Determine your buying power
 

• Examine your financial reserves

• Calculate your borrowing capacity

• Identify suitable lenders

• If you give me basic information about your available savings, income and current debt, I can refer you to lenders best qualified to help you.
   

Finding a home
 

• Once you know how much you have to invest, the next step is to find properties that best fit your needs.

• Sometimes the property you are seeking is available but not actively advertised in the market, and it will take some investigation to find all available properties.

• As a licensed real estate professional and member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, I posses the tools and knowledge to help find you the best home, at the best price, with the least amount of stress.
   

Selecting a home
 

• I can assist you in the selection process by providing objective information about each property.

• I have access to a variety of informational resources and can provide local community information on utilities, zoning. schools, etc.

• There are two things you will want to know.  First, will the property provide the environment I want for a home or investment?  Second, will the property have resale value when I am ready to sell?
   

Negotiating a deal - negotiating factors
 

• Price

• Financing

• Terms

• Date of possession

• The inclusion or exclusion of repairs and furnishings or equipment.

• The purchase agreement also provides a period of time for you to complete appropriate inspections and investigations of the property before you are bound to complete the purchase.  I can advise you as to which investigations and inspections are recommended or required.
   

Property inspection
 

• With a negotiated or "bilateral" agreement in hand, it is time to complete the property evaluation.  Depending on the area and property, this may include inspections for:

  -Termites
  -Mold
  -Dry rot
  -Asbestos
  -Faulty structure
  -Roof condition
  -Septic tank and well tests
  -Electrical and mechanical systems
   

• I can assist you in finding qualified professionals to do most of these investigations and provide you with written reports.

• You will also want to see a preliminary report on the title of the property.

• Title indicates ownership of property and can be mired in confusing status of past owners or rights of access.

• The title to most properties will have some limitations; for example, easements (access rights) for utilities.

• Your title company, or attorney can help you resolve issues that might cause problems at a later date.
   

Financing
 

• Once you have determined the property is right for you, the process of obtaining financing begins.

• I can help you to understand different financing options and to identify qualified lenders.

• Things needed at loan application:
  
  -Copy of Social Security and Driver's license
  -Two years residence history
  -Two years employment historyW-2 (two years)
  -Current pay stubs
  -Self employed - last two years tax returns
  -Last three months bank/investment statements
  -Purchase agreement
  -Realtor, title company and attorney's telephone number and address
  -Check for appraisal
   

Closing or Settlement
 

• Finally, there is the closing, or settlement.

• Every area has its own unique customs.

• In our area, the title company typically handles this process.

• In other parts of the country, an attorney does it all.

• I can guide you through this process and make sure everything flows together smoothly.