We take the buying process as seriously as our buyers do, therefore we offer nothing but the highest quality of service to our clients. When you decide to purchase your home, make sure you hire someone whom you can trust and someone who wants to earn your business. Buying your home is one of the most important purchases you will make, so make sure you have the right agent who can provide you with the experience and the service you deserve.

When you understand current market conditions, you are better able to position yourself as a Seller. It helps to know if you are in a Seller's, Buyer's or Balanced market when setting your asking price. In a Buyer's market there is a lot more competition and Buyers have plenty of choices and room to negotiate, forcing you to be very competitive when setting your price.

Here are some of the steps I will take to find your perfect home:

Determine Your Wants and Needs
This is the single most important step. By asking you a series of questions I will establish what you are looking for. My goal is to not waste your time by looking at properties that are not
in your price range or homes that don't meet your needs. Throughout the buying process I will maintain your confidentiality and represent your best interests.

Help You Get Pre-Qualified
This step will show you how much you can afford.  This is accomplished by speaking with your financial institution and establishing what monthly payments you will be comfortable with.

Home Shopping
We will use every available method to locate a property that matches your search parameters.  This will include properties listed with our office, offered through other real estate companies, as well as unlisted properties.  We will disclose all known facts about the property that are likely to affect your decision. When we find the home that meets your criteria, I will assist you in writing an offer and act as a liaison between you and the seller.

There are a number of things a buyer can do to position themselves to have a real estate offer accepted. Buyers can enhance the chance of getting the home of their choice by doing the following:

Get pre-approved for the purchase.
This takes very little time and lets you know the price range you qualify for and which fits your lifestyle.
 
Obtain your own credit report.
This allows you to make sure the information is accurate. If it isn't, take steps to correct the report immediately.

Keep your debt load to a minimum.
Don't make any major purchases or incur any additional debt until after your purchase. Pay down credit cards and don't apply for any new ones. Remember, financial institutions evaluate your financial situation on your gross monthly income. Your total monthly house costs should not exceed 28 percent of your gross monthly income.

Submit a strong competitive offer.
 
Include a substantial earnest money deposit.
Sometimes offers are accepted based on the amount of the deposit.

Try to minimize the number of contingencies.
Fewer contingencies mean a stronger offer.

Be prepared to view new properties quickly.
Sometimes, homes will sell quickly, so be prepared to make fast decisions and be accessible to change the terms instantly.

Have instant access to your agent.
Instant communication can mean the difference in purchasing the property of your choice.

Hire an inspector.
A professional building inspector or appraiser will make sure the house of your choice is in satisfactory condition

Check zoning regulations and covenants.
Good residential neighborhoods will be zoned to keep out commercial and industrial users. Restrictive covenants are also important considerations in purchasing a home.
 
Commit verbal agreements to writing.
Make certain verbal agreements are written into the final contract to avoid any stressful and expensive issues later.

Make sure you know what stays or goes.
Your contract should be very specific about which items (appliances, etc) are included in the sale. Some sellers may take items you might not expect.

1. Decide to buy a home
It all starts with this spark. And since you're reading this article, we can assume you're already past this point.

2. Conduct a financial self-assessment
Some people put this step later in the home buying process. But it belongs at the beginning. Before you start looking at houses and shopping for mortgages, you need to take a good look at your financial situation. You can start by ordering a copy of your credit report, and reviewing it for errors.

3. Make a home buying wish list
Once you have an idea how much you can afford, start writing down the things you'd like in a house: style, size, features, location, price, etc. Prioritize each item as either a "must have" or "would like to have."

4. Get pre-approved for a loan
Pre-approval is the process of applying for a loan and getting approved for a certain amount before having a purchase agreement (contract). Having a pre-approval letter also shows sellers you're serious about buying their house.

5. Work with a real estate agent
It's rarely a good idea to buy a home without professional help. Even if you're an investor and you've purchased a half-dozen homes in the past, it is advisable to get professional help. It's in your best interest to hire an agent.

6. Begin House hunting
Now comes the fun part, the house-hunting process. If you follow the steps I've outlined here, you can shop confidently (knowing that you have a pre-approval letter, a price range, and an agent to represent you).

7. Make an offer
How much you offer will depend on the asking price, the market, comparable sales in the area and other factors. Your offer might be accepted, rejected or countered. You might be the only buyer, or you might have to compete with others. You won't know until the time comes, which is another reason to have an agent help you.

8. Request approval for the loan amount
If the seller accepts your offer, you must then go back to your chosen mortgage lender and submit paperwork for loan approval. In most cases, it's easiest to return to the lender who gave you the pre-approval letter, but it's not mandatory.

9. Get a home appraisal
Your lender will require a home appraisal to make sure the home is worth the price you've agreed to pay. In the event that you can't make your mortgage payments, the lender will foreclose on the home and resell it. It's not a pleasant thought, but it's reality. So the home appraisal is how the lender protects its own interests.

10. Get approved for the loan
If the house appraises at a value equal to your loan amount (and provided all other factors are well and good), your mortgage lender will then approve the loan.

11. Get a home inspection
On average, home inspections cost between $300 and $600. That's a small price to pay for the peace of mind it brings. Get a home inspection as soon as possible after the sellers accept your offer, and make the contract contingent upon the inspection. That way, if the inspector finds a problem you're unwilling to accept, you have a legal way out of the contract.

12. Optional inspections
There are a number of other inspections you might want to have. But most of these are optional. Among other things, these include inspections for termites, radon and mold. If you choose to have them, schedule them as early in the process (post-contract) as possible.

13. Final walk-through
The final walk-through generally takes place a day or two before closing. It's your opportunity to walk through the house to make sure all discrepancies found during the inspection have been fixed (if that was part of the agreement). In most cases, it's also your first opportunity to see the house without furniture.

14. Closing / settlement
Closing (or settlement) is the paperwork-heavy process that transfers ownership of the home from seller to buyer. Like the other topics on this list, it warrants an article all to itself. For now, just know it's the final step before you are handed the keys.