Click Here for my Complete Home Buying Guide for MA
Buying your new home can be an exciting adventure! Our home buying guide will help you understand the process – from steps you should take at the beginning through closing on your new home. While there are a lot of details involved, taking the right steps and making informed decisions will make your purchase go smoothly as possible.
Define Your Goals
Before beginning your home search, make sure to have clearly set goals: desired neighborhoods, type of home, must-have amenities, etc. As you get into the market, you may need to be flexible on some of these requirements, but starting with a best-case list will be helpful.
Get Pre-Approved
Call several mortgage lenders – you’ll find differences in rates, fees, and customer service. Finding the right mortgage lender is important. Check reviews as well to make sure you’re choosing someone with a track record of satisfied borrowers.
Pre-approval is something you definitely should have when starting to look at homes in Massachusetts in today’s market. Houses are selling very quickly and if you see one you LOVE you want to be able to put an offer in immediately!
Search for Homes
Now we will jump in and see some homes that you think will work best for your family. I offer my clients virtual 360-degree walkthroughs of homes on their list. What does that mean? I will go to the homes on your list and provide you with a high-quality walkthrough where you can see EVERYTHING; the neighborhood, yard, all the rooms, and you can drag the camera around to see what you want. This is saving you your valuable time because you may just not like the doorways, but the great thing is you didnt have to go there personally to find that out. If you loved it then we can schedule to see it right away. I value my clients time and will work with you in finding your home in any way you would like. We will find you the perfect place to call home!
Make an Offer and Negotiate
Once we find the home that you say YES to, it’s time to make an offer and negotiate. Right now in Massachusetts, it’s a Seller’s market, which means houses are selling QUICK! We have to act fast if you love the home and get in an offer as soon as possible.
Secure Your Financing
You’re almost there – remember, your lender wants to ensure that this is a good move for everyone, so they may ask for more information about income, the condition of the house, or your credit history. Providing accurate and timely responses keeps the process moving and gets you to your desired outcome the fastest.
Close the Deal
The timing for closing can vary, but the average is 45 days. Typically, within 48 hours prior to closing, you’ll do a final walk-through to check that all agreed-to repairs are completed and that the home is in the expected condition.
You can expect to meet with your lender and agent to finalize the paperwork. There may also be attorneys present, the seller’s agent, a representative from the title company, and the designated closing agent. During the closing, all paperwork will be finalized, including the deed, title, financial/funding, closing statements, insurance, contract, etc.
At this point, you’re done with everything and you will be ready to move into your new home!!
