Buying or selling a home? In Home Realty can help.

Purchasing a home intimidates most people, but with a little up-front planning, it isn't all that confusing. I like to provide buyers with an outline of the whole deal so they know exactly what to expect. These are my nine steps to buying a home. When you're ready to get started, just contact me here or e-mail me at . I'm happy to answer any questions you have about this information.

Step 1 – Prepare to purchase a home
Before you begin your home search, there are many things you need to do. When you begin your search, you'll probably want to assemble a list of items you want to have, get an idea of what neighborhoods and school districts you want to live in, and begin working on your budget. A good rule of thumb to go by is that your mortgage payment should be close to 30 percent of your net monthly income.

Step 2 – Get in touch with a real estate agent
This is where In Home Realty comes in. We'll arrange a time to meet so we can talk about your real estate needs and get an idea of your plans for the future. We'll talk about neighborhoods, school districts in the Covina area, the mortgage and housing industries, and any additional economic factors that could affect your purchase today or in the future.

In addition, I'll help you facilitate the loan process. I partner with some of the finest mortgage professionals in Covina, so you can rest assured that you're in great hands. They'll assist you in figuring out which type of loan is best for you and help you get qualified.

Step 3 – Begin your home search
After our initial meeting, I'll start finding homes on the market that are a great fit for you. I'll get a sneak peek of many of the homes and reject the bad ones, and then we'll book appointments to tour the homes whenever it's convenient for you.

As we view the houses, I'll call attention to positive features and negative ones. I'll even ask you to point out what things you like and dislike. It's pretty common for buyers to update their must-have list as we tour homes and some items become more important than others. If such is the case, I'll look through the listings once again and trim it down to the house of your dreams.

Step 4 – Get a grasp of the market
An agent's awareness of the Covina housing market is a fundamental element in your home search. And I can assure you I'm informed of all the neighborhoods and schools, and I can let you know which districts are "hot" and demand immediate action and some that are "cool" and allow for thoughtful analysis.

As we view houses, I'll be sure to tell you when the seller's list price has room for negotiation and when I trust the house is "priced to sell." Be careful and be sure to ask plenty of questions, as any real estate agent in Covina will convince you they truly know the home market. If it seems like they don't know everything, call me at 6266087310 or e-mail me at , and I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have. My knowledge of the market will help you stay a step above the rest throughout the entire process.

Step 5 – Find the home you've been looking for
We'll find your dream home in Covina, and when that happens, I'll thoroughly develop your home purchase offer. The offer will be made to suit your needs and the home. We'll include some contingencies, such as acquiring financing, finishing the home inspection, and a clean title.

Upon presenting your purchase offer, you'll want to present "earnest money." This is a cash deposit submitted to the home seller to secure an offer to purchase the property, and it's most often put towards the cost of closing. If your offer is accepted by the seller, we should close on the property about 30 to 60 days after. This allows necessary time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate
Unfortunately most deals aren't closed on the initial offer, and it's very common to receive a counter offer. Don't let it discourage you. We'll talk about whether or not to consent to the counter offer, propose our own counter offer, or refuse the seller's offer and go on.

The state of the market will play a role in how aggressively we negotiate the contract. We'll also work within your financing limits. And at the end of the day, we'll assemble a contract that's best for you.

Step 7 – Obtain financing
After the contract is complete, you'll start working with your lender to close the loan. If you've been pre-qualified, it won't take long at all, but you'll want to keep in close contact with your mortgage lender. And I'll look after all the property information your mortgage lender will need to close the loan.

Step 8 – Close the deal
Your mortgage lender will furnish you with a Loan Estimate (LE) outlining your closing costs within three days of receiving your loan application. You'll get a Loan Estimate (LE) detailing closing costs from your lender within three days of taking your application. This estimate is formed from the loan amount. RESPA requirements mandate that it has to include all closing costs and fall within a tight range of accuracy, and I'll go over the estimate and let you know if it all looks all right.

Then it's time to close on your home. This will most likely occur at a title company or escrow office and will most often be a smooth and calm occasion.

Step 9 – Move in
Congratulations! It's time to move into your new home. Enjoy it. And if you have any questions, simply contact me at 6266087310 or e-mail me at .