The first step to purchasing a home is to select an agent. This agent should be someone you trust as he or she will be looking out for you and walking you through the entire buying process.

In order to determine the correct price point in which you should be looking, we suggest all buyers obtain a pre-qualification letter from their bank or lending institution before viewing homes with their agent.

This is the fun part; we can start searching for your dream home.

The contract proposal from the buyer received by the seller through their agent, extending terms, which, if agreed, form the basis for a sales contract.

Seller’s amendments to the original offer, creating an opportunity for further negotiation with the buyer. The buyer may reply.

Seller accepts all proposed terms and conditions and is ready to sign the contract and move toward closing.

After your offer is accepted, you will need to pay your earnest money. This can be in the form of a personal check or using our app.

While your lender has already pre-qualified you for your loan, now that we have a contract, your lender will need you to apply for the loan and supply supporting documentation.

The Buyer conducts all required or desired inspections — physical, environmental, etc. — and receives a report.

Based on the inspection, you may want to terminate the contract, ask for a price reduction in lieu of repairs, ask the seller to pay some closing costs or ask the seller to make repairs to the property.

After you have summited all your documents to your lender, the paperwork and supporting documentation will go through review. Based on the information, the lender will approve or reject your loan.

While not always required, most lenders will have an independent third party perform an appraisal to ensure you are not overpaying on the property.

If your appraisal price comes in at a lower value than the contract price, you may request that the seller reduce the sales price to appraised value. If the seller refuses a price reduction and you still want to purchase the property, you will have to pay the difference in the appraised value and the contract price in cash. If you do not wish to pay the difference in price, then you may be able to terminate the contract and receive your earnest money back.

After the lender has approved your loan and the title on the home comes back clean, we will be ready to close.

A few days before closing you will want to activate your utilities on the new home and homeowners insurance.

All parties each sign the required documentation with a title and/or escrow officer present to oversee the signing process. Funds are presented by the buyer or the buyer’s lender to satisfy the terms of the sale. The seller receives his or her proceeds from the sale.

The transaction becomes part of the records of the local government entity with jurisdiction, and the transaction is complete.

The buyer takes possession of the property that the seller has vacated, unless a seller carryover or buyer pre-occupancy has been part of the contract.

After you move in, you will want to file for a tax discount called Homestead Exemption.