Home Buying Guide

Are you ready to find your dream home?

Buying a home can often be an incredibly stressful time for those involved; it is, after all, the biggest purchase in the buyer’s lifetime. With so many potential pitfalls and opportunities to make mistakes, having a reliable guide can provide invaluable assistance in managing the process. Bexley Realty Group provides quality service and helps you stay on track and find that perfect house that meets all your goals and commitments. Our team will work with you to understand your lifestyle and help you purchase a home without all the stress and worry.

Whether you are a first-time buyer or looking for your forever home, our team will be with you every step of the way to ensure that you understand what’s happening – because we want you to have a positive experience. Let us assist in making this exciting milestone become a reality!

We thank you for visiting our online home buying guide and should you need more guidance or questions about the home buying process we’d love to hear from you – our team is here to ensure your search goes smoothly.

The home buying process is time – and effort consuming, but by following these 10 steps, you can make the process more manageable and ensure that you make the right choices.

10 Step Home Buying Guide

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When purchasing or selling a house, real estate agents are important allies. You can get useful information from real estate brokers about houses and neighborhoods that isn’t readily available to the general public. Their local knowledge, bargaining abilities, and expertise in the community you wish to live in can all be helpful. Your real estate agent will act as your advocate during the entire home-buying process to make sure you locate the ideal property, make a suitable offer, can negotiate, and obtain the required disclosures. A real estate agent can offer priceless piece of mind, which is probably even more crucial.

1. Find A Realtor

2. Check your Credit Score

First and foremost, when starting the search for your new home, check your credit score to make sure you are in good standing. Credit is oftentimes one of the most important factors that come into play when deciding if one can purchase a house or not. Taking the time to check your scores allows you the opportunity to understand what type of loan and interest rate you may qualify for you to make the best possible decision when buying your dream house. Be informed, be aware, and check your score before starting down the path of being a homeowner.

3. Qualify for a Mortgage

The next big step is finding a mortgage lender and getting preapproved for a loan. Before settling on any one lender, many first-time home buyers don’t realize that they are able to shop around and check out the different rates, terms and fees different lenders have to offer. Doing so can really put you in a better position in the long run by helping you get the most affordable loan possible. It’s also important to check your credit score beforehand as that will determine what type of lenders you qualify for and ultimately shape which kind of mortgage rate you receive.

Taking these simple steps can be the difference between being overburdened with debt or living comfortably within your means.

4. Evaluate your wants and needs

Finding a new home can be an exciting and rewarding process but figuring out what you want and need – within your budget – can be challenging. Setting priorities among many preferences is the best place to begin. These can include check your credit score, estimate long-term costs including taxes, understand estimated HOA fees, check the neighborhood for factors like schools or noise levels, assess any upgrades needed, check insurance rates, etc. Though this process may seem daunting at first, following these tips will help you find the best home for you and your family.

5. Start Your Home Search Process

House hunting can be both an exciting and stressful experience – the key is to go in with both eyes open and a better sense of what you want. Before you start your search, compose a list of all the features and amenities you’re looking for in your future home.

Once you’ve secured viewings of various homes, it’s equally important not to be too picky from the get go. After all, it’s very rare that a listing will align perfectly with your expectations – viewing each home in person is the best way to assess its potential as your new home base. Keep an open mind and focus on prioritizing the qualities that are most essential to you, so that when it comes time to make an offer, you’ll know if a particular property is right for you.

6. Make an Offer

Once you’ve identified the perfect place that you’d like to call your home, it’s time to submit an Offer. This is where things can get competitive. In today’s market, where demand far exceeds supply of available homes, time is of the essence. The houses you have set your heart on may not last long —other buyers may be out there searching for the same property and have their own Offer ready to go. That’s why we’re here to help; our team is always ready to act fast and get your offer in front of the seller as soon as possible. With our help, you could seal the deal before someone else beats you to it!

7. Get a Home Inspection

Once you’ve made the big decision to purchase a home and your offer is accepted, it can be tempting to think you’re at the finish line. However, there’s an important step to take before the transaction can officially be closed – home inspection. A home inspection allows the buyer to learn more about their potential new home, including any issues that may need to be addressed. Generally, this helps ensure that your purchase stays on track and remains secure.

8. Mortgage Approval

Even if you have gotten pre-approved to purchase a home before your contract begins, life can often bring unexpected changes and alter your credit status. It is essential to ensure everything has been ticked off and accounted for once you are under contract to purchase the property – things like selecting a lender and getting all the information needed for full approval.

9. Complete Documents and Do a Final Walkthrough

After finishing all the seemingly endless paperwork and back-and-forth, you’re probably eager to be done. But don’t neglect the final walkthrough! Going through one last inspection of the house can save a lot of headaches in the long run. Make sure that everything from your initial inspection is still in place and that nothing suspected of being defective is unaccounted for. That way, if there are any issues with appliances or other features, you will know about them before closing, giving you leverage to have the seller fix them before buying the home.

10. The Most Awaited Time: Closing Day

Congratulations! You have reached the final stretch in the process of obtaining your loan. It is essential to review your Closing Disclosure document minutely. This document includes all crucial information such as the terms, any closing costs, and any other charges or fees associated with your loan. It is important to familiarize yourself with every detail included in this document for you to understand what it means to be taking out this loan. Few things symbolize more accountability than signing a legally binding contract like a loan and the Closing Disclosure ensures that you are fully aware of the consequences.

Enjoy your new dream home!

What our clients say about us

Bill and his team were amazing. They took the time to help me through the whole home buying process and even helped me to get the best possible price for my new home. They were there anytime I had a question and were ready and even happy to walk me through everything. This was a truly wonderful experience thanks to Bill and his entire team. Thank you all so much!!

– Corey Bowman

Bill is an absolutely top-tier realtor. I promise you that if you work with him you would definitely get the home that you need and Bill will be with you every step of the way. Trust me I had a realtor that lead me down the wrong path for months and wasted precious time. Go with Bill you will not be disappointed.

– Tonya Lopez

Expert realtor experience with a personal touch! Bill helped my wife and I find a home under challenging market and personal financing conditions. Despite our concerns purchasing a home blind and remote (we are relocating from Maryland), Bill helped us every step of the way. Thanks Bill!

– Rosendo Molina

Let’s Connect

Get in Touch

Phone (713) 489-8316

Email homes@bexleyrealtygroup.com

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