when that happens, I'll thoroughly develop your home purchase offer. The offer will be tailored to suit your needs and the home, including some contingencies. A few examples are acquiring financing, completing the inspection, and a clear title.

When we turn in your purchase offer, you'll want to submit "earnest money." This is a cash deposit made to a home seller to secure the offer to purchase the property and is typically put towards the cost of closing. If the offer is accepted by the seller, we should close on the property about 30 to 60 days afterward. This allows sufficient time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate
Unfortunately most deals don't close on the initial offer – it's very common to receive a counter offer. But don't let this intimidate you. We'll figure out whether or not to accept the counter offer, propose our own counter offer, or reject the seller's offer and move on.

How aggressively we negotiate the contract depends on market circumstances. In addition, we'll work within your financing budget. And at the end of the day, we'll create a deal that works well for you.

Step 7 – Get financing
Once the deal is signed, you'll start working with your mortgage lender to close the loan. It shouldn't be a long process at all if you've been pre-qualified, but you need to keep in close contact with your lender. And I'll sort out all the property information your mortgage lender will need to close the loan.

Step 8 – Close the deal
You'll get a Loan Estimate (LE) detailing closing costs from your lender within three days of accepting your loan application. The estimate is formed from 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 examine the estimate and let you know if everything looks okay.

Then we'll close on your home. This will probably happen at a title company or escrow office and is often a smooth and hassle-free occurrence.

Step 9 – Move in
Congratulations! It's time to move into your new house. Enjoy it. And if you need anything, make sure you call me at 253.299.2088 or e-mail me at .