Buy A Home

Buying a home usually is one of the largest purchases you will ever make in your lifetime.
The lack of knowledge has you asking many questions that we are here to help you with.

Below are tips on how to get started.

Hire a real estate professional. (THIS IS AT NO COST TO YOU...THE BUYER)

A very important step in the home buying process is to select a professional to help you find your dream home and evaluate your financial expectations.

What purchase price do you qualify for? Get pre-approved for a mortgage.

Speak to a qualified mortgage professional on what your financial goals are. A one on one free consultation can get you pre-qualified to tell you how much home you can afford. Getting pre-qualified before you shop for a home saves time. With a pre-approval letter, sellers know that you are serious and may be more willing to negotiate or accept your offer. Contact an experienced loan officer at Dominion Home Mortgage Corp. to get pre-approved today.

CLICK HERE TO GET PRE-APPROVED...

Define what you want.

The next step is to create a realistic idea of the property you would like to buy. What features to you are more important? Make out a list of the items that you cannot live with out and features that you would like to enjoy. When you are out house hunting, narrow refine your list as you shop.

It is very helpful to use our online MLS Listings to help you search to see what is currently available in the market. Your real estate agent can send you emails of specific types of homes and areas you may be interested in. These emails are free and are simply sent to your home or work email. This is a hassle free way of shopping for a home you may be interested in. Just click on ones you may want to see and your real estate agent contacts you to set up a time to get into the property.

Visit properties.

When you are out visiting homes, make notes of what you clearly like of which home and what you may not like. Communicate this specifically to your real estate agent so that your agent can get a feel for more of what you want or do not want. Direct communication is key when speaking to your real estate professional.

Know what features help or hurt a resale of the property.

A real estate professional is trained on the sale and resale of a home. Trust the experts to inform you of what may harm or help a resale. In some areas, a swimming pool actually detracts from a home's value and makes it harder to sell. In neighborhoods with two-car, attached garages, a single car detached garage may hurt the value of the home for future resale.

Make an offer.

Once you have found your dream home, it time to get more serious about the financial and contractual side of the purchase. Your licensed real estate agent guides you through the entire process.

Consult legal counsel.

Many homeowners elect to hire an attorney to review the sales contract for completeness and accuracy. An attorney is also recommended to have for legal consul during your entire purchase process.

Arrange for a home inspection.

After your offer has been accepted, set up a home inspection with a licensed home inspector. It is common to find problems, including leaky roofs, cracked walls, foundation problems, and insect infestation. Your real estate professional can help you find a reputable inspector, and will negotiate to get you the most for your money once the inspector's report is final. Your agent will set up a final walk through to make sure any repairs negotiated were completed.

Closing on your dream home.

Before your closing date, speak to your mortgage professional and real estate agent to confirm all paperwork is complete and all necessary steps were initiated. This would include the mortgage, title, homeowners insurance and any other paperwork required by state governments.

Prepare your life in your new home.

Before moving in to your new home, consider some moving basics: arranging for an alarm company, turning on the electricity, water and gas, cleaning or replacing the carpet, and notifying your local post office of your new address. The best time for any renovations is before you move in. Enjoy!