How to buy a house in 10 steps
H
1. Hire a real estate agent. Finding a good real estate
nothing, but will save you so much time—and you’ll have a
pro’s know-how throughout the process. Agents have access
glance at what’s for sale in the neighborhood you want at the
price you can afford.
2. Shop for a mortgage. Compare mortgage rates online,
and look at the types of mortgages available—convention-
-
house that’s right for you.
Get mortgage pre-approval. You may have heard of
much you might be able to borrow. Pre-approval is the next
step—a commitment from a lender for the amount that you
can borrow. Pre-approval makes you a stronger home buying
candidate—one who’s ready to close a deal quickly, which
sellers love.
3. Make a list of needs and wants. Make two lists: one
of must-haves and one of nice-to-have items like the Olympic
sized swimming pool you dreamed about as a kid.
On the must-haves include location—near work, in your
favorite neighborhood, by good schools, etc.—as well as
number of bedrooms and bathrooms, and whatever else you
absolutely can’t (or won’t) live without. Your real estate agent
based on homes in your market.
4. Browse online house listings. Take out that handy list
of needs and wants and start looking around at what’s avail-
explore. For example, if you want your kids to go to a particular
school, the school search feature allows you to search for
5. Go to house viewings. Once you start seeing homes
you like, call your agent and ask them to start scheduling
viewings. And another, and another. Visit as many homes
and open houses as you can. The more comparing and contrasting
you can do, the more knowledge you have about the
market and your options. Ask your agent for advice about
6. Make an offer and negotiate. Once you’re ready to
start home buying, it’s offer time. Here’s where you’ll thank
yourself for working with a real estate agent. They’ll help
you determine the right offer to make for a particular house,
including things that go beyond the dollar amount. For instance,
offering an accelerated closing date or to buy and
lease back to the buyer if they can’t move right away may
be a smart move in some situations. When you make an offer
on a house, the seller may accept it or counter-offer, and
then your agent will help you decide how and if to negotiate.
Once you arrive at a deal everyone likes, you’re considered
under contract to buy the house. Deposit Earnest Money into
Escrow (Title Company)
7. Hire a home inspector. Being under contract means
you can still back out if you learn anything unexpected about
potential surprises. It’ll cost around $300 to $500 for your
home inspection, but it’s well worth saving you from buying
a house with a major problem. Your agent can often help you
8. Get your loan approved. Remember back when you
got pre-approved? Pat yourself on the back. Now you just
know you’ve found a house. The lender will order an apprais-
approved.
9. Wait for the appraisal. One of the ways your lender
makes sure you and your house are a good bet is with a home
appraisal. This is when someone does a professional evaluation
of how much your home is worth. If the appraisal ends
up higher than your offer, go celebrate. If it’s not, you may
either have to make a larger down payment, get a second
opinion, or renegotiate the price. Or you may decide to walk
away from the deal.
10. Close on your house. This is the day you get your
do. You’ll set an appointment for closing on your house, and
you’ll need to bring your driver’s license, a cashier’s check
for your down payment and closing costs (which range from
2 to 5 percent of the home’s purchase price) — and a lot of
patience. You will sign and initial dozens of papers. But at the
end of this meeting, you will be a homeowner. You can take
your keys and go home.
Now that you know how to buy a house, are you ready to
take off into your home buying journey?
Amanda Herrington
REALTOR- Keller Williams Realty
(727) 514-6803 AmandaSellsFL@kw.com
Your Neighborhood Realtor
As a seasoned real estate professional, I understand that buying or selling a home is
more than just a transaction: it’s a life-changing experience. That’s why I am dedicated
to providing exceptional, personalized service for all of my clients. I take great
pride in the relationships I build and always work relentlessly on the client’s behalf to
pledge to be in constant communication with my clients, keeping them fully informed
throughout the entire buying or selling process. I believe that if you’re not left with an
amazing experience, I haven’t done my job. I don’t measure success through achievements
or awards but through the satisfaction of my clients.
AMANDA HERRINGTON
727.514.6803
AmandaSells.com
FOR SALE
*EACH OFFICE IS INDEPENDENTLY
OWNED AND OPERATED*
813.682.9364 MAY/JUNE 2019 • 35
/AmandaSells.com
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