6 Steps to Buying a Home

Step 1: Hire Your Agent

Once you have decided to take the plunge to buy a home, it is crucial to find the agent that will take all your needs into consideration and find you the ideal property at the best price. Buying a home can be confusing and stressful, but your HomeRiver Group® Tampa agent will provide the services to take unneeded stresses off you and provide expert counsel to find you the best home.

Your HomeRiver Group® Tampa agent will place a focus on 5 important factors:

1. Educate you about the current conditions of the market.
2. Guide you to homes that fit your criteria, budget, and needs.
3. Negotiate on your behalf to get you the best deal possible.
4. Check and double-check paperwork and deadlines.
5. Provide consistent support and council when working with other professionals and agencies.

Step 2: Secure Financing

To make the financing process as painless as possible, ask your agent to introduce you to their preferred financing consultant. This professional will work with you and your agent to make sure the financial aspect of buying a home is stress free.

This financial consultant should provide you with 5 primary services:

1. Review your current financials.
2. Discuss the financial options available to you during the home purchasing process.
3. Guide you to an appropriate price point.
4. Negotiate on your behalf to get you the best deal – price, interest rates, loan approval.
5. Keep you informed and updated of the entire financial process throughout your purchase.

Step 3: Find Your Home

So you’ve met with your trusted advisors, and now you’re ready to begin your search. But how or where do you start? There are a lot of homes out there, and diving in without a guide can become overwhelming and confusing. Your HomeRiver Group® Tampa agent will help you more accurately pinpoint homes that fit your criteria. The right home will meet all your important needs, and as many of your additional wants as possible.

The most important questions you might ask yourself are:

1. What amenities are crucial for you and your family?
2. How much space do you need and why?
3. Which is more important: location or size?
4. Do you want a move-in ready home or a fixer-upper?
5. How important is home value appreciation?
6. Do you want to live a community association?
7. What features are not negotiable in your new property?

These are just some of the criteria your HomeRiver Group® Tampa agent can search by. Keep these important qualities in mind as view homes.

Step 4: Make an Offer

When making an offer on your dream home, it’s important to remember that a home is an investment. Your agent can give you information on other properties in the neighborhood to help you ensure you make an informed decision when it comes to price. Look to your agent to explain and guide you through the offer process. Your agent will also provide you with improvements and pitfalls, if any, within your prospect home. This way you’ll know what you are getting into before you complete the purchase.

Some things to consider when deciding on the best price point are:

1. List price – Start with the price point the home is listed at. This will give you a base when looking at the home’s value.
2. Market Analysis – Your agent will give you an idea of comparable home values in the neighborhood to ensure the price point is accurate.
3. Improvements – Your agent can give you a list of improvements made to the home to determine its market value.

Step 5: Close

Once you’ve determined a price point you’re comfortable with, you’re in the “home” stretch! In order to ensure you avoid putting property purchase at risk, please keep in mind three vital factors of purchasing:

1. Staying in control of your credit and finances – Do not make any large purchases during this time. It’s important to keep your financials steady throughout the buying process. Talk to your financial consultant for guidance.
2. Keeping in touch with your agent and financial consultant – It’s important to stay in constant communication with your HomeRiver Group® Tampa agent and financial guide during this process. Be sure to return all phone calls and complete paperwork promptly.
3. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Your HomeRiver Group® Tampa team is here to assist you and it is crucial that you are comfortable with the buying process and the services you are provided.

Step 6: Protect Your Investment

Congratulations and welcome home! Now that the home buying process is complete, it is time to shift your focus to property maintenance. It is in your best financial interest to protect your investment for years to come with a little effort upfront. Performing routine maintenance on your home is always more affordable than having to fix big problems later.

Even though your HomeRiver Group® Tampa agent has found you the perfect home, your relationship with HomeRiver Group® Tampa can continue! Our in-house property service team can give you the best pricing on continued maintenance and services for your home. Contact your HomeRiver Group® Tampa agent and customer service team whenever you need further assistance and we will be glad to help you protect, care, and enjoy your dream home for years to come!