The Pathway To Purchase A Home Plus Advice From Dave Ramsey.

 

The purchasing Pathway is a step-by-step game plan for what to expect from the first meeting with your agent to closing day.

 

  1. Initial Appointment: The initial appointment can be at the real estate agent's office, a coffee shop, or in many cases, a home listed for sale. With so many buyers finding their homes on Zillow, meeting an agent at a listing has become the most common way to meet.
  2. Determine the Purchasing Parameters: The location, price range, style, condition, needs, and wants.
  3. Buyer gets Pre-Approved: If the buyer hasn't taken this crucial step before the initial appointment, the Realtor will advise them to get pre-approved before proceeding to step four.
  4. View Homes: Viewing homes gives you the information you need to make a good decision. Finding the right home is a process of elimination.
  5. Write the Offer: The agent writes the offer when the right home is found. When both parties have agreed to the terms of the offer and signed it, the offer becomes a legal contract to purchase. 
  6. Earnest Money Deposit: Earnest money shows the seller that the buyer is serious about purchasing the property. Earnest money is kept in a trust account until closing.  
  7. Perform Home Inspections: The buyer can hire a professional inspector to check the home's overall condition.
  8. Final Walk-Through: Usually twenty-four to forty-eight hours before closing, the buyer can walk through the home and verify it is in the same condition as the day the offer was written.
  9. Sign Closing Document: This is the day the buyer and seller sign all the documents required to transfer the home from the seller to the buyer, also called closing day.
  10. Home Delivery: Depending on the occupancy date agreed to in the purchase contract, this is the day the new owner gets to move into the home. Sometimes this is the day of closing; sometimes, it is a week or two after. The date usually depends on each seller's situation.

 

The process of buying and selling a home can be overwhelming. It would be best if you always used a Realtor to help walk you through the process. We have helped hundreds of people through the process and would love to help you next.  

 

You can view and print the PDF version of The Purchasing Pathway here.