Thinking of buying your first home in Forks, Joyce, or the surrounding area? Buying a home for the first time can be overwhelming (and maybe a little scary!), and it’s definitely a process you don’t want to undertake without a seasoned professional to guide you along.
At JACE Real Estate, we’ve sold hundreds of homes across the Northern Peninsula, and we’ve helped tons of first-time buyers just like you find and purchase the perfect home in just the right location. Now, we want to help you do the same!
Take the Steps to Buying Your First Home
Step I: Get Pre-Qualified
Before you start searching or talking to agents, take some time to get your finances in order and meet with some lenders to discuss your options. A lender can help you understand your loan options, determine how much home you can afford, and get you prequalified for a loan.
Step 2: Find the Right Agent
As a first-time buyer, you need an agent who’s going to be able to give you the guidance, support, and advice you require as an inexperienced real estate investor. You’ll want to interview several agents before making a decision, asking them about their experience in the areas you like and with helping first-time buyers.
Step 3: Start Searching Homes
Now’s the fun part! You get to decide what areas will work best for you, what type of home will best meet your needs, and which neighborhoods you love! Your agent can make recommendations for home styles, sizes, and locations and even set you up with email alerts for home that fit your criteria.
Step 4: Make an Offer
You found the perfect home? Great! Now it’s time to get serious with an offer! Your agent can help you use resources like Neighborhood Sold Reports and comparables to formulate a competitive offer in the form of a Purchase and Sale Agreement. The seller will then consider the offer and either accept it, reject it, or counter offer.
Step 5: Get It Inspected
Up next, the home inspection! Here, you’ll make sure everything is up to snuff and there won’t be any surprise issues down the road. A home inspector will walk through the home, top to bottom, basement to roof, and make note of any recommended repairs, updates, or upgrades. Afterwards, you have the ability to ask the seller to complete any necessary or wanted repairs and updates. If the seller refuses, you can walk away.
Step 6: Finalize Your Mortgage
Home inspection passed, time to get that mortgage approved! During this time, you’ll submit what might feel like every piece of financial information there is—bank statements, tax forms and W2s, paystubs and employment history. Your bank will also order an appraisal to ensure the home is actually worth what you’re paying for it.
Step 7: Close
Home inspection? Check. Appraisal? Check. Mortgage approval? Check. Now, it’s time to sign the closing paperwork, pay your closing costs, and (finally!) get the keys to your new home! Before all of this happens, your lender should provide you with an estimate of your closing costs, including your down payment, prepaids (like homeowners insurance and taxes) and other fees (like title fees, attorney fees, and lender fees).
Feeling Overwhelmed? Still Have Questions? Ask Us!
We’re ready to help you! Whether it’s learning more about the homebuying process or jumping right into the home search, we’re here to help you! Give us a call, shoot us an email, or explore more of our handy home-buying resources.