Buying or selling a home in West Palm Beach?

For a lot of people, buying a home can be an intimidating event. However, with some planning ahead of time, it isn't that hard. So they know exactly what to expect, I will supply buyers with a road map of the entire deal. These are my nine steps to purchasing a home. When you're ready to get started, just contact me here or e-mail me at . I'm glad to answer questions you have regarding this information.

Step 1 – Get ready to purchase
There are plenty of things you'll want to consider prior to starting your home search. When you start your search, you'll want to assemble an outline of items you need, get a feeling for what school districts you want to live in, and begin planning around your budget. Keeping your mortgage payment less than or close to 30 percent of your net monthly income is a good guideline to follow.

Step 2 – Speak with a real estate agent
This is where J. Briann Realty Group, Inc. comes in. I'd love to arrange a time to meet with you and talk about why you want to buy a home and get an idea of your upcoming plans. We'll discuss neighborhoods, school districts in the West Palm Beach area, the mortgage industry, and any additional economic factors that could potentially affect your buying decision today or in the future.

I can also help you start the loan process. There are some excellent mortgage professionals in West Palm Beach, and I work with a lot of them, so you can rest assured that you're in great hands. They'll assist you with choosing which kind of loan is best for you and help you get qualified.

Step 3 – Begin looking for a house
Following our first meeting, I'll start finding available homes on the market that best suit you. I'll preview many of the homes and eliminate the duds, and then we'll set up appointments to tour the homes when it's most convenient for you.

As we tour the homes, I'll point out good features, as well as bad ones. I'll even ask you what things you like and don't like. As a rule, buyers revise their list of must-haves as we tour houses and some features become more necessary than others. If that happens, I'll look through the listings another time and narrow it down to the home you've been dreaming about.

Step 4 – Understand the market
My knowledge of the West Palm Beach home market is an imperative component in your home search. I'm informed of all the neighborhoods and school districts, and I'll let you know what districts are "hot" and demand prompt action and the ones that are "cool" and allow for more analysis.

As we view houses, I'll make sure to communicate when the seller's list price has room for negotiation and also when I think the home is "priced to sell." When working with an agent, be careful and be sure to ask lots of questions, as any real estate agent in West Palm Beach will claim to comprehend the market. If it appears they don't know everything, call me at 561-688-1316 or e-mail me at , and I'd be glad to answer any questions you may have. My understanding of the market will help you stay a step above the rest throughout the entire process.

Step 5 – Find the house you've been waiting for
We'll find your dream house in the West Palm Beach area, and when that happens, I'll carefully develop your real estate purchase offer. The offer will be tailored with your needs in mind and the home, including a lot of contingencies, such as acquiring financing, completing the home inspection, and a clear title.

When we present your purchase offer, most likely you'll want to present "earnest money." This is a cash deposit submitted to the seller to secure the offer to purchase the property. The amount is often applied to the cost of closing. If your offer is accepted by the seller, we should close on the property about 30 to 60 days after. This allows enough time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate the deal
A lot of contracts aren't closed on the initial offer. It's widely common to receive a counter offer. But don't let it intimidate you. We'll talk over whether or not to consent to the counter offer, submit our own counter offer, or decline the seller's offer and move on.

How aggressively we negotiate the deal depends on the state of the market. We'll also work within your financing limits. And when it's all said and done, we'll put together a contract that's best for you.

Step 7 – Secure financing
Once we sign the final contract, you'll start working with your mortgage lender to close the loan. This won't take much time at all if you're already pre-approved, but you'll want to keep in close contact with your lender. And I'll deal with all the property information your lender needs to close the loan.

Step 8 – Close the deal
Your lender will furnish you with a Loan Estimate (LE) of closing costs within three days of getting your application. You'll get a Loan Estimate (LE) outlining your closing costs from your lender within three days of taking your application. This estimate is based on the loan amount. RESPA requirements mandate that it has to involve all closing costs and fall within a tight range of accuracy, and I'll go over the estimate and let you know if it all looks okay.

Then we'll close on your house. This will probably happen at a title company or escrow office and is often a smooth and hassle-free occurrence.

Step 9 – Move in
Congratulations! It's time to move into your new home. Enjoy it. And if you have any questions, simply contact me at 561-688-1316 or e-mail me at .