Buying your forever home or investing in a commercial business property is a very personal experience. Making sure you choose the right agent to guide you through the process is one of the most important aspects of the buying process. Seek out referrals from family and friends and do your research to ensure you are choosing the right person for your journey.

Your mortgage lender will be another key person in your real estate buying adventure. Lynette will be able to provide you with names of several local lenders ready to assist and those with whom they have had good experiences with. You’ll want to set up a time to go over your finances and get pre-qualified for a certain loan amount determined by several factors including, credit score, work history and more. What you qualify for and what you’d like your monthly mortgage payments to be depend on a variety of factors that your lender will guide you through.

Once Lynette and your lender have communicated all necessary details, it’s time to start your property search. Lynette will begin researching all MLS listings based on the specifics of what you and Lynette have talked about. You’ll receive new listing notifications via email and start to tour properties. Be sure to make a list of priorities for your new home and to take into consideration any remodeling costs you may have to endure once the purchase has gone through if choosing a home that needs updates.

Once a property has been chosen it’s time to make an offer. Lynette will work through all the details and negotiations on your behalf so that you can reach a fair agreement and go under contract on your new investment.

Once your property is under contract, there are several steps that come before closing day.

• Earnest Money – or Good Faith Deposit – money put down to show your seriousness about the purchase

• Title Search – a search examining property records that could jeopardize owning the home

• Inspections – an opportunity to get detailed reports about a home’s major components and their condition

• Insurance – home owners or fire insurance is required and your insurance agent may need to inspect the property before committing to give you insurance for the property. Mortgage insurance may also be required before a lender will agree to finance a home.

• Appraisal – an estimated value of your home in comparison to other homes in the area

• Underwriting – information verification in order to issue final loan approval

All necessary documents have been submitted and now it is time to get final loan approval.

An attorney is hired to do the title search and the closing. With cash deals home inspections are up to the buyer.

Your loan has been approved, you’ve reviewed all closing documents and have done a final walk through of the home verifying items that came up during the inspection. On closing day you will sign all papers and get the keys to the your new home.