Congratulations! Your decision to choose Denton Real Estate to help you purchase your new property is a great start to fulfilling your dream. And after just a few more steps, you’ll be well on the way to making that dream come true.
define your needs
First, determine the reason you are looking for a new property (i.e. new home, investment opportunity, etc.)
Second, establish a workable time frame for buying your property. By working with one of our qualified agents, you will be able to better determine how quickly you well need to and be able to acquire your home.
Finally, develop a mental picture of what you want your home to look like. Think of any extras that you want and features that are “must haves” for your new property. In an ideal world your property will have everything on both lists, but by having lists of your wants and needs, we will be able to find a property that will best suit you.
mortgage pre-qualification / pre-approval
Now that you have your list of desired features for your new property, you need to determine what price range to look. There are two ways to go about this: mortgage pre-qualification or mortgage pre-approval.
What’s the difference between pre-qualification and pre-approval?
Pre-qualification is a simple process that takes into account very basic information regarding your financial status and gives you an estimated amount for which you may qualify.
Pre-approval, on the other hand, is a much more involved process that lets you know exactly what you can spend (depending on which loan you decide to go with). Ultimately, you will be much better equipped when it comes time to looking for property because the seller will be assured that there should be no unexpected obstacles when it comes to buying the home. Being preapproved is much more attractive to a potential seller than being prequalified.
investment area information
After determining the amount you can spend, find the area you where you want to live. Remember, you aren’t just buying a property; you’re buying the area it’s in. Consider things like the property’s vicinity to your job, the neighborhood’s amenities, and demographics of the surrounding area.
Your real estate agent can help you consolidate all the information from your lists and help you narrow down your search to more specific areas.
search for properties
This is where the real fun begins! It’s time to find your property. But there are a few ways you can find your future property.
The first option is for you to locate homes on your own. You can find these properties by searching through local publications like newspapers, going online to www.realtor.com, or driving around a particular area looking for “for sale” signs. This process however can be very time consuming and is a “hit or miss” option.
The most efficient way to find your property is to allow your Denton Real Estate agent to do the leg work for you. When we find an area that we think meets your needs and wants, we will arrange for you to tour the property at your convenience.
make an offer
Now that you and your real estate agent have found the property you want to purchase, it’s time to make an offer. This is where the experience of a seasoned real estate agent is invaluable. Denton Real Estate will consult with you and advise you on how to create an offer that will have the best chance of being accepted.
We will work hard to create a contract that protects the interests of all involved parties. Remember, though, as our client, your needs come first for us. We make sure to include any necessary contingencies in order to protect you in the event that particular requirements were not met. It may be too late to make any changes once the seller accepts the offer.
The contract, though not limited to the following list, should include:
- A legal description of the property
- The offering price
- The down payment amount
- Financing arrangements
- A list of fees and who will pay them
- The deposit amount
- Inspection rights and possible repair allowances
- The method of conveying the title and who will handle the closing
- A list of appliances and furnishings that will stay with the property
- The settlement date
- Any relevant contingencies
Remember, the legalities of this phase are very important. If you have any questions or concerns, address them right away.
negotiate the offer
Once you make an offer, you may need to negotiate. Keep in mind that almost everything is negotiable when you are buying a property. To get the best out of the negotiation process, use your real estate agent’s expertise to get the best possible deal.
Some of the things that you may have to negotiate are:
- The final price
- Financing options
- Closing costs
- Repairs that need to be done
- Appliances and fixtures
- Landscaping
- Painting
- Occupancy time frame
The key to successful negotiating is making sure the buyer and seller are happy. At Denton Real Estate, we make every effort to ensure that both parties are happy with the final sale.
find a vendor
After your offer has been accepted, Denton Real Estate will assist you in setting up all necessary vendors to make the property move-in ready. Some of the key vendors that are included in any real estate deal are property inspectors, appraisers, surveyors, and maintenance staff. During this process, we will supervise the coordination of all necessary vendors (i.e. inspectors, surveyors, maintenance staff, etc.) and serve as your advocate when working with each vendor. We will make sure that the vendors have access to the property and we will oversee the execution of any procedures performed so you can close on your property as soon as possible.
Property owner insurance is another important item that will need to be taken care of at this point. Unless you have insurance coverage on the property, the closing can not proceed.
pre-closing preparation
As your closing date draws near, Denton Real Estate will contact the escrow company or closing attorney and your lender to make sure that all the necessary documents are being prepared and that they are complete, accurate, and delivered in a timely manner. We will also provide you with a HUD-1 statement, which itemizes the expenses that will be paid by each party at closing.
By ensuring that each closing document is ready and available, we will help you to have a quick, easy closing.
closing on a home
“Closing” refers to the formal meeting where ownership of the property is legally transferred to the buyer. Your closing officer coordinates the document signing and the collection and disbursement of any funds. Your Denton Real Estate real estate agent will be present at your closing to read the documents on your behalf, answer any final questions you may have, and help resolve any last minute or unexpected details that may come up.
post-close activity
Congratulations on the purchase of your new home! Now that you have taken ownership of the property you will need to have your local services such as electricity, water, cable, and phone set up. Denton Real Estate already knows who the local vendors are for such services and we will be more than happy to provide you with a list of contacts.