Home Buyers Guide
Starting to Look:
The first step is to find the right area, whether it’s on the Big Lake or somewhere nearby. Once you’ve found the general area you’d like to be in, we’ll narrow down communities based on your needs, their unique rules, and available amenities.
As we do this, you’ll want to get preapproval from a local lender to ensure we’re targeting homes that fit your budget.
Factors you should consider to help find the perfect home include: number of bedrooms, bathrooms, garages, basement or no basement, type of heating, AC or no AC, fireplace, outdoor spaces, and more.
Once we’ve found your home:
- Decide what you are willing to spend on this house. We will look for other homes that have recently sold, are under contract, or are currently available in the area to ensure you are getting a fair price. An appraisal will also protect you from overpaying.
- Approval from a local lender often makes your offer seem stronger to a seller and their agent.
- Decide what contingencies you would like to include in your offer, such as a mortgage contingency, appraisal contingency, inspections, surveys, closing date, initial deposit, and furniture to stay/go. I’ll be happy to help you with this, as there are many things to consider when placing an offer.
- Once you and the seller agree on a purchase price and contingencies, I recommend contacting a local inspector to evaluate the home as soon as possible.
- At the same time, contact a local title company. They will ensure the title is free of liens and will schedule your closing when the time comes.
- Additionally, this is when you will want to get your mortgage application started with your bank or lending institution to ensure everything can be done in time.
- If you are getting a mortgage, you will typically want your approval a week in advance of closing. This is usually spelled out in your agreement of sale along with other timelines for inspections and appraisals. This will also ensure you have enough time to review your documents, such as your closing disclosure, which has all the important numbers broken down for you. You will want some time to get the final bank check to bring to closing.
- It’s finally closing day! Remember to bring your driver’s license and any funds needed to close (indicated by your title company ahead of time).
- Closings usually take between 15–45 minutes. Once the papers are signed, the keys to the house are yours and you can start enjoying it!
Important Note:
There are many steps and people involved in buying a house. You want to ensure the companies you choose to have your best interests in mind, including adhering to your closing date. You will want to have some accounts set up to switch the day after your closing date, such as new electric service, homeowner’s insurance, water service, propane, etc. Some companies will not let you switch until after the house has closed.
The sellers are typically responsible for having everything in the house up and running on the day of closing, but you should communicate with them ahead of time to make sure everything goes smoothly at your final walkthrough.