Process For Buyers

 

Home Buying Tips

Home buying is probably the biggest financial commitment you'll ever make. Buying a home is not just a dollars and cents investment; it's an investment in your life. It will create a sense of stability and identity for you and your family. Regardless of how times change, owning a home remains the cornerstone of the American dream.

To assist you in the process, DLG Real Estate has everything you need. So whether you're a first time home buyer or you’ve been down this road a couple of times before, let us help you through it all.

Rent or Buy? 

With every rent check you write, you're helping to build equity in your landlord's property. That money could be going toward building equity in a home of your own. Today's rates are low enough that your house payment could be lower than your rent payment!

How Much Can I Afford? 

A quick look at your finances and what mortgage payments you can afford, the benefits of equity, what tax advantages you have as a home owner, and getting pre-qualified and approved for your home loan.

Working With A REALTOR. 

Sure, you can do your home search by yourself. But why? With an experienced DLG Real Estate Agent at your side, finding the perfect home is easier, faster and a lot more fun. A good Realtor® can show you more suitable properties, offer valuable advice, and coach you through the entire home buying process. And you'll save time. Yet many buyers still spend endless hours pouring through classified ads, driving all over town, and viewing dozens of unsuitable properties - simply because they haven't connected with a Realtor®.

Some people think that if they have several agents looking for homes on their behalf, they'll find a house more quickly. Like most relationships, the buyer-agent relationship thrives on communication, loyalty and trust. By working exclusively with one agent, you'll improve both the process and the results.

Finding The Right REALTOR For You.

Chemistry is important. So are credentials. Above all, you'll want an experienced agent who has the resources of a real estate firm behind him or her-a firm such as DLG Real Estate.

Some helpful hints on finding and working with a Realtor®:

• Ask friends, family members, neighbors or co-workers for referrals.
• Trust your intuition.
• Share with your REALTOR as much as possible about your lifestyle, tastes, needs and dreams for your home.
• Focus your search on a few geographic areas.

Plus ask him or her some of the following questions:

How well do you know the area(s) that interest me?
A REALTOR who knows the area or neighborhood you are interested in is extremely beneficial to you.

How many other buyers and sellers do you currently represent?
You want a REALTOR who will give you personalized attention, answer your calls quickly and communicate with you often.

Time for nervous anticipation. You've found the home you want, and your DLG Real Estate Agent says you need to act fast. Yet you want to be as calm and objective as possible.

Negotiating The Buy.

The expertise a DLG Real Estate Agent can give you at negotiating time is priceless.  Be prepared for counter offers. Don't let the pressure get to you. Remain patient, and let your DLG Real Estate Agent act as your liaison with the seller or the seller's agent. You may need to be flexible on price, closing date, appliances and repairs.

Earnest Money.

Once your offer is accepted, be prepared to seal the deal with earnest money. Earnest money is usually a percentage of the home's purchase price that indicates you're serious about the purchase and indicates your good faith. It's generally applied to the purchase price when you complete the purchase, but may be forfeited to the seller if you fail to complete the purchase.

Many first-time buyers are taken by surprise when it comes to earnest money, especially if they have to make a fast offer. Be sure to discuss with your REALTOR the appropriate amount of earnest money you should be prepared to pay based on the price range of properties you're looking at. You should have this amount available in your checking account so you can write out an earnest money check on the day you sign your purchase agreement.