Buying a home is a big step! Whether you're buying your first home, your dream home, or your tenth investment property, yours will be a big investment. I know how important this is to you, and we have an army of experts to make sure we find the perfect property for your unique circumstances. I know the market and love real estate, and we'll educate you throughout the buying experience. Here's an overview of what to expect.
"Ringo was very knowledgeable when we were looking for our third home. We wanted something with a view and he helped us find one overlooking SF Bay. He was responsive throughout the whole process and made it very easy."
1. Partner with an Agent
- Absorb their local insight
- Get to know neighborhood inventory
- See what’s about to hit the market
- Review market averages
- Complete needs assessment
2. Get Pre-Approved for a Loan
- Understand what you can afford
- Determine your monthly mortgage payment
- Understand your debt ratio
- Prepare for escrow
- Obtain a pre-approval letter
3. Find Your New Home
- Compare home and neighborhood averages and focus your search
- Favorite homes and save them to collections
- Exclude homes that don’t fit
- Schedule home tours and plan an itinerary with your agent
- Decide on your dream home
4. Make Your Offer and Negotiate Terms
- Review contract terms and time limit for offer
- Negotiate purchase price
- Choose a title company
- Shop home insurance options
- Prepare for down payment, earnest money
- Choose a target closing date
- Sign the offer
- Deliver escrow check
- Stay in close contact with your agent
5. Under Contract
- Secure a home loan
- Acquire home insurance
- Request a list of what conveys with the property
- Schedule home inspections and negotiate repairs
- Order an appraisal
- Acquire a property disclosure from seller
- Neutralize any contingencies
- Conduct a title search
- Choose your title company
- Schedule your closing
- Solidify both contract effective date and allowable move-in dates
- Certify funds for closing
- Stay in close contact with your agent, lender, and title company
6. Before You close
- Transfer funds for closing
- Reserve a moving company and set a moving date
- Change your address through USPS, your bank, etc
- Set up your utilities to be activated or transferred
- Confirm that all contingencies are resolved
- Schedule the final property walk-through
- Designate a safe, dedicated space to save your final paperwork
- Stay in close contact with your agent, lender, and title company
7. Closing Day: What to Bring
- Connect with your lender to wire payment funds with proof of payment (cost of closing and down payment)
- Government-issued photo ID(s)
- Social Security numbers
- Home Addresses from the last 10 years
- Proof of homeowner’s insurance
- Your copy of the contract
- Your checkbook
8. Closing Day
- Sign closing disclosures, promissory note, and all other documentation
- Title transfer
- Deed delivery
- Save your paperwork in your pre-designated spot
- Get your keys!