Let Andrew Realty Group assist you in purchasing a home in Atlanta

Purchasing a home is an intimidating event for a lot of people. However, with some planning ahead of time, it's not all that difficult. So you'll know exactly what to expect, I like to give my buyers an overview of the entire deal. These are my nine steps to purchasing a home.

Step 1 – Prepare to buy
Before you start looking for a home, there are a lot of things you should do. When you begin your search, you'll probably want to form a list of items you want to have, get a plan of what school districts you'd like to live in, and start planning around your budget. A good rule of thumb to adhere to is that your mortgage payment should be less than or close to a third of your monthly income.

Step 2 – Communicate with a real estate agent in Atlanta
This is where I come in. I'll book a time to get together so we can talk about your real estate needs and get an idea of your future plans. We'll discuss neighborhoods, school districts in the Atlanta area, the mortgage industry, and any additional economic factors that may affect your purchase today or in the future.

I can also help you begin the loan process. There are some great mortgage professionals in Atlanta, and I partner with a lot of them, so you're in great hands. They'll assist you in choosing which type of loan is best for you and help you get approved.

Step 3 – Start your search
After our initial meeting, I'll begin finding houses on the market that best suit you. I'll research many of the houses and exclude the bad ones, and then we'll book appointments to tour the homes whenever it's convenient for you.

As we tour the houses, I'll identify positive features and negative ones. And I'll ask you about things you like and dislike. For the most part, buyers change their list of must-haves as we view houses and some things become far more necessary than others. If such is the case, I'll go back through all the listings one more time and trim it down to the house you've been wishing for.

Step 4 – Know the housing market
My awareness of the Atlanta market is an indispensable benefit in your home search. I'm mindful of all the schools and neighborhoods, and I'll let you know some districts are "hot" and call for prompt action and the ones that are "cold" and allow for careful examination.

When we view homes, I'll make sure to communicate if the seller's list price has room for negotiation or if I believe the home is "priced to sell." Be mindful and make sure you ask your agent lots of questions, as any REALTOR^® will claim to comprehend the home market. If it appears they don't know everything, just call me at 404-250-0409 or e-mail me at alanandrew@andrewrealtygroup.com, and I'll be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. My understanding of the market will help you stay a step ahead throughout the entire deal.

Step 5 – Find your dream home
I'm sure we'll find your dream home in Atlanta. When we do, I'll thoroughly develop your purchase offer. The offer will be tailored exactly to your needs, including a lot of contingencies. A few examples are obtaining financing, finishing the home inspection, and a clean title.

When presenting your purchase offer, most likely you'll want to submit "earnest money." This is a cash deposit submitted to the seller to secure the offer to buy the property. The amount is often put towards the closing costs. If your offer is accepted, we should close on the home about 30 to 60 days afterward. This allows plenty of time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate
Unfortunately most contracts don't close on the first offer. It's very common to receive a counter offer. But don't let this discourage you. We'll discuss whether or not to consent to the counter offer, propose our own counter offer, or decline the seller's offer and move on.

How aggressively we negotiate the deal depends on market conditions. In addition, we'll work within your financing limits. And at the end of the day, we'll assemble a contract that works well for you.

Step 7 – Secure financing
After we sign the final contract, you'll begin working with your lender to close the loan. If you're pre-approved, this shouldn't take very long at all, but you'll want to stay in close contact with your lender. And I'll manage all the property information your mortgage lender needs to close the loan.>

Step 8 – Close the deal
Your lender will send you a Good Faith Estimate (GFE) of closing costs within three days of taking your application. The estimate rests on the loan amount, and RESPA requirements require that it has to include all closing costs and fall within a close range of accuracy. I'll study the estimate and let you know if everything looks permissible.

Then we'll close on your home. This will likely occur at a title company or escrow office and will most often be a smooth and stress-free affair.

Step 9 – Move in
Congratulations! Now you can move into your new house. Enjoy it. And if you have any questions, be sure to contact me at 404-250-0409 or send me an e-mail.