Buy your dream home.
The Steps of the Home-Buying Process
1. Buyer Consultation
The first step in the home buying process is to determine your wants & needs as a new home buyer. Are you looking for a home with acreage, three bedrooms, a certain school district, close to town, etc?
A buyer consultation meeting is 100% free and can take place at my office, a coffee shop, or I can come to you at your current home. This initial meeting helps me to focus your search and determine what you want and need in a home.
During this initial consultation, I will answer any questions you have about the home buying process and I will help you get connected with a mortgage lender.
2. Find the Perfect Home & Write Your Offer
The second step in the home buying process is to start searching for homes. Yay! This is the fun part! At this point, you will have already received a pre-approval letter from a mortgage lender that tells you how much you can afford to spend on a house.
Next, I will send you up with a client portal that sends you a notification every time a house is listed that fits your description. This client portal contains inventory that is more up-to-date than Zillow or Realtor.com.
If you see a home that you like, then we will schedule an in-person showing. If you love the home and want to put in an offer, then I will put together all of the paperwork for you to sign.
3. Under Contract
First off, congratulations! You found a home you love and your offer was accepted!
Next, I will walk you through the under contract step of the home buying process. This is when you will put down an earnest money deposit, schedule property inspections (if you opt to have them), and make a full loan application with your lender.
During this step, your mortgage lender will order an appraisal to make sure that the sale price aligns with the condition of the home and the market prices. A lot happens during this step, but I will be there with you through the whole process.
4. Closing Day
This is the day that you’ve been waiting for!
On closing day, we will do a final walk-through of the home to make sure it is in the same condition as when you first saw it.
Then, we will go to a settlement company to sign all of the paperwork. You may have heard rumors of the massive stack of papers you have to sign to buy a house…. well, don’t worry, most closings are completed within 30-45 minutes, sometimes even less!
After signing all of the papers, the home is yours, you get the keys, and you can move in!
FAQs
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Downpayment amounts vary based on the type of loan you are approved for. FHA loans require 3.5% down, conventional loans require a minimum of 3% down, while USDA and VA loans require 0% down. I recommend consulting with a mortgage professional to determine which loan is best for you.
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I have good news for you! Buyer’s do not pay ANY real estate agent commissions. In the typical real estate transaction, the seller is responsible for paying for all real estate agent commissions for both the listing and buying side. That means that as a buyer, you can have an agent looking out for your best interest at no cost to you.
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Yes! I highly recommend contacting a lender and getting pre-approved for a mortgage BEFORE you start looking at homes. It is important to know how much you are approved to spend on a home purchase before you start your home search that way you do not waste time looking at homes that you cannot afford. If you need more lender recommendations, click here to view a list of lenders that I trust.
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Closing costs differ from property to property, but it is safe to say that it will cost you between 3-6% of the sale price of the house. Closing costs include property tax prorations, appraisal fees, inspection fees, lender fees, and transaction fees. If you are running low on funds, rest assured because you can always ask the seller for closing cost assistance and there are also government programs to help qualifying buyers save money on closing costs. However, keep in mind that sellers may opt to take an offer that requires no seller’s assistance, so if you can afford to pay your own closing costs the more likely your offer will have a chance at being chosen.
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I am licensed in the state of PA, so I am allowed to sell real estate anywhere in the state of PA! I most frequently represent clients in Shippensburg, Chambersburg, Newville, Carlisle, Waynesboro, Greencastle, and the surrounding areas of Central PA.
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Once you find a home that you love and your offer is accepted, it typically takes 4-6 weeks in order to close on the house.
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I recommend renting if you are only planning on living in the area for 2 years or less. If you plan on staying in Central PA for over 2 years, it is financially wise to purchase a home. Oftentimes, mortgage payments are the same as rent payments or even cheaper! Owning a home does come with the responsibility of maintenance, but owning provides you an opportunity to build equity in a solid investment for the future and you get to feel the pride of being a homeowner which is incredibly rewarding!
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Purchasing a home is a big process! My role as your Realtor is to handle everything from start to finish including showings, offer writing, negotiations, inspections, and more. It is important to have a real estate professional represent you and look out for your best interests during the sale.
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Absolutely! I can show you any house that is listed for sale regardless of who the listing agent is. It is important to understand that the Realtor who has the house listed works for the seller. It is best to work with your own agent so that you have someone looking out for your best interests as the buyer.