Buying or selling a home in North Kingstown?

With a little up-front planning, buying a home isn't all that confusing, but the event can be stressful for many people. I like to provide buyers with a road map of the whole deal so they know exactly what they can expect. Below are my nine steps to purchasing a home. When you're ready to get started, just contact me here or e-mail me at . I'm glad to answer any questions you have about this information.

Step 1 – Get ready to buy a home
Before you begin your home search, there are a lot of things you'll want to contemplate. You'll probably want to form a checklist of features you want, get an idea of what school districts you'd like to live in, and begin planning around your budget. Ensuring your mortgage payment is less than a third of your net monthly income is a good guideline to go by.

Step 2 – Speak with a real estate agent in North Kingstown
This is where Greater R.I. Properties, LLC comes in. I'd be more than happy to arrange a time to meet with you and speak with you regarding why you want to buy a home and get an idea of your upcoming plans. We'll discuss neighborhoods, school districts in the North Kingstown area, the mortgage industry, and any other economic factors that might affect your buying decision today or in the future.

I can also assist you in getting started on your loan. Greater R.I. Properties, LLC partners with some of North Kingstown's finest mortgage professionals, so you can rest assured that you're in great hands. They will assist you in deciding which type of loan is best for you and help you get qualified.

Step 3 – Begin your home search
After our first meeting, I'll start looking for available houses on the market that suit your needs. I'll get a sneak peek of many of the houses and remove the duds, and then we'll set up appointments to view the homes when it's convenient for you.

When we tour homes, I'll point out good features and bad ones. And I'll ask you what things you like and don't like. It's pretty common for buyers to update their list of must-haves as we view homes and some items become far more essential than others. If that happens, I'll go back through the listings another time and trim it down to the house you've been wishing for.

Step 4 – Know the housing market
An agent's awareness of the North Kingstown market is an essential agent in your home search. And I can assure you I'm informed of all the school districts and neighborhoods, and I can alert you to some neighborhoods are "hot" and warrant immediate action and some that are "cold" and allow for careful examination.

When we view homes, I'll be sure to tell you when the seller's list price has room for negotiation and when I know the home is "priced to sell." Be mindful and make sure you ask your agent plenty of questions, as any REALTOR in North Kingstown will claim to comprehend the market. If it seems like they don't know everything, contact me at 401-932-9005 or e-mail me at , and I'd be glad to answer any questions you have. My market knowledge will keep you a step above the rest through the entire deal.

Step 5 – Find the house of your dreams
I'm sure we'll find the house of your dreams in North Kingstown. When that happens, I'll precisely create your real estate purchase offer. The offer will be tailored exactly to your needs and the home, including a lot of contingencies. A few examples are acquiring financing, completing the inspection, and a clear title.

When we present your purchase offer, you'll need to submit "earnest money." This is a cash deposit submitted to a seller to secure the offer to purchase the property and is often applied to the closing costs. If your offer is accepted by the seller, we should close on the home within 30 to 60 days afterward. This allows plenty of time for your mortgage financing.

Step 6 – Negotiate the deal
Most deals don't close on the beginning offer. It's extremely common to receive a counter offer. But don't let it alarm you. We'll consider whether or not to accept the counter offer, submit our own counter offer, or refuse the seller's offer and go on.

Market conditions will play a big part in how aggressively we negotiate the deal. We'll also work within your financing limits. And when it's all said and done, we'll put together a contract that is best for you.

Step 7 – Secure financing
After we sign the final deal, you'll start working with your lender to close the loan. If you've been pre-qualified, this shouldn't take very long at all, but you'll need to stay in close contact with your mortgage lender. And I'll deal with all the property information your mortgage lender needs to close the loan.

Step 8 – Close the deal
Your lender will send you a Loan Estimate (LE) outlining your closing costs within three days of accepting your loan application. You'll get a Loan Estimate (LE) detailing closing costs from your mortgage lender within three days of getting your application. The estimate rests on the loan amount. RESPA requirements order that it has to involve all closing costs and fall within a narrow range of accuracy, and I'll analyze the estimate and let you know if everything looks good.

Then we'll close on your home. This will most likely occur at a title company or escrow office and will most often be a smooth and hassle-free event.

Step 9 – Move in
Congratulations! Now you can move into your new home. Enjoy it. And if you need anything, just contact me at 401-932-9005 or e-mail me at .