Rick Steinkuehler.com =-= 6 Easy Steps to buying a home!

Six Easy Steps to Buying a Home!

Step 1 Get Your Finances in Order

Your credit reports are an ongoing look at how you manage your finances. You must know exactly what your credit reports say about your financial history before you apply for a mortgage. Why? Because the reports play an important role in the mortgage approval process and in determining the interest rate and other loan terms that a lender offers you.

If you haven't looked at your credit reports, you might be surprised at their contents, because errors are common.

Step 2 Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage

Do you know how much house you can afford? Probably not, unless you've talked with a lender. And pre-approval helps you in other ways.

Consider this scenario. A home seller gets two similar offers. One is accompanied by a letter from the buyer's bank that states she is pre-approved for a mortgage in the amount of the offer. The other has no supporting documents. Which offer do you think the seller will consider first?

Step 3 Start Searching for a Home

Your agent will give you multiple listing sheets to study. I'm sure you'll also pick up House For Sale magazines and read classified ads in your local newspapers. You'll probably spend time surfing the Internet for homes. You might even plan afternoon drives to preview neighborhoods. Those are all excellent ways to see what's available.

Step 4 Make an Offer

There's no one set of instructions that can cover all the differences in real estate laws and customs that exist throughout the United States, so the mechanics of making an offer and its specific contingencies depend greatly on your location. However, I can offer you some home buying tips that can help you fine-tune your offer, no matter where you live. Contact me today for more information!

Step 5 Home Inspections and Other Tests

In some states, home inspections are accomplished before the final offer to purchase. In other states, inspections take place after an offer is finalized. No matter when you do them, it's critical to decide which inspections and tests you want to perform.

Talk with your real estate agent or other advisor to find out when inspections should be handled and if additional types of testing are important for your specific area.

Step 6 You're on the Way to Closing

Most of your home buying problems are behind you now and you're on your way to closing, also called settlement, the event that transfers ownership of the property to you. Just a few more things to learn, a few more things to do, and you're there! We can help make this a pleasant, seemless process! Contact us today!

Closing Thoughts

The steps outlined here are a general home buying guide. You will encounter issues specific to your location and your transaction, issues that can best be explained and handled by my team, your lender, your attorney or others who are helping you complete the home buying transaction.

Never hesitate to ask questions. Ask as many questions as necessary to help you understand the entire home buying process. You are making a long term commitment and spending a major amount of money--you'll feel much better about the transaction if you stay informed and understand what's happening every step along the way.




	Six Easy Steps to Buying a Home! Step 1 Get Your Finances in Order Your credit reports are an ongoing look at how you manage your finances. You must know exactly what your credit reports say about your financial history before you apply for a mortgage. Why? Because the reports play an important role in the mortgage approval process and in determining the interest rate and other loan terms that a lender offers you. If you haven't looked at your credit reports, you might be surprised at their contents, because errors are common. Step 2 Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage Do you know how much house you can afford? Probably not, unless you've talked with a lender. And pre-approval helps you in other ways. Consider this scenario. A home seller gets two similar offers. One is accompanied by a letter from the buyer's bank that states she is pre-approved for a mortgage in the amount of the offer. The other has no supporting documents. Which offer do you think the seller will consider first? Step 3 Start Searching for a Home Your agent will give you multiple listing sheets to study. I'm sure you'll also pick up House For Sale magazines and read classified ads in your local newspapers. You'll probably spend time surfing the Internet for homes. You might even plan afternoon drives to preview neighborhoods. Those are all excellent ways to see what's available. Step 4 Make an Offer There's no one set of instructions that can cover all the differences in real estate laws and customs that exist throughout the United States, so the mechanics of making an offer and its specific contingencies depend greatly on your location. However, I can offer you some home buying tips that can help you fine-tune your offer, no matter where you live. Contact me today for more information! Step 5 Home Inspections and Other Tests In some states, home inspections are accomplished before the final offer to purchase. In other states, inspections take place after an offer is finalized. No matter when you do them, it's critical to decide which inspections and tests you want to perform. Talk with your real estate agent or other advisor to find out when inspections should be handled and if additional types of testing are important for your specific area. Step 6 You're on the Way to Closing Most of your home buying problems are behind you now and you're on your way to closing, also called settlement, the event that transfers ownership of the property to you. Just a few more things to learn, a few more things to do, and you're there! We can help make this a pleasant, seemless process! Contact us today! Closing Thoughts The steps outlined here are a general home buying guide. You will encounter issues specific to your location and your transaction, issues that can best be explained and handled by my team, your lender, your attorney or others who are helping you complete the home buying transaction. Never hesitate to ask questions. Ask as many questions as necessary to help you understand the entire home buying process. You are making a long term commitment and spending a major amount of money--you'll feel much better about the transaction if you stay informed and understand what's happening every step along the way.
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