Buying a new home in DuBois with Stoltz Realty Associates

Purchasing a home can be stressful for a lot of people. However, with a bit of up-front planning, it's not all that confusing. I like to provide buyers with a road map of the entire deal so they'll understand exactly what to expect. Below are my nine steps to buying a home.

Step 1 – Get ready to purchase
There are plenty of things you need to consider before you search for a home. When you begin your search, you'll want to create an index of features you want to have, get a feel for what neighborhoods and school districts you want to live in, and start working on your budget. Ensuring your mortgage payment is less than or close to 1/3 of your net monthly income is a good guideline to follow.

Step 2 – Contact a real estate agent in DuBois
That's where I can help. I'd be more than happy to book a time to get together with you and talk about why you want to buy a home and get an idea of your plans for the future. We'll talk about everything from neighborhoods, school districts in the DuBois area, the mortgage and housing industries, to any other economic factors that could affect your purchase today or in the future.

I can also help you start the loan process. I partner with some of DuBois's best mortgage professionals, so you'll be in great hands. They'll assist you with choosing which type of loan is best for you and help you get qualified.

Step 3 – Start looking for a home
After our first meeting, I'll begin looking for homes on the market that are a good fit for you. I'll get a sneak peek of many of the homes and ignore the duds, and then we'll schedule appointments to tour the houses when it's most convenient for you.

As we tour the houses, I'll call attention to good features, as well as negative ones. I'll also ask you to talk about things you like and don't like. Generally, buyers change their wish list as we tour homes and some things become far more crucial than others. If such is the case, I'll search all the listings once more and narrow it down to the home you've been dreaming about.

Step 4 – Understand the housing market
My understanding of the DuBois housing market is a necessary resource in your house search. I'm informed of all the school districts and neighborhoods, and I can alert you to some districts are "hot" and require prompt action and the rest that are "cold" and allow for more analysis.

When we tour houses, I'll be sure to tell you if the seller's asking price has room for negotiation or if I believe the home is "priced to sell." Be on guard and make sure you ask your agent lots of questions, as every REALTOR^® will claim to comprehend the housing market. If things don't add up, contact me at (814) 371-2100 or e-mail me at runstoltz@yahoo.com, and I'd be happy to answer any questions you have. My market expertise will help you stay a step ahead through the entire process.

Step 5 – Find the house you've been looking for
I'm sure we'll find your dream house in DuBois. When that happens, I'll precisely create your purchase offer. The offer will be tailored with your needs in mind, including many contingencies. A few examples are obtaining financing, completing the home inspection, and a clear title.

When sending in your purchase offer, you'll want to present "earnest money." This is a cash deposit given to the seller to secure an offer to purchase the property and is typically applied to the closing costs. If the offer is accepted, we should close on the home about 30 to 60 days after. This allows sufficient time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate the deal
Unfortunately most contracts aren't closed on the beginning offer, and it's widely common to receive a counter offer. Don't let it intimidate you. We'll discuss whether or not to take the counter offer, present our own counter offer, or refuse the seller's offer and go on.

How aggressively we negotiate the contract depends on the state of the market. In addition, we'll work within your financing budget. And when it's all said and done, we'll assemble a deal that's best for you.

Step 7 – Obtain a loan
After we sign the final deal, you'll begin working with your lender to close the loan. This won't take much time at all if you've been pre-approved, but you need to stay in close contact with your mortgage lender. And I'll take care of all the property information your lender will need to close the loan.>

Step 8 – Close the deal
You'll get a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) of closing costs from your lender within three days of taking your loan application. This estimate is based on the loan amount, and RESPA requirements order that it has to contain all closing costs and be within a close range of accuracy. I'll examine the estimate and let you know if everything looks okay.

Then it's time to close on your home. This should happen at a title company or escrow office and will probably be a smooth and relaxing occasion.

Step 9 – Move in
You made it! Now you can move into your new house. Enjoy it. And if you have any questions, just call me at (814) 371-2100 or send me an e-mail.