BUYER TIPS

Meet with me to discuss your wants & needs.  Make decisions in regard to type of home, location, & size.  How many bedrooms, how many bathrooms?  Do you need transportation to NYC?  Determine the towns you prefer.  Research the locations & school systems.   I will set up a "Search" and send you homes that are based on your requirements.  We will make appointments to see the homes until we find your Dream Home!

Talk to lenders to find out what you can afford.   Decide the top dollar amount you want to spend on a home.  Ask about rates, terms, fees & closing costs.  Ask about PMI  (Private Mortgage Insurance)  if your down payment is less than 20%.  Keep a Green File with all your finances:  Bank statements; Card Cards; Auto Loans; Pay Stubs, W2s for 2 Years; Investments; Life Insurance; Stocks, bonds & mutual funds.  This is not a good time to make large purchases or change careers.   You want to approach your property purchase from a position of financial stability. 

Now that you have a price range, next step is determining location & style home.  Drive around and get to know the neighborhoods, complexes & areas which interest you.  Narrow down your choices.  Using the list of homes sent to you, use the website to save your favorites.  Provide the list of favorites to me and times and date you can shop for a property.  

Once you find the house you love, we will put in an offer.  You will need to hire a real estate lawyer who will guide you legally through the transaction.  

To get to closing you must go through 3 contingencies before you close.  First is inspection.  You must hire an inspector to "inspect" the home.  Next is appraisal, your mortgage company will send an appraiser to make sure the home is worth the price you are paying.  Last contingency is the mortgage contingency.  You lender must be satisfied before you close.  

3 Days before closing you will receive your Closing Document which will outline all your closing costs.   I will work with your lender & lawyer to guide you through this process.   You obtain home owners insurance, call to change utilities to your name.  Within 24 hours of the closing we will do a walk through.  On the day of closing you will get your keys!